Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(113)

Surprisingly, and I think Frances had something to do with it, Ewan agreed to take the money for the credit cards off his profits from the house to pay Hunter back.

It’s all legally binding now. I organized that straightaway with my lawyer before he could change his mind.

I feel somewhat settled.

“We need to talk about Knox. I cannot have my happy girl dragging her sad backside about anymore. It’s too painful to watch.”

“I know you said you believe Knox now. But he never made any advances on me when I was married, Dad. He told me over a year ago that he liked me. But he was deeply apologetic and hardly spoke to me after that. It was never our intention to hurt you or betray you, humiliate you—none of those things. And we never laughed at you behind your back. I promise.” I let out a huge breath. I have so many regrets.

“I believe you. You told me you love him?”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you can’t take off your bracelet?”

“Yes.”

“Chatty.” He chuckles. “Next question. If I told you he told me he loved you two nights ago when we were standing in the hospital parking lot, would you believe me?”

“He still loves me?”

“His exact words were, ‘More than you can ever imagine.’”

“But he gave you the tool to unlock my bracelet.”

“I do know Knox, Eva. He thinks he’s doing the right thing by setting you free. Letting you go.”

Dad holds his clenched hand out and turns it over. He spreads his fingers and there in the palm of his hand is that tiny tool.

“Eden gave me this. She told me she would kick my backside if I didn’t fix you and Knox.”

“I don’t want to be free from him. I don’t want to take it off.” I begin panicking at the prospect of having to remove my bracelet.

“That’s not what I am saying at all. I’m giving you my blessing.”

My dad takes a sip of his coffee and winks at me across the top of his coffee cup.

I whip my phone off the cushion on the couch so fast I almost fling it across the room. My hands shake at the enormity of what I’m about to do.

We can be together.

We have my father’s blessing.

My call goes straight to voicemail.

“Knox, if you get this, please call me. I love you.”

I have to find him. I hang up and call his direct number at the hotel.

“Good morn—”

“Knox!”

“No, Lincoln. Eva?”

“Yes. Where is your dad?”

“Athens.”

“Athens!”

“Yeah, for three weeks.”

“Three weeks?”

“Are we having a copycat conversation where you repeat everything I say?”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, just checking. He flew out on the six a.m. flight this morning.”

“This morning?”

“Are you certain we aren’t playing a game of copycat?”

“Oh, shut up, Linc.”

He laughs.

“Athens for three weeks. That’s too long,” I say softly, almost whispering to myself. “I can’t wait. I need to see him or speak to him now.”

“Finally! It’s taken you long enough to come to your senses.” He lets out a sigh of relief.

“I know.” I sigh too.

“Trust me, I know. He didn’t shower for three days. He didn’t change his boxers for those three days, either. Disgusting. And he even watched an entire season of Emily in Paris on Netflix, because apparently that’s what you watch. He’s not well. He’s a man who normally showers two to three times a day. He’s broken. He needs his Eva back. To reprogram him.”

“I want to make it right.”

“Well, you know what you need to do then, don’t you?”





CHAPTER 31





Knox - Later that night “Efharisto.” I thank the waiter who slides my drink across the marble bar. I sit back in the high stool and rub my temples.

My lovely Greek family insisted I stay with them, but I turned down their kind offer. Fourteen of them live in a four-story home plus they have no pool so I decided to stay at a hotel for the next three weeks.

That’s my excuse and I am sticking to it. I just want to be alone.

I reluctantly switch my phone on.

I had a relaxing afternoon wandering through the busy streets of Athens, had a bit of a siesta, swim, food, more food, and now drinks.

Same again tomorrow.

My phone goes into notification overload. Dings, beeps, pings, whooshes.

I idly scroll through them, spinning the ice around the amber liquid in my glass with my other hand. Nothing important I need to get back to straightaway. Then one catches my eye.

Sunshine Emoji Left a voice message





Eva.

My thumb hovers over the screen. Conflicted. I want to hear her voice, but don’t want to at the same time.

“Are you going to listen to that?”

I must be hearing things.

I slap my phone face down on the bartop and look up.

I’m hallucinating.