Page 101 of The Wrong Side Of Us

I nodded, taking a deep breath. “She got drunk in the office,” I muttered, nervous to tell her the rest. Evelyn didn’t say anything, however, knowing better than to think Jessica would just leave it at that.

Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “What else?”

“She kissed me.”

Evelyn nodded, not surprised and unfazed. Her eyes didn’t lie, however, and as she ran her hands through her hair again, I knew this was just beginning. She walked around the room, setting her hands on the dresser and bracing herself for whatever else was to come.

“I have the feeling there’s more. Why don’t you go ahead and tell me?”

Chapter 39

Evelyn

There is a type of exhaustion that is much worse than the physical type. Of course, I was tired. I was pregnant and hormonal. Some days, all I wanted to do was sleep. So yes, physically I was tired. But mentally and emotionally, I was completely drained. I had no energy left. No fight left in me…or so I thought.

I was tired, but part of me was ready for war. That part of me was anxious for a fight, against everything and everyone. I wasn’t a fighter; I didn’t like arguing or problems, but the understanding person I once was started disappearing. In fact, it felt that she was so far gone that I didn’t remember what it was like to be her anymore.

I couldn’t do it anymore.

There would be no more lies tolerated, no more putting up with any shit no matter where it came from. There’s only so much a person can handle no matter how good they are. I had finally reached my limit.

My heart pounded against my chest with such force I was sure that Nathan could hear it. I had to keep it together, had to remain strong. Lately it seemed like it was all I did: pretend to be okay. Try to keep the pieces that remained from falling apart, from losing them. It wasn’t working anymore. It felt like the shreds of my sanity were also slipping away. My brain never got a break. I slept, and it was no longer peaceful. I was paranoid, on edge…and so, so tired.

Hands gripping the dresser, I asked the question one more time. “So what happened, Nathan?” His hesitation only made me fear the worst, but I refused to show it. “You can be specific. You don’t have to keep it PG-13. I can handle it.”

He scoffed, shaking his head as he took a seat on the bed. He was stressed, running his hands over his face, his gaze staying fixed on the ceiling.

We could hear nothing else but our breathing. I was waiting…patiently waiting for the bomb to drop or for me to explode. I wasn’t sure which would happen first.

“She was naked,” Nathan said, his eyes finally meeting mine.

I raised an eyebrow.

Keep calm.

Lava made its way through my veins. There was no other way to describe it. It hurt. It burned.

And refusing to show any of the pain I felt, I reacted with the only defense mechanism I knew. “You must’ve enjoyed it. She is very pretty.”

Nathan’s jaw clenched. I didn’t back down.

“What else?” I asked. There had to be more. If I knew anything about Jessica, it was that she wouldn’t have left an opportunity like that go.

“Evie—”

“Don’t.” I stopped him before he could say something to try to calm me down. I was calm, disturbingly so. It was like the calm before the storm, and this storm no one was prepared for. “Tell me what happened, because I will find out anyways.”

Nathan nodded, letting out an audible sigh. “That’s it, Evie. She was just…there.”

Every muscle in my body tensed. And yet, as if I was an expert at keeping my emotions in check, I remained level headed. I wanted to know so he was telling me. There was no enjoyment in his face, not as if he’d liked what he’d seen.

But there was guilt.

“How long?” I kept my voice steady as I spoke.

Nathan’s brows pulled together in confusion. “What?”

“How long did it take you to leave? How long did you stay while she was naked in front of you?”

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