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I toss clothes in a duffle bag, having already called my sister to take over for me on Wednesday, at minimum. Cole got me in touch with Zara, who in turn gave me Evie’s manager’s number. Maggie told me not to let Evie come back until at least the weekend, which sounded just fine to me.
Those were easy calls.
This one, not so much.
I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve asked Enzo for a favor.
“Where do you want to go?”
I’ve already explained the situation, and Enzo didn’t hesitate.
“It can’t be too far. We only have a few days.”
“So Switzerland is out?”
My brother and his wife have a house in Montreux, and while I’d love to whisk Evie off to Europe, I don’t think that’s very practical given our time frame.
“Yeah,” I concede.
“Can I ask you something?” Enzo’s voice blares through my cell’s speakerphone as I pack. “You could take her to a hundred places. Why call me?”
He’s not asking because he doesn’t want to help. I know my brother. He’s just thoroughly confused.
Why indeed?
I stop, my duffle bag packed, and sit on the bed.
“How many times have I said I loved a woman before?”
Enzo doesn’t hesitate. “Zero.”
“She is the one. I am completely in love with her, Enz. And she’s going to break up with me.” I can’t help the panic in my voice.
“Because she realizes you’re an ass?”
I ignore him. It’s not Enzo’s fault he doesn’t realize how serious I’m being. I’m aware how out of character this sounds.
“Because she’s afraid. Evie has lost the two people in her life she’s loved the most. She thinks I’ll do the same. Leave her.”
Evie hasn’t said as much outright, but I’d bet my restaurant that this award is just the tip of the iceberg. Our conflicting interests can be managed. Even more easily when we get married. Which we will, someday.
Jumping the gun a bit? Maybe. But that doesn’t make it any less true.
“I need to convince her that won’t happen. We can make this work. I just need her to understand I’m not going anywhere.”
“Ok,” Enzo says. “So something special. Today.”
“Yep.”
“When are you supposed to pick her up?”
“I told her an hour like twenty minutes ago.”
“Geez,” my brother complains. “You’re not giving me much time. What if I had been in a meeting or something?”
“You’ve nevernotanswered when I called. I knew you’d pick up. Even if you were in some big, important meeting.”
The phone goes quiet.
