Page 65 of Such A Bad Girl

“Theo was there. He protected me. If it wasn’t for him….” I let my words trail off, tears springing to my eyes.

“Yeah. He’s a good guy.” West’s voice was gruff with emotion. “But he shouldn’t have let you keep this a secret all this time. You both should have told me.”

“Well, we didn’t. We were both protecting you. And ourselves, too, I guess. The fewer people who knew, the less risk. We thought it was only us who knew the truth. I guess we were wrong, though. Don’t be hard on Theo. He did what he thought was right. We were just kids.”

He pulled back, peering deep into my eyes. “But the secrets end here, Ev, understood? Please don’t keep anything else from me. I need to know the truth at all times so I can protect you properly. It’s been my job from day one, and it will be until we die. You know Mom sat me down and put you into my lap right when you were born, right? She told me I was afraid I’d drop you. I don’t remember, I was too young, but I feel like the weight of that responsibility stayed with me. I feel like I dropped you, Ev.”

“You’re a good brother, West,” I said, shoving away the twinge of guilt that I felt. He didn’t know about my feelings for Theo, and I wanted to tell him now, but I knew I couldn’t. There was so much going on, I wasn’t sure he could handle my confession that I loved Theo right now.

“Get some rest now,” he said, with a sigh. He kissed my forehead and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts of Theo as I drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Forty-Two

EVERLEIGH

Sleep was sporadic and fitful. I spent the night tossing and turning in West’s guest bed. By the time the sunlight began to shine through the windows, I was itching to go home.

I needed my own bed. My clothes, my kitchen, my privacy.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I got up and padded to the kitchen to make coffee. Everyone else was still asleep, and I welcomed the moment alone to collect my thoughts.

I knew West would protest when I said I was going home, but I didn’t care. He couldn’t keep me locked up here forever, even if it was for my own protection. I had to live my life. I had to let the studio know what was going on. I needed to find my phone. My agent was probably blowing it up.

And I needed to fix my fucking hair!

I touched it gingerly, and my heart broke all over again. I might have seemed vain to others, but my hair was part of my identity. That very same identity that I wrestled with daily. Half fake, and half genuine. Half lies and half truth. Whatever side of me I decided to present to the world.

The fact that she’d taken it, hacked it away without my consent, was a violation that I knew I wouldn’t get over soon.

Anger coursed through my veins. I wanted to find some semblance of peace to hang onto, just for a moment of relief. But I was exhausted, on edge, and completely frustrated over having my life suddenly turned upside down.

If only Theo and I hadn’t been so young, maybe we would have made a better decision. Maybe everything wouldn’t have turned out so terribly. Maybe me being a victim would have been enough to explain what we’d done.

But we’d never know.

And now, we were paying for it. Still, after all these years.

Luckily, we were going to end this bullshit tonight. I was on edge about Theo going to meet with her, but if he could get to the bottom of this once and for all, and stay safe, then how could I tell him no?

I turned to the sound of footsteps behind me. Theo stood in the kitchen, wearing only a pair of jeans, silently watching me. Sunshine streamed down from the skylight above him, bathing his bare skin in a golden glow that took my breath away. His body was a masterpiece that he’d spent years sculpting. His rippling muscles created shadows that I longed to explore with my fingers. My eyes darted down, drawn by the outline of his bulge straining against the denim.

A flash of Theo kneeling between my legs invaded my thoughts. I quickly blinked the image away.

“Morning,” he mumbled, running a hand through his long hair. He looked like a fucking god standing there and all I could think about is what it felt like to be wrapped up in his arms.

“Hi,” I whispered, frozen in place, suddenly looking everywhere except at him. “I made coffee. Help yourself.”

“Thanks, Ev.” He turned and poured himself a cup. I turned to watch, shamelessly drinking in the sight of his bare back. In my head, my fingers trailed down it slowly, my nails deliciously scraping his skin…

I saw myself wrapping my arms around him, gently kissing the back of his shoulder. I saw him turning around and pulling me into his arms, his loving eyes staring down at me as he sank to his knees, his mouth finding just the right spot….

“Everleigh.”

His voice pulled me out of the fantasy. I snapped my eyes up to see him staring at me. His gaze was hot and heavy as he peered into my eyes.

I sighed, knowing I couldn’t be in the same room with him for long without touching him.

Not today. I was too weak, too needy.

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