Page 51 of Big Dix

What in the world is this? Is this for me?

The smell of food hits my nose, and for a moment, I swear I smell my favorite bread.

I smile, climbing the steps toward the open concept living room, kitchen area, and that smile grows even wider when I see the beautiful table set for two, complete with candles and flowers.

He set all of this up to surprise me! Maybe I was totally off base with my thoughts on where things were headed, but there must be someone here. Surely, the caterer didn’t leave the house with candles burning. That’d be terribly unprofessional.

I walk through the living room and spot the caterer at the stove, humming along to the music. Just as I’m about to introduce myself, she turns.

“Oh. It’s you,” Annie says in place of any greeting. Her brow creases like she just smelled shit, and I am so caught off guard by her presence here, I don’t even have a snarky comeback prepared.

She never returned to the skyboxes after our argument, but I never, in a million years, dreamed that this is where she would have gone.

This bitch is bat-shit crazy. She’s broken into Atticus’s house and is apparently making them a romantic dinner. I’m stunned. I’m not equipped to handle the suitcase of crazy this chick is packing.

“What are you doing here, Annie?”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “Clearly, I’m making dinner. But first, you and I need to have a chat.”

This can’t be good.

“What do we need to discuss?”

I tread carefully while she continues to mix whatever is in the bowl in her hands. She finishes and sets it on the island in front of her.

“Atticus and I are getting back together. Weareback together. That’s why I was so upset to see you at his game, but he sent me here to break up with you on his behalf. He didn’t want to do it so publicly after the game. That’s why he told you to come here. He’s a good man that way. He wouldn’t want to cause a scene. He wouldn’t want to shame you publicly.”

No. This can’t be true.

“Wha-what? You can’t be serious.”

She places her hands on the island in front of her and leans forward. “Unfortunately, I am very serious. Things between the two of you are done. Need proof? What significance do you think that code you used to unlock the door holds for him?”

I gawk at her, bewildered. It’s just numbers, right? His favorite numbers? His mom’s birthday? What does that have to do with any of this?

“It’s our anniversary date. O1-31; January thirty-first. He never changed it. Not in all this time because he knew we’d end up finding our way back to each other. It’s sweet, really. If you think about it.”

She sighs and shakes her head as if she pities me. If all of this is the truth, I can see why she would. I mean, it must be the truth. She’s here, but I just never thought the man I know—or, at least felt that I knew, and sadly, I am realizing too late, the man that I love—would treat me in such a manner.

“Evelyn, honestly, you seem like a good person, and I’m sorry that things turned out like this. Really, I am. Atticus should have never used you in such a way. You know, like a rebound.”

And there it is—the final nail in the coffin that was my relationship with Atticus. I blink back unshed tears, but there’s nothing more to say. I turn and walk away, leaving behind a piece of my heart because no matter how shitty he may have turned out to be, he still owns a part of me. It hurts. It hurts really bad. This is why I never chased love. It sucks!

I handed him my heart, and he threw it away.

THIRTY

Atticus

I pull into my garage.

Why isn’t Evelyn’s car in the driveway?Maybe she rode to the game with one of her friends, and they dropped her off here.

I turn off my car and head inside. As soon as I open the door, the smell of food hits me. My heart pounds in my chest. This is what it should be like every time I come home. A house that is alive with love and possibilities.

I climb the stairs and couldn’t hide the smile that is on my face even if I wanted to when I see all the effort she went through to make this evening special. The table is set, candles are burning, and the food smells fantastic. I’m starving, but seeing her smile is my top priority. Making her happy is my only agenda because Evelyn deserves the damn world and I intend to give it to her.

Turning the corner to the kitchen, I freeze in my tracks. “There’s my girl...?”What in the fuck? “Annie? What are you doing here?”

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