Page 58 of The Challenge

Chloe: Is Effie near you?

Evan: No. Why?

Chloe: Because I don’t want her to see the photo I’m about to send you.

Evan: Don’t.

Chloe: Are you sweating?

I didn’t even respond. And yes, I was sweating. Fuck. I felt my dick move. All I needed was to get hard in the middle of this lingerie store. I felt enough like a pervert just being here.

Chloe: I’m totally kidding, Evan. You’re not getting a photo of my boobs.

Am I supposed to be relieved? This felt more like disappointment.

Chloe: Why would I send you a photo when I can show you in person later, after Effie goes to sleep?

Well, shit. Be careful what you wish for.

Evan: You suck, Chloe. You know that?

Chloe: It was a joke.

Evan: Was it?

Chloe: Do you want it to be?

This entire text exchange was a mind fuck. Without even thinking, I reached for a pair of panties nearby and wiped my forehead. I was burning up. Shit. Now I had to buy this pair of underwear. I couldn’t leave it here for some poor woman to try on with my sweat all over it.

Effie came hopping toward me. “Daddy, we found three bras.”

I clutched the underwear, nearly caught in the act of rubbing it on my damn face.

“She should be set for a while,” the attendant said. “But as things grow, feel free to come back anytime.”

Grow? Hadn’t I been through enough today without having to think about that? The only consolation in this entire experience was that they hadn’t “grown” thus far, because Effie was still a damn child. But my daughter was smiling from ear to ear, and that had to count for something. Maybe this wasn’t all bad.

The woman motioned toward the front of the store. “If you want to follow me, I’ll check you out.”

Once at the register, I attempted to discreetly hand her the underwear I’d used as my sweat rag. “These, too,” I murmured.

My ever-so-sharp daughter caught me. “Daddy, who are those for?”

Great. “They’re for Chloe.” I coughed. “I, uh, told her we were here, and she said she was short on underwear.”

“Oh.”

Effie bought the excuse, and the next thing I knew, I was holding a small pink bag as we exited the store. We won’t even talk about the bill for three supposed bras that would hold absolutely nothing and a sweat rag.

The ride home was quiet. I was still on edge from that text exchange with Chloe. She was messing with my head. Was this some kind of retribution for the past? Did she not see how dangerous it would be if we started something now? But despite my sweating, it had been fun. I’d felt alive and invigorated by that flirty exchange. And now? I felt a little unhinged.

I had no idea whether I’d end up scolding her tonight or asking to see her boobs.

Chapter 23

EVAN

Soon after we entered the house that evening, Chloe emerged from her bedroom. No doubt she’d been waiting for us to walk through that door so she could see the result of the games she’d played today.