Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(90)

“Deal.”

We saunter down the steep path.

“Oh, hi, Eva,” a voice sings from my left.

I snap my head toward the familiar voice and there, standing to the side of me, is Nicole, Ewan’s sister.

My soon-to-be ex-sister-in-law, along with her husband and two kids.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Oh, hi.”

Lincoln senses my awkwardness and keeps on walking down the path. I’m sure he’s off to do some damage control up ahead and make sure the boys and Knox are out of the gift shop and in the car before Ewan’s family gets that far.

But they saw Lincoln; handsome is hard to miss.

“Are the boys here?”

“Yeah. Up ahead with my… friends.”

“Here with a group of friends, then?”

“Yeah,” I lie through my teeth.

“Ewan was supposed to come with us today with the boys. But Mom texted me to say they couldn’t make it.”

Ah, I didn’t know they were all coming together. Aw, crap.

“Your mom texted me too. I brought them instead.”

“With your friends?” She tilts her head forward, eyeing me as if peering over the top of a pair of spectacles.

“Yes.”

She knows. She saw Lincoln. She thinks I’m dating Lincoln.

Abort. Abort. Abort.

“Which reminds me. I must go catch up with them.” I rush down the path. “Have a great day,” I call back over my shoulder.

“The place is closed. We’re going home,” Nicole calls.

“Safe journey home then.”

Aw, shit.

Once out of sight, I run through the shop, out the exit, through the narrow lane toward the parking lot, and as if he’s my savior in shiny metal, Knox is already waiting for me. Window rolled down, he shouts, “Get in, Sunshine.”

As soon as I’m in the safety of the car, he takes off.

I’m internally praying to the heavens above that Ewan's family didn’t see Knox’s car.

“Wook. I got a hellefant. Knox get me it.” Hamish waves a bright-blue plushie about in the air.

“I got a snake.” Archie shoves his green fluffy toy in my face from behind me. “Hissssssssssss.”

“Oh, wow. You two are lucky boys. I hope you said thank you.” I try to catch my breath.

“Yessssss,” they both ring out.

Knox pats my knee. “It’ll be okay, Sunshine. Don’t worry.”

“They think you’re dating me,” Lincoln says.

I rest my head against the headrest.

“They do. They’ll tell Ewan,” I confirm my greatest worry.

“I hope so,” he joshes.

“Lincoln. This is serious,” Knox scowls.

“Oh, I know. But life is too short to worry about it. Everyone will know after the Winter Ball, anyway. Just chill. If Ewan asks me, I’ll deny it.”

Knox looks in his rearview mirror and nods in acknowledgement.

“There is no way anyone will believe me, anyway. I’d be seriously leveling up on the girlfriend front if we were dating. And if I’m punching, then you are punching way above your belt, you old fart.” Lincoln slaps the top of his dad's arm. “You’re probably still trying to upload images to Bebo.”

“You are so mean, Linc.” Then I decide to join in. “He probably still has a MySpace account.”

“Ha ha, very funny. Let’s all pick on Knox.” He rolls his eyes.

“He called you a fart, Knox. That is bad,” Archie tattles.

“Knox is a farrrrt. Knox is a farrrtt,” Lincoln chimes under his breath, then Hamish and Archie join in. They get louder and louder.

I laugh. Knox does too.

“Welcome to our new dysfunctional family, Sunshine.” He squeezes my knee.

“Blended.”

“It couldn’t be more perfect,” he says over our three boys in the back.

Three boys.

How the hell did this happen?

“This is for you.” Knox pulls a small yellow jellyfish plushie from the side pocket on the driver’s side.

I hold it up. “Cute.”

“Aw, why didn’t I get a plushie too, Dad?” Linc says, sulking.

“You can share mine.” Hamish offers his toy to Linc.

Yeah, our family is awesome. I sigh with happiness.

We drive home singing and joking with one another, our worries parked for another few days.

Once back on the outskirts of Castleview, I pick up my car. Kindly, Lincoln distracts the boys so Knox and I can have a sneaky kiss goodbye.

Tired out from our adventurous day, the boys didn’t eat very much for dinner and pass out in their beds instantly.

Watching television on my new leather sofa, a text drops into my phone. Knox.

Knox: I had a great day today. The boys will sleep tonight.

Me: They will. They are already sleeping soundly. Thank you for my jellyfish plushie. :) Knox: It’s how you make me feel.

Me: I don’t understand.

Knox: You turn my legs to jelly. Night, Sunshine. xoxo





He doesn't just turn my legs to jelly. He melts my whole body.

Can a woman die of happiness?

I pick up my phone to Google it.