Page 94 of Destroying Everleigh

I wasn’t sure if she was offering to go help my mom or to hold the baby. But Astrid seemed to suspect the latter, because her shoulders dropped in relief, and she hurried over to us. She gently placed the small child in Everleigh’s arms. He was dressed in a sleeper and had these big, blue eyes—his mother’s eyes. Even I had to admit, the child was cute.

“Thank you so much.” Astrid sighed in relief. She turned her back and made her way back into the kitchen to where my mom was.

Everleigh ran her fingertips along the side of the baby’s chubby cheek. I could see a hint of a smile on her face, adoration for the child she didn’t even know. Mybrother’schild. My grip tightened around Everleigh’s waist, causing her to shift against me in obvious discomfort.

I was surprised that Astrid was willing to let Evie have anything to do with her baby given the circumstances. But maybe she didn’t blame her like I did. It had been three years since it happened, and she could have just…gotten over it. But I wasn’t around them, so I had no idea how she felt.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, an edge to my voice.

Everleigh glanced over at me with furrowed eyebrows. “She needed someone to hold the baby. What does it look like I’m doing?”

My jaw tightened. I didn’t want her holding my brother’s kid. I didn’t want her to get along with my family. I’d brought her here to make her uncomfortable. To make my family uncomfortable. Rage simmered beneath my skin.

“Get up,” I growled. “We’re leaving.” I hadn’t expected this to backfire on me. Logically, I knew that there was nothing wrongwith what she was doing. It wasn’t my brother she was helping out. It was his wife. But I still couldn’t shake this feeling. Having her here again, around my family, and in this house full of memories was bothering me more than I cared to admit. This was the same house that she fuckedhimin.

“Chill out,” she snapped. “It’s just until she gets done helping your mom.”

I was thankful that the living room was large enough and Dakota couldn’t hear us from where he was seated. I had no idea where Dad had gone, probably back to his office.

I was half tempted to fuck her again. Just to send a fucking message on who was in charge here. But the whore would probably enjoy it too much. I didn’t want her pleasure. The only thing that mattered to me, as far as Everleigh was concerned, was her pain.

Luckily, it didn’t take Astrid too long to finish up, and she came to retrieve the baby as soon as she was done. As soon as the baby was out of Everleigh’s arms, I shoved against her back to coax her into standing.

Reluctantly, she rose, glancing over at me with weariness. She knew I was pissed. It wasn’t because she held the baby, either. It wasn’t that fucking simple. Everything in this fucking house reminded me of the stupid bitch. From the meal we’d eaten, to the normal conversations with my family, to my brother and his wife.

“Thank you for dinner,” I told my mom as soon as she entered the living room. “But I think we’re going to head out now.”

Mom didn’t seem pleased by that. “Already?” she asked. “I thought we could get out the card games, or a board game.”

The mere thought of playing family games with Everleigh and my brother just stoked the fire rising inside of me. “Pass.” Igrabbed Everleigh’s hand, not caring how aggressive it looked to my family.

Everleigh forced a small smile. “I have to work tonight, anyways. Thank you for having me.”

I didn’t wait for my mother to reply. I was jerking Everleigh through the house and out the door. My chest was heaving as memories flashed through my mind. Memories of him on top of her, his groans permeating the air as he slid in and out ofmygirlfriend.

“What’s wrong?” Everleigh asked, gasping when her foot caught on a large rock. She stumbled but managed to regain her balance.

“Get in the fucking car,” I snapped.

I fished my keys out of my pocket, thankful that they were still there despite me throwing my jeans on the ground earlier. Everleigh hesitated, a spark of fear in her brown eyes. She was scared of me. Good.

“Don’t make me repeat myself,” I warned. I jerked open my door and slid inside. After a few minutes of weighing her options, she joined me in the car, her hands twisted together in her lap.

It was stupid bringing her here. All Everleigh had to do was tell my mom some sob story and my mother instantly felt bad for her. That wasn’t how my night was expected to go. I jammed the key into the ignition and twisted, my entire body vibrating with restrained anger.

We were both silent as I peeled out onto the road, my hands tight around the steering wheel. We were all the way on the south side of town, and Everleigh lived on the north. It was a decent drive, which meant it would be an even longer walk. I shouldn’t have brought her there. What the fuck had I been thinking? Bringing her around my family. Mybrother. My stomach twisted with nausea.

Everleigh glanced over at me, a weariness in her gaze like she could sense the anger radiating from me. I wasn’t exactly subtle. “D-did I do something wrong?” she finally asked with hesitation.

I didn’t even know how to answer that. She didn’t do anything wrong, not really. Not this time, at least. I did this to myself. “You mean, aside from fucking my brother?” I snapped.

Everleigh winced and tore her gaze away, looking out the window again instead. What the hell did she think this was? A date? My body was vibrating with rage, and I wanted to release it so goddamn badly, but I didn’t trust myself not to physically harm her. I’d already taken it out on her pussy, and that sated me for a bit, but it was back with a vengeance. I knew it would probably go away if I fucked her again, but it was a one-time thing.

My breathing grew deeper as the anger continued to build. Memories resurfaced, causing my hands to tighten around the steering wheel even more, to the point to where I thought it may break beneath my fingers.

The I love yous, making love, the thought that she’d one day be my wife. It was all a lie. A normal person would have moved on by now. Things like this happened all the time. I just never expected that she would do something like that to me. Maybe it was my own fault. I was the one who forced her onto my friends; I wanted to share her. Maybe I should have been more specific.

As we reached the end of the south side, I jerked my car onto the shoulder. Everleigh shifted uncomfortably, glancing around at our surroundings.

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