While the O’Connors said their goodbyes, Evie snuck back to the spare bedroom and closed the door with a soft click. Stretching out on the bed, she rested her head on the pillow and closed her eyes.
Thank God for the quiet. She enjoyed being around people, but she’d been through the emotional equivalent of a spin cycle, and she was wrung out.
Davy knocked on the door.
Davy.
Another reason for the turbulent confusion turning her world topsy-turvy. She’d never have guessed his family would embrace her as they had—eager to welcome her into the fold. Or perhaps she’d secretly been afraid they would, making it even more difficult to leave. Perhaps that was why she’d really refused to meet them. She didn’t know anymore.
“What is it?” she asked.
He peered around the corner and smiled, brackets forming around his mouth. “I’m heading down to the school for a friendly game of rugby with the boys. Are you up to joining me, or do you need a little time?”
“Ugh, I don’t know.” The idea of getting outside and enjoying the sun appealed, but showing up to a social event with Davy would raise questions she didn’t want raised, and what’s more, she hadn’t thrown a rugby ball in her life. Not that she’d admit as much to him. He’d been a member of the local team since primary school, and frankly, her inexperience was downright unpatriotic.
She’d watched games aplenty. A girl couldn’t get by in New Zealand without watching the odd All Blacks game, especially if she frequented bars or worked in hospitality, but she’d moved around so much that joining a sports team had seemed like a waste of time. After a while, it simply became too embarrassing to admit she couldn’t play. Better to pretend disinterest.
“There’s not much I can do with that answer,” he said. “Why don’t you come along and you can lie in the sun if you don’t want to take part?”
She supposed that sounded okay. “You’ve convinced me. Give me five minutes.”
“How about two?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t push your luck, Irishman.” Just to be contrary, she took her time getting ready, changing into leggings and a soft jersey because the summer air was beginning to cool. She redid her mascara and added a layer of fiery red lipstick. A touch of body shimmer lotion on her cheekbones and cleavage, and she was done.
They drove to the sports field in Davy’s station wagon, with Evie in the passenger seat. “So, who will be at this rugby game?” she asked.
“The usual suspects. Gareth, Justin, Cooper, Ramsay, Blake, Hemi, maybe a few others.”
Evie winced. With Gareth, Cooper and Justin present, there were more than fifty-fifty odds her friends would find out she’d spent Christmas day with Davy—and also that she’d been in town and not let them know. Less than ideal. While she hadn’t been in the mood to be with people until Davy talked her around, she’d never want to hurt their feelings.
They arrived, and parked on the gravel area beside the field. Pine trees ringed the grass, with the exception of the side nearest to the makeshift parking lot and a small, weathered clubroom was to the right of the playing field. Evie caught sight of a woman with a mass of ginger hair standing with the group of men near the clubhouse. Her pulse flew into overdrive and she ducked behind the dashboard. Emily. Damn. Evie liked Emily—she was impossible to dislike—but if Emily was here with Justin, then the chances were that the other men had brought their girlfriends, too.
“If you wanted to be on your hands and knees, all you had to do was ask,” Davy said, his tone laced with amusement.
She swatted his thigh. “This isn’t funny. I thought you said it would just be the guys here.”
“I thought it would be. Guess I got it wrong, sorry.”
“I need to know whether Avery and Sophie are out there.”
Davy scanned the group, who’d begun to turn their way.
“Yes, ’fraid so. Emily and Kayla, too.”
Evie groaned. “Not good,” she muttered to herself. “Not good at all.” Then, more loudly, she said, “Can you take me back to your place?”
Davy stared at her as if she were insane. “No. We just got here. I’m sorry I didn’t realize the girls were coming, but they’re your friends, and I’m not just going to do a U-turn and leave. As soon as I do, they’ll all ask why, and I’ll be forced to explain how you spent all of last night in my arms and were too embarrassed to face them today.”
She snorted. “You wouldn’t.”
He smirked. “Oh, I would.”
Her lips twisted into a sneer. “You bastard.”
He shrugged the insult off. “Been called worse. But I’d hate to tell my Mam you impugned her honor.”
Impugned. What kind of pretentious dickhead actually used a word like that? And to think she’d been admiring his muscular forearms on the steering wheel only moments earlier.
“Don’t worry about taking me all the way back,” she said, prepared to bargain with him. “If you let me out at the school gate, I’ll walk to your place.”
“Evelyn, I’m not driving you anywhere.”
Asshole. This could not be happening. She’d spent the night at his place specifically to avoid her friends—and yes, she knew how awful that sounded.
“I’ll stay here,” she said, in a last-ditch effort both to save face with her friends, and take away the risk of hurting their feelings.
Davy chuckled. “You can’t hide on the floor of my car for the next few hours. Suck it up, buttercup. It will be okay. I promise.”
