Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(105)

Constant reminders of him. His kindness. His heart. His love for me I no longer feel.

Absent.

It hurts. Deep.

Tears threaten to choke me, but I will not let them do that to me. I am stronger than that. I’m determined to keep pushing through. I did it with Ewan and I will do it again.

But it doesn’t feel the way it did with Ewan.

This. This feels more painful. My heart squeezes in response to my thoughts.

Yeah, I know, broken heart; I feel the same.

As the last person leaves the studio, I sit down on the bench, remove my ballroom shoes, and change into my sneakers.

Ewan is still waiting for a place in rehab. It will be next year before he gets one, I reckon.

Until then, another year of drama, heartache, and headaches for us all.

Although he has kept to his agreement, and he’s finally left me alone. He's been warned. Another slipup and it’s a prison sentence.

Although it would actually be the wake-up call he needs. It would give him the opportunity to dry out, too.

I sigh.

I’m miserable.

Lost.

I feel alone.

I’m utterly devastated.

In my head, I had it all figured out. Me and Knox were going to tell my parents and friends. I was expecting some upset and a little drama, but they’d get over it in time, then we’d book a family vacation together. Knox even hinted at moving us into his place.

The possibilities were endless.

Spending more time with him was a mere dream. A fantasy.

Intentionally staying away from the beach, I haven’t seen Knox. He hasn’t replied to my texts or my phone calls. So I stopped.

I’ve given up. He did what my dad asked; he stepped back.

To be fair, I’ve kept my head down.

I’ve stayed away from the town center. Had my groceries delivered to the house. Internet shopping has been my savior.

I’ve been trying to avoid Mom. But she’s been dropping into the studio every day to check on me. She’s upset I canceled her taking Hamish for me on Mondays.

She informed me she and Dad are barely on speaking terms and she’s been trying to talk some sense into him.

It hasn’t worked.

Hunter and Fraser returned yesterday from a week-long golf tournament in Hawaii and they promised they could help me out with the boys now too, so that helps me to avoid people.

I don’t want to speak to anyone.

Ella and Eden assured me no one has said anything, but I know they are protecting me. There is no way what happened between me and Knox isn’t still being gossiped about.

And Tabitha got off scot-free.

Great.

I spot Eden’s phone beside the sound system.

There’s another thing for me to do before I go home—drop off Eden’s phone.





Closing Eden’s oversized front door of her modern glass house, I slip off my sneakers and walk down the polished concrete corridor.

Such a cool house. I might stay for a cup of tea. Although I’ve heard snow is on its way tonight and I would like to get home and settled for the evening before it hits.

It’s been a particularly cold winter. If we have a snow day tomorrow, that will suit me. Another day in hiding.

As always, the noise levels in Eden’s house are set to loud.

Entering the huge open-spaced living area, I stop in my tracks.

Mom is here and Ella with Fraser, who’s looking all freshly tanned. As is Hunter.

And he’s here.

My dad.

We haven’t spoken since the evening of the ball. I added an extra day onto Hamish’s day care package and he hasn’t been to my parents’ on a Monday for the last two weeks.

I have nothing to say to him.

I have never felt such deep hurt, and he has yet to apologize to me.

Looking around, I realize everyone is here, except for me and my boys.

That hurts.

Eden runs down the stairs. “Oh, hi.” She halts halfway on the steps.

I wasn’t supposed to be here.

I wasn’t invited.

Yeah, that hurts a lot.

The noise level drops slightly and everyone stops chatting. The low chatter from the television is the only sound now.

“You forgot your phone at the studio.” I lay it down on the mirrored console table.

“Thanks.”

“I’ll go then.” God, this is awkward.

It didn’t have to be like this.

How Tabitha went about outing me and Knox ruined everything and caused this giant wedge between me and my family. Then there’s Dad’s stubbornness for not admitting he was wrong about Knox.

I’m responsible too. But I don’t know how many times I need to apologize.

I should have been honest from the beginning. They say hindsight is twenty-twenty.

“Do you want to stay?” Eden asks.

I look around and make eye contact with my dad.

“No.”

“Eva, please, baby,” Mom coos.

A giant ball of emotion gets stuck in my throat and I suddenly feel like it’s choking me.

Sensing I’m about to cry, I turn around on the balls of my feet and make a fast beeline back down the corridor.

“Eva, please stay,” my dad calls out to me.

I stop, but don’t turn back. “Are you going to apologize?”