“Don’t play dumb with me, Zachariah. I taught you that smile. She’s back. She’s not all there, but I saw the way you looked at Yvonne and I saw how she looks at you. Time, distance, and a little forgetfulness—”
“This is a little more than forgetfulness.”
“Don’t interrupt me. It’s rude. I was simply saying that I know you and I know that look. Evie could be back with us for good if her memory doesn’t come back, and I know you’re not going to just go on with your life like she isn’t living next door.”
Zach leaned back in his chair and gave up his pitiful fight. Dragging his napkin across his mouth, he sighed.
“Can I ask you something?” Miss Leona said.
“Yes, ma’am. Ask away.”
“What’s the rush?”
“What do you mean?”
“She was released from the hospital this morning. You waited ten years. I won’t get all up in your business about what you were doing all this time when you could have sent her a text message or gotten your behind on a plane or picked up the damn phone, but what’s the problem with giving her some time to heal?”
“I—” Zach stopped himself. Miss Leona had a point. Evie had told him to leave her alone, so he had. Maybe he was in his own head, dealing with his own shit, but over time he had convinced himself that whatever feelings either of them had, had long since faded from both their minds. But he knew that wasn’t the case. He knew it from the moment Jesse received that call from Nicole. He knew it from the way Evie looked at him the moment he walked into her hospital room.
The feelings were still there, but whatever he was feeling for Evie was only a part of the equation. He wanted her back in his life, but he needed to give her time to decide what she really wanted for herself and what she wanted with him. A short laugh escaped Zach’s chest as he reconsidered his current plan of courtship. Or lack of a plan, if he was being honest.
“I guess . . . maybe I could pull back a little. I feel like—”
“You feel like you’ve found each other again.”
“That’s it. I didn’t realize how much I missed her until I saw her sitting in that hospital bed.”
“I understand. We’re all worried and we’re all glad she’s back. I had to catch my breath when she got out of the car. Looks just like Amelia.”
“You miss her, don’t you?”
“Every day.”
Zach looked at his grandmother and thought about what she must have been like at his age. She and Nana Buck had a tight clique, rounded out by Zach’s grandfather Gerald Sr. and Evie’s grandad, Justice. One by one, they’d all passed away, leaving Miss Leona to love her three sons, their wives, and thirteen grandchildren. She was surrounded by family and friends who loved the hell out of her, but it wasn’t the same. He didn’t want to consider how’d he be feeling if Evie’s accident had turned out differently. Zach leaned over and a planted a kiss on his grandmother’s temple.
“I hear you,” he said.
“Good. I have a feeling Evie’s going to be with us for a while, and I don’t need you coming around here every hour on the hour asking if you can escort her to the box social. Let her come to you, if she wants to, in her own time. Don’t be so damn thirsty.”
A burst of laughter exploded from Zach. Miss Leona whacked him on the arm, shushing him.
“So loud. You’re gonna wake up Evie and then Tilde is gonna come in here and I’m gonna have to remind her that she’s a guest in my house.”
“Oh no. What happened?”
“She asked me when was the last time we changed the water filter and then gave me a lecture about the ‘menu’ I’d have lined up for Evie, because nutrition is key to recovery and brain health.” Miss Leona paused for dramatic effect and then slowly rolled her eyes. Zach chuckled and spooned up some more chili.
“She’s out of here tomorrow.”
“Good.”
“Who taught youthirsty, Miss Leona?”
“Last season onRory’s, the finale,” she said as she picked up her wineglass. She took a deep sip.
The parking lot of Charming High was covered in straw, but it all made sense. It was homecoming weekend and they needed horses for the parade. The sky was pink and black all at the same time. Streaks of green and blue outlined the clouds. Evie could hear thunder in the distance, but there was no chance of rain. It never rained in Charming. Not during homecoming. The lights of the stadium lit up Zach’s bright red pickup truck.
Evie was cold, but she didn’t care. She was too busy kissing Zach Pleasant. He sat in the driver’s seat, his boots on the step rails, thighs open, leaving plenty of room for Evie to stand between his legs. She was so turned on as his tongue moved against hers. She knew they shouldn’t be doing this. Especially right in the middle of the parking lot, right in the middle of the game, right in the middle of election night. She still had herI VOTEDsticker plastered to the front of her jean jacket. Anyone could see them, but she didn’t care.