Page 53 of I Knew He Was Trouble
“I’m not sure what to believe with Kelsey. I’m pretty sure she hated me until the date.”
“But now?”
The question hangs in the air, the answer just out of reach. “I don’t think she despises me anymore, but that doesn’t mean she wants anything more with me.”
“Do you want more with her?”
That question might be even more difficult to answer. I’ve never denied Kelsey’s beauty, but I did stuff down every ounce of attraction I felt toward her for the last two years. It was easy to do when she always let her dogs in my yard and glared at me every time she saw me.
But the more I’ve been around her, the more I appreciate our banter. I give her an A for effort with the list of fictional doctors she calls me. When I push aside my pride at being referred to as evil villains or monsters, I can admit it’s actually hilarious. She’s witty and beautiful, and when I watched her walls fall the slightest bit Saturday night, it left me wondering what it would take to make the rest of them come crumbling down.
If they fell completely, I’m not even sure what I’d do, but I hope she lets me stick around long enough to find out.
“I’m not sure what I want,” I say, “but I have time to figure it out.”
“The clock’s ticking. I want more great-great nieces or nephews.”
I huff out a laugh. “Let’s just start with dating first.”
“Are you at least ready to admit that I’m a wonderful matchmaker?”
“It’s not that I didn’t think you’d be good at it, I just wanted to meet someone the old-fashioned way.”
“Technically, you met Kelsey when she moved in next door. There’s your good old-fashioned love story. Problem solved.”
“It’s not that easy, Aunt D.” I pull up in front of my house and put the car in park.
“Love is easy. It’s people who make it hard.”
“Some of us more so than others, right?”
I can hear the smile in her voice. “Congratulations, you’re learning to read between the lines.”
“I should get going. I just got home.”
“Tell Evie and Kelsey hello for me.”
Once we hang up, I grab my phone and walk toward the porch when I notice how many missed calls and voicemails I have. Twenty-seven. It was a hectic day in the office, so I didn’t get a chance to check my phone. I scroll through them.
That’s weird. They’re all from random numbers in the area. I’m about to play the most recent voicemail when an incoming call pops up.
I accept the call. “Hello?”
The lady on the phone explains why she’s calling. My eyes go wide at herdescriptiveword choices. Words that certainly aren’t worth repeating.
“I’m not available for any of the”—I drop my voice to a whisper—“servicesyou’re mentioning. Please don’t call this number again.”
I shake my head.Weirdest prank call of my life.I press play on the next voicemail as I unlock the front door.
A woman’s voice comes through the speaker as I step inside. “Hey there, gorgeous. I’m calling about your ad. I’m in need of an in-home exam, but only if you show up in your scrubs and nothing el—”
My face heats. I rush to exit out of the voicemail as Evie runs over to me. I drop my things and catch her in my arms. I know there will come a day when she’s not as excited to see me, so I never take times like this for granted.
“How was your day?” I ask.
“The best.” She spins, her arms spread wide. “I got an A-plus on my spelling sheet.”
“You know what that calls for?” I smile, knowing I’ll take her wherever she wants to go.
