Hooking Him (How to Catch an Alpha #3)(36)

“I’ll be over after I get my stuff together.”

“See you soon, baby.”

“See you soon.” She hangs up, and even with the shit swirling in my head, I’m looking forward to going home.





Suggestion 9

WELCOME THE UNEXPECTED

ANNA

“Anna!” Edie shouts through the door as I shove a pair of comfortable pajamas and clothes for tomorrow into the overnight bag on my bed.

“It’s open! Come on in,” I shout back.

“Where on earth do you think you’re going?” she asks angrily, and my eyes fly up just in time to see her plant herself in front of the door and cross her arms over her chest. “You are not running away just because that idiot ex of yours is making a damn fool of himself.”

“I’m not running away.” I shake my head, wondering why everyone thinks I will. “I’m going to Calvin’s.”

“You’re packing a bag to go to Calvin’s?” She looks around like she’s trying to see if I’ve packed anything else.

“Yeah.”

“Are you staying the night with him?”

“Maybe.” I grab my sneakers and put them in the side compartment of my bag. “He didn’t say, but I want to make sure I have stuff with me for the morning in case I do.”

“Oh.” She uncrosses her arms and walks toward the bed.

“Did you need something?”

“You haven’t changed this place since you moved in.”

I glance around and shrug. “I changed up the bathroom.”

“Okay, but everything else is the same. Nothing says this is your home.”

She’s right. I haven’t really made the space mine. It still looks like a hotel, if I’m honest.

“I still need to plan a trip back to Chicago to get all my stuff. I just haven’t had time to do it. Maybe after Chrissie has the baby, I’ll take a weekend.” I shrug, then add, “Or maybe I’ll just give up my storage unit and get new stuff. There’s nothing in it that really means anything to me.”

“I’d go with you to Chicago.” My chest warms at her offer. “Though if I saw that ex of yours, I’d probably hurt him, so it might be best if I stay put,” she says, and I laugh.

“I don’t know. I kinda want to hurt him for the mess he’s caused.” My lip curls. “Well, him and that woman, Max, who started this all.”

Her expression softens at the mention of Max. “You’re really okay?”

“I’m really okay, and I’m not going to run away. Promise.”

“I would drag you back here if you did.”

My throat gets oddly tight, and I have to force myself to swallow over the lump that’s formed. Three times today, people have told me they would be upset if I left. Not one person seemed to really care when I was leaving Chicago, and those were people I’d known my whole life—or most of it anyway. “I know you would.”

She nods and looks away, like she’s uncomfortable. “Now, about you and Calvin.”

“Edie,” I groan.

“What? I just want to tell you that I’m happy for you. He’s a good man.”

“I’m starting to see that,” I agree, thinking that’s an understatement.

“Now, I’ll let you get going. I’m sure you’re anxious to spend some time with him.”

“Nah.” I wave her off, and she raises a brow. “Is it that obvious?”

“It’s written all over your face,” she tells me with a smirk. I don’t know how I feel about my emotions being so easily read.

“Maybe I should play a little hard to get.”

“Or maybe you should just keep doing what you’re doing, because it’s working,” she suggests.

“You’re probably right.”

“I have years of experience dealing with men. Trust me, I’m right.” She winks before turning and placing her hand on the handle of the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

“See you tomorrow.” I watch her leave, then head into my bathroom to grab my makeup remover, my toothbrush, and a few other things I’ll need if I spend the night. Then, after I shove it all in my bag, I take it out to my car and head to Calvin’s.

When my GPS lets me know I’ve arrived, I smile as I turn into his driveway and park behind his truck. His house is adorable, with deep-blue vinyl siding, white shutters on either side of each window, and a white picket fence encompassing the front yard. I get out, taking my purse and overnight bag with me, and before I even get to the gate leading to the walk, the front door opens, and Calvin—wearing jeans, a plain black tee, and bare feet—steps outside and walks down the path to greet me.

“I love your house.” I grin at him as he reaches over to unlock and open the gate for me.

“Don’t get too excited. It’s a mess inside.” He leans in to kiss me, taking my bag with him as he leans back. “Most of the work I’ve done has been out here. The inside is a work in progress.”

“It’s cute. I love the picket fence.”

“When I bought the place, the fence was mostly rotted away and falling down, and I planned on ripping it all out, but Mom convinced me to keep it. I haven’t decided if it’s worth the effort of having it, since I gotta paint it every summer.”