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“Where’s Rhett?” Her hoarse voice slices the remainder of my heart into ribbons.
“Oh, Caiti,” I sob, the heartache at missing him increasing with each mile Tate drives us away from the airport. “I didn’t let him come.”
Her huff holds soggy disbelief. “How did you manage that one? When we confirmed details yesterday, he seemed ready to take on the world for you.”
The memories of his tenderness submerge me further into this depression.
“I snuck out this morning before he woke up,” I confess and trap my lower lip between my teeth. The sting does nothing to calm the remorse. “Once I was in the air, I realized how badly I wanted him to come with me.”
“Evie…” Her watery sentence trails off. She glances discreetly at Tate in the driver’s seat, seemingly oblivious to our quiet conversation in the back.
“I can’t keep running. I don’t know why I did, but I wish I could go back to this morning.”
Caiti takes a shuddered breath. “I think you’re falling for him.” Her voice cracks at the end.
“Shh, honey, we don’t have to talk about this.” I drag her into my arms in order to buy time. This discussion is on my list of topics to avoid. For my sake and for hers. She just lost the love of her life, and my feelings are too confusing to admit in the open.
“You don’t want to waste any time.” The passion in her voice is startling. So much so, I swallow any retort. The topic files easily away to revisit later when I’m alone.
Her head fits into the space beneath my chin, and I hold her tight.
“Tell me about your plans.”
“Eric would hate a memorial service.” She grimaces. “He mentioned once that the idea of an open casket freaked him out and made me promise to have him cremated, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
I have to let out a slow, steady breath before I can ask my next question. I have no doubt she can feel the heavy rise and fall of my chest.
“Are we going to spread his ashes?”
She shakes her head against me. “He isn’t ready yet. I want to do something now while you’re here. Something that feels right in honoring the man he was.”
“I can stay as long as you need me.” My arms twitch in a punctuated squeeze.
“I’ll be flying back to Germany in a few days. Sorting up our life together isn’t something I can do in a short span of time. You have to return to your own life. Once I’m ready, I’ll move back to the States and stay with my parents for a while until I can get back on my feet.”
“You’re welcome to stay in Arrow Creek with me.”
“I know.”
The ache in my chest grows as I think about all the tasks she needs to manage. “I’m here for you. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to make it easier.”
“This is it.” She huddles deeper into my hold and wraps her arm around one of mine. “This is all I need from you. He was your brother. You’re mourning him equally as hard as I am. At least this way, we can honor him together.”
I blink away a sudden onslaught of tears.
“He would love that.”
28
Rhett
Parked across the street from Calypso’s, I hold my cell to my ear. The guys dragged me out for drinks, knowing damn well it’s a failed endeavor. Evie’s sudden departure was a blow I didn’t expect, though not a surprising one considering how she rolled into town. She might be a chronic runner, but I have no doubt she’ll return to me.
And I’ll be ready.
“Hello?” A man’s voice answers cautiously. Calling this number is a last-ditch effort. I take a deductive guess who’s on the other line.
“Is this Tate?”
