Read Online The Arrangement by Hilary Hamblin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Hilary Hamblin
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and blond, with a model’s figure? Or was she a brunette with blue eyes to match Eli’s and a sparkling personality? What attracted Eli to her? Had he dated since they broke up?
Questions tumbled through her brain, but she lacked the courage to ask them. The silence between them lengthened. She sipped her coffee and considered options for changing the subject. She would return to Whitney, but not today. Today he seemed so far away already. If he remembered too much about Whitney too soon, he might be afraid to call Evie again.
“How did you decide you did want to go into politics, like your dad?” she asked.
Like flipping a switch, Eli’s eyes sparkled again. “Well, when Whitney left, I was devastated to say the least. I talked to Mom, and she suggested I pray about the whole situation. I thought I had my life pretty well mapped out, and Whitney’s leaving made everything fall apart. I knew Mom was right, but the more I prayed the more uncertain I was. Nothing seemed right anymore. I put my townhouse on the market about the same time Whitney left because I knew I couldn’t stay in D.C. anymore. But I didn’t know where I needed to go.
“About a month later the partners from Dad’s old law firm called and offered me a job. I was confused and stunned at first, but the more I considered their offer, the more I knew it was the right thing to do. So here I am.”
“Following in your dad’s footsteps,” Evie murmured.
“I guess so.” Eli chuckled a little. “I’m still not sure about going into politics, though. I kind of like my house and land and the small-town atmosphere. In D.C., I didn’t have any of that. Everything is so fast-paced, and everyone is out for themselves. No one thinks about helping someone else. Here it’s a different story.”
Evie narrowed her eyes as she considered his last comment. For years she had longed to escape the small town Eli claimed as his safe harbor. She never thought about the kindness and routine of everyday life there. And she had never considered the harshness of living in a large city like D.C. She imagined the constant motion of people moving into and out of the city day and night. The buzz and whoosh of cars up and down the interstate. The shrill laughter of young adults enjoying a night out after work. The low chuckles of old politicians telling war stories and arguing about policies.
Her mind shifted from her dream of city life back to the small town Eli already loved. What Eli perceived as “helping” and interested in people Evie would describe as nosy and full of gossip. In fact, she wondered how long it would take for her coffee date with Eli to make its way back to her parents. In a way she hoped news of their meeting would travel quickly. Then her parents would believe that she was following their wishes. At last the plan she and Ben had concocted was being set into motion.
Ben. For the first time since the beginning of her conversation with Eli, his name barged into her head. She had gotten so wrapped up in Eli’s life story, she had almost forgotten about her second date for the evening. She tried to casually glance at her watch. She still had a little time before she needed to leave to meet Ben, but she had to stay on task.
“What?” Eli asked.
Evie looked up from her watch to see him staring at her, his brows arched. “What do you mean?”
“You looked like you were thinking hard about something. I just wondered what had captured you so intently.”
Evie smiled, hoping to hide her guilty sigh of relief. “Nothing. I just thought about how differently you and I see small-town life. I guess it helps if living in a big place is all you’ve ever known.”
Evie peered up at Eli through her eyelashes. How much of herself could she reveal before she got too personal? Words started to spill from her lips before she could consider the idea any further. “I’ve always wanted to live somewhere like New York or D.C. Somewhere people don’t
Questions tumbled through her brain, but she lacked the courage to ask them. The silence between them lengthened. She sipped her coffee and considered options for changing the subject. She would return to Whitney, but not today. Today he seemed so far away already. If he remembered too much about Whitney too soon, he might be afraid to call Evie again.
“How did you decide you did want to go into politics, like your dad?” she asked.
Like flipping a switch, Eli’s eyes sparkled again. “Well, when Whitney left, I was devastated to say the least. I talked to Mom, and she suggested I pray about the whole situation. I thought I had my life pretty well mapped out, and Whitney’s leaving made everything fall apart. I knew Mom was right, but the more I prayed the more uncertain I was. Nothing seemed right anymore. I put my townhouse on the market about the same time Whitney left because I knew I couldn’t stay in D.C. anymore. But I didn’t know where I needed to go.
“About a month later the partners from Dad’s old law firm called and offered me a job. I was confused and stunned at first, but the more I considered their offer, the more I knew it was the right thing to do. So here I am.”
“Following in your dad’s footsteps,” Evie murmured.
“I guess so.” Eli chuckled a little. “I’m still not sure about going into politics, though. I kind of like my house and land and the small-town atmosphere. In D.C., I didn’t have any of that. Everything is so fast-paced, and everyone is out for themselves. No one thinks about helping someone else. Here it’s a different story.”
Evie narrowed her eyes as she considered his last comment. For years she had longed to escape the small town Eli claimed as his safe harbor. She never thought about the kindness and routine of everyday life there. And she had never considered the harshness of living in a large city like D.C. She imagined the constant motion of people moving into and out of the city day and night. The buzz and whoosh of cars up and down the interstate. The shrill laughter of young adults enjoying a night out after work. The low chuckles of old politicians telling war stories and arguing about policies.
Her mind shifted from her dream of city life back to the small town Eli already loved. What Eli perceived as “helping” and interested in people Evie would describe as nosy and full of gossip. In fact, she wondered how long it would take for her coffee date with Eli to make its way back to her parents. In a way she hoped news of their meeting would travel quickly. Then her parents would believe that she was following their wishes. At last the plan she and Ben had concocted was being set into motion.
Ben. For the first time since the beginning of her conversation with Eli, his name barged into her head. She had gotten so wrapped up in Eli’s life story, she had almost forgotten about her second date for the evening. She tried to casually glance at her watch. She still had a little time before she needed to leave to meet Ben, but she had to stay on task.
“What?” Eli asked.
Evie looked up from her watch to see him staring at her, his brows arched. “What do you mean?”
“You looked like you were thinking hard about something. I just wondered what had captured you so intently.”
Evie smiled, hoping to hide her guilty sigh of relief. “Nothing. I just thought about how differently you and I see small-town life. I guess it helps if living in a big place is all you’ve ever known.”
Evie peered up at Eli through her eyelashes. How much of herself could she reveal before she got too personal? Words started to spill from her lips before she could consider the idea any further. “I’ve always wanted to live somewhere like New York or D.C. Somewhere people don’t
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