Page 68 of In this Moment

Chapter Sixteen

All Evie really wanted to do was hide away from the world and feel sorry for herself. But she was a mother and moms didn’t have the luxury of forgetting the world existed. Even when their heart was shattered into a million pieces. When Brandon’s mom called and told her that Jonah needed to come home, because Brandon wasn’t feeling well, she’d reluctantly pulled herself off the couch and driven to pick himup.

It was barely after seven, and the whole night stretched beforethem.

“Want to play a game, Mom?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, buddy. I don’t feel much up to games tonight.”

“Are you sick?” Jonah asked from the backseat. “You look kind ofsick.”

“No,” she said. “I’m not sick. Just…” How did you explain heartbreak to a kid? “I’m…I’m tired.”

“Okay.” Jonah sat back against the seat and she instantly felt bad. It wasn’t his fault that she was sad. None of it was his fault. She tried to think of something she could say to make him feel better, but her mind was blank. She’d make it up tohim.

Anothertime.

They were quiet for the rest of the short drive and when she pulled up in front of her house, she did a double take. There were cars parked out front and people sitting on her frontstep.

Jade, Gwen, and Milena, all with backpacks on, sat waiting for her. Backpacks?

The minute she put the car in park, Jonah was out and running up the walk. He’d become quite fond of all the McCormicks and their wives and girlfriends over such a short time. That fact squeezed her heart a little. She was no longer going to be part of that family. Not that she ever really was, but it had been fun to pretend.

Jonah was hugging Milena when Evie finally walked up the path and joined them. “Hi?” she said somewhat tentatively. “What are you guys doing?”

“We’re going hiking,” Gwensaid.

“Backpacking, to be more specific.” It was Jade who said it, which made it almost laughable. Not even two months ago, she’d been a slick city girl who didn’t have appropriate clothes and shoes for casual lake life and now she stood in front of her, talking about going backpacking? Evie could barely reconcileit.

“What do you mean you’re going backpacking?”

“No,” Milena said. “Not we.” She gestured between them. “Us.” Her hand made a sweeping gesture, encompassing all of them. “I remember hearing that you like to go up in the woods when things are tough and it’s kind of a relaxing thing foryou.”

Declan must have told themthat.

Too many reminders. Would it always hurt to be reminded of Declan? It was too soon to tell, but Evie couldn’t imagine a time when it wouldn’t.

She sighed. “I do. But I don’t knowif—”

“It’s the perfect time.” Jade jumped up. “And we’ve packed everything you need, so we can justgo.”

“You guys, it’s really nice of you, but—”

“But nothing.” Gwen grabbed her hand. “Besides, I bet Jonah would like to do something fun. Especially since his sleepover was cancelled.”

“How do you know about—”

“Can we, Mom?” Jonah jumped up and down like a four-year-old on Christmas morning. “Please? It’ll be fun and it’s totally not fair that Brandon got sick. He didn’t even look sick. Please?”

She was too tired to fight him. Besides, it might be nice to get outside, look up at the stars and forget about real life for a while. “Well, it is getting kind of late, but maybe if we don’t go too far…I know a placethat—”

“No,” Milena interrupted. “I have a place all picked out. I used to go there when I was akid.”

Evie shot her a look. “Okay,” she said reluctantly. “As long as it’s notfar.”

“Not at all. Do you think Jade could handle that?” She elbowed Jade, who pretended to be offended, but laughed.

“It’s true. I’m not much of a hiker at the best of times, let alone when I have a little person in my stomach.” She patted her still flat tummy and Evie smiled.

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