Evan heard the blasted grandfather clock downstairs start to sing, and annoyance rang through him. He couldn’t help counting the chimes, and while Riley had teased him about not being able to count, he certainly could in that moment.
Nine. Nine chimes.
And Riley still hadn’t shown up.
“She said she’d come,” Evan said, looking into his full suitcase. He’d finished his laundry and packing about five minutes ago, but he couldn’t face going out into the rest of the house alone. Carl was surely sitting at the kitchen table, their flight itineraries printed in front of him, though Evan had everything he needed on his phone.
He’d been telling himself for two hours not to text her. But she’d probably be upset he hadn’t. Evan wasn’t sure how to win with Riley, and he really wanted to.
So he pi
