Page 81 of Destroying Everleigh

I just needed a day to regroup. One day.

Which was precisely why I was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling instead of going to Northbrook. I’d let Briley take my car, as much as I didn’t want to. But I’d rather she drive herself than be stuck in an enclosed space with her.

I was still trying to wrap my head around why she was doing what she was doing. We’ve always been close, and Mom’s illness along with Dad’s abandonment had brought us closer. What changed? Mom dying? She wasn’t the only one who was suffering. But then again, maybe it had nothing to do with that. Briley had always been impulsive and never showed signs of even having a moral compass. She was still young. Most girls would fall at the feet of Ashton Banks, so could I really blame her?

Of course I could.

Briley wasn’t most girls. She was mysister. Young or not, she knew what he used to mean to me. She helped comfort me after we broke up. And then she had the fucking audacity to start dating him. I would have expected something like that from Amber. But not my own sister of all people.

A knock sounded at the door, making my head throb. Nobody should be coming by this early in the morning on a school day. I blew out a breath and forced myself into a sitting position. I’d tried sleeping as much as possible, but eventually, that stopped working. I felt numb as I tightened my robe around my body and trudged out into the hallway. Life had never been more dull.

A knock sounded again, louder this time, as I approached the door and swung it open. My breath hitched and I could feel the color drain from my skin as my eyes locked with Dallas’s. He looked as professional as ever in a suit with his fingers curled around the handle of his briefcase. I hated how fucking attractive he was. He was another asshole on my shit list. Hisbrown hair was styled to the side, gel holding it in place. He reeked of money, and that just made me loathe him even more.

His light blue eyes roamed over me. Taking in my raggedy ass hair, my choice of clothing, and the frazzled expression I wore upon seeing him.

“May I come in?” he asked in a cool tone, keeping his expression void of any emotion.

I didn’t want him to come in. I didn’t want to give him more ammunition against me. He was just looking for a reason to kick us out. Has been since he inherited his father’s company.

“That won’t be necessary,” I said weakly. “I don’t have your money yet. I can give you the six hundred now, but?—”

“You’re short,” he finished for me, arching an eyebrow.

Why did he have to show up today of all days? I just wanted one fucking day to myself. The universe couldn’t even give me that? Evidently not, if my landlord was standing front and center demanding payment.

I blew out a frustrated breath and nodded.

He didn’t display any obvious signs of agitation, but he never did. He was always so calm and collected—always so put together. It was hard to believe he was only in his twenties with how well he carried himself.

“I won’t ask again, Everleigh. May I come in?”

My hand trembled where it still rested on the doorknob. He’d find a way to enter anyways. Even if he had to do it the legal route. He was anything if not persistent. Deciding that there wasn’t much choice in the matter, I opened the door wider and stepped away from it. He stepped through the threshold, a thick fog of spicy cologne bleeding into the area surrounding him. It smelled as expensive as he looked.

Dallas took his time, glancing around the living room. His nose wrinkled slightly at the stale scent of mold in the air. But Icouldn’t even find it in myself to be self-conscious about it. The mold had been here even long before we moved in.

“I heard about your mother. My condolences.” He turned to face me again, not bothering to close the door behind him like a decent human being would have. But maybe I should have been grateful that there was an escape route. Then again, he was wasting my air conditioning.

I huffed out a breath and pushed the door closed, clouding us in darkness. The only light we were given was from the few windows adorning the walls, but it was enough to keep things relatively bright since it was daytime.

“Thanks,” I muttered, not feeling all that gratuitous. He was only here for one thing. Money. And I didn’t have it. That meant he was probably going to go over my options with me, and it would probably result in us getting kicked out.

My grandparents had offered me a place to stay, but I didn’t want to burden them anymore than I already have.

“Feel free to sit down.”Asshole. I motioned toward the shitty couch adorning our living room before taking the lead and plopping down on the far right cushion.

Dallas eyed it with distaste for a moment, and it was almost enough to make me laugh. Almost. He grunted something I couldn’t make out before joining me on the sofa. He lowered his briefcase to the floor and folded his hands together, like he was afraid to touch anything with his bare hands.

“This is the third time you’ve shorted me on rent, Everleigh.” He shifted, so that we were facing one another.

My mom was the one on the lease, but he knew I was the one bringing in money. He’s been a complete hard ass, not giving a single fuck how rough we’ve had it. He knew she was sick. But all he cared about was getting paid. Like we weren’t humans, too. Like we didn’t matter. I suppose I couldn’t fault him for it too much. This was his business, and he was just doing his job.But he always got his money eventually, and it wasn’t like he was hurting for it.

“I understand.” My eyes met his, dread coursing through my body at where this conversation was headed. He rarely asked to come inside, and that was enough to make me brace myself. “But I don’t have it right now. If you just give me a few days, I can pick up some extra shifts. You’ll get your money.”

“We’re past that now. Don’t you think?” He cocked his head to the side in a condescending gesture.

I swallowed thickly, willing myself to remain calm. There had to besomethinghe wanted. He wouldn’t be wasting his time in this nasty ass house, talking to me about it, if he just wanted to throw me out. Right? Not unless he was getting off on tormenting me, which was also a very real possibility.

“My sister just got a job,” I tried. “She can help me with payments.”

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