“I suppose it’ll have to be.” She straightened, miming over-the-top movements to show anyone watching that she’d been searching for her earring on the floor, then fastened the imaginary earring in place and threw the door open without a backward glance.
“Hey, girls!” she cried, running toward her friends, arms outstretched.
Seeing her, Sophie leapt to her feet and met her halfway, yanking her into a fierce embrace. “Merry Christmas.” She kissed Evie’s cheek. “It’s been way too long since I saw you. How come you’re here?”
Evie shrugged, nonchalant. “You know me, always turning up like a bad penny. How have you been? How’s that sexy man of yours?”
Sophie flushed scarlet and Evie knew she’d struck distraction-tactic gold. Sophie had been dating their friend Aria’s older brother for a few months now, and though Evie had been surprised by the pairing at first, it made sense as soon as she saw them together. Their chemistry was hot as hell.
“He’s fine as ever,” Sophie said, her lips quirking up.
The truth in that smile kicked Evie in the heart. Sophie was happy. Really happy. After wasting years of her life on losers, she deserved it, but seeing the contentment that ran soul-deep hit a little close to home. Evie had never looked like that, not even close, and if she kept living the same nomadic lifestyle, keeping people at a distance, she doubted she ever would.
“Did he play Dirty Santa for you?” she teased, twirling a lock of Sophie’s hair around her finger. “Don’t tell me you haven’t jumped his bones today; I can see it written all over you. You have that whole loved-up, post-orgasm look.”
“Shh,” Sophie hissed, her eyes darting to each side to check no one had heard. “There was no Dirty Santa role play, but we definitely celebrated Christmas the way it should be.”
“Good girl.”
“So, where’d you run into Davy?”
Evie pretended not to hear her, turning and waving at Avery, who was walking toward them.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Avery hugged her. “I thought you were down south.”
“I finished my job at the cafe two days ago,” Evie explained. “I’m heading to Timaru to pick berries until I find another one.” No need to mention her existential crisis.
Both women nodded.
“How’d you meet up with Davy?” Avery asked, eyes narrow above her aquiline nose.
Time to fib like a pro. “I hitched a ride from Oamaru to Itirangi. He saw me walking and suggested I come along to catch up with you guys.”
From the way Avery’s brows knitted together, Evie could tell her friend didn’t believe her. Ever the scientist, she tended towards skepticism, while Sophie trusted people, often to her detriment.
Sophie smiled. “I’m glad you did. I haven’t seen you since Lauren was born.”
“Speaking of, how is the little bundle of joy?”
“She’s adorable. Met her grandparents for the first time today, but that’s not the biggest news of all. Ask Avery.”
Evie turned to Avery expectantly. With a grin, Avery flashed her left hand and the sun glinted off a diamond on the fourth finger. A sparkling solitaire set in a white gold band.
Evie jumped on the spot, clapping her hands. “Oh my God! I’m so excited for you, girlfriend. When did it happen? How did he propose?” Gripping Avery’s hand, she tugged it closer to study the ring. “He had to pick the biggest rock in the shop, didn’t he?”
Avery chuckled, deep and throaty. “Slow down. One question at a time. He proposed just before lunch, at Aria’s place. Nothing over the top, just handed me the ring and asked.” She angled it until it dazzled the both of them. “It is gorgeous. He did well.”
“Probably took Caro with him to help,” Evie said, referring to Gareth’s sister. “Have you set a date?”
“Slow down,” she repeated. “We only got engaged a few hours ago. It’ll take a while to sort out the details. It may surprise you, but I’m not one of those girls who planned their entire wedding when they were five.”
“I’m shocked.” Evie released her hand. “Shocked and appalled.”
Avery snort-laughed. They both looked at Sophie, who flushed. While Avery had never been the marrying kind, Sophie had probably decided on a color scheme before she’d been old enough for high school. She’d had a romanticized view of marriage, seeing it as the ultimate security blanket, but these days she had a hottie of her own and didn’t seem to be in such a rush to tie the knot.
“Merry Christmas, Evie.”
Glancing up, she realized the others had joined them. Emily smiled, and hugged her. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Justin watching them. She nodded to him, and he jerked his chin in response. He wasn’t exactly the chatty type, but he never let his girl out of his sight and Emily more than made up for his reserve with her bubbly personality.
“Merry Christmas, Em,” Evie replied. “Hi, Kayla.”
Where Emily was redheaded, curvy and gorgeous, her best friend Kayla was a petite blonde with glasses and straight-edged bangs.
“Hey, there,” Kayla said. “Shall we find somewhere to sit? I think the guys are about to begin, and we want to make sure we’re out of their way.”
They made their way to the sideline, and Evie lay on her back, closing her eyes and basking in the remaining sunlight. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad after all.