Page 112 of Destroying Everleigh

“Don’t be a stupid bitch, Everleigh,” Ashton scoffed. “I’ll take you home.” His eyes flicked over to me. “You can take Briley. I don’t want that skank in my car.”

“What makes you think I want her in mine?” I countered.

Jameson snorted a laugh. “We could just make her walk.” He glanced over at the girl in question, a look of disgust flashing across his face.

Briley looked between us frantically before focusing on Lucas. “You can take me home, can’t you?” she asked in a small voice.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. The audacity of this bitch. It wasn’t bad enough that she was just caught fucking him, but now she expected him to give her a ride. I turned on my heels and crossed the parking lot where Everleigh and Jameson were standing. Her eyes were focused on the ground, and she was absentmindedly leaning into him for support. She must have been a wreck if she was letting him touch her after everything.

“How are you doing?” I asked, grabbing her hand to assess the damage. Her knuckles were split, and they were tinged red. There was no doubt in my mind that they’d bruise. It was a good thing she knew how to throw a punch, because she easily could have broken a finger.

She sucked in a sharp breath as my fingers skimmed over her knuckles. “Fine.”

I nodded. “Do you want to ride with me or Ash?”

Jameson jerked his head up in confusion. “Ash just said?—”

“I know what the fuck he said,” I snapped. “But he doesn’t control everything, and I’m sure that the last thing she wants to do is fight with him the entire way home.” I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Lucas and Briley arguing about something. Apparently, he wasn’t that eager to be her white knight either.

Everleigh’s voice drew my attention. “I said I can drive myself,” she protested.

“That’s not one of your options,” Jameson chimed in. “One of us will pick you up for school in the morning. That’s the best offer you’re getting.”

She shot him a glare and then winced, holding a few fingers to the corner of her skull. She was too tired to argue; it waswritten all over her face. And that was fine with me, it just meant she was more pliable.

“Then yes. I’d rather ride with you than Ashton.” She sighed.

Briley’s annoying ass voice cut through our conversation. “Seriously Lucas,” she asked in bewilderment. “I can’t walk all the way back to the North side.”

Lucas shrugged, seemingly unphased by the entire ordeal. He was a real piece of work. He was the main cause for all of this, and he couldn’t even be bothered to give his little fuck buddy a ride home. “Not my problem,” he shot back before sauntering over to his vehicle across the lot. He shot Everleigh one last lingering glance before climbing behind the wheel and taking off.

Everleigh’s shoulders dropped in relief at his departure, and her skin prickled with goosebumps as another wave of cool air blew through, whipping her long ponytail behind her shoulders. She shivered against the cold, and Jameson quickly pulled her against his chest. A sharp pang of jealousy shot through me as I watched her tense within his hold, only to relax moments later and allow him to help keep her warm.

“Come on, Everleigh,” Ashton ordered.

“She wants to ride with me,” I explained. “Looks like you’re on little slut duty.” A smirk tugged at my mouth, and I nodded in Briley’s direction for emphasis.

“I don’t want her blood all over my new ass car.” He glared at me before making his way over. Everleigh had blood on her hands, but that was about it. It wouldn’t be nearly as messy. But she made her choice.

Everleigh tipped her head up when he moved to stand in front of her. A spark of defiance flashed within her brown eyes. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

He released a scoff, narrowing his eyes at her. “I don’t remember giving you a choice.”

I blew out a breath. It was late as hell, and none of us had eaten, yet. “It’s fine,” I cut in. “I’ll just drop her off and come right back.”

Ashton hesitated, his jaw clenching as he mulled over my words. He was acting like she was his possession, and it was pissing me the hell off. “No funny business?” he finally asked, searching my gaze for any hint of a lie that he might find.

I reeled back in surprise. “No,” I gritted out.

I knew he just didn’t want a repeat of what happened between her and Jameson. He didn’t actually think I’d have sex with her, otherwise he wouldn’t even consider letting me take her—not that it was up to him, anyways. But even I could admit that if we were to go head-to-head in a fight, he’d probably beat me bloody. Not only did he have height to his advantage, but he had a lot more muscle mass, and experience. Jameson could probably beat my ass too, and we had similar body types. But he grew up on the north side and suffered through beating after beating for years by his father.

Ashton glanced over at Little E, who was still tucked in Jameson’s arms. His jaw feathered with anger as he took the two of them in, and I knew why. Everleigh and Jameson looked good together. They also had a history, maybe as much of one as her and Ash did.

Footsteps scuffed against the concrete, drawing all of our gazes. Briley was slowly making her way over, her eyes pinned to the ground in an attempt to avoid her sister’s gaze. The blood was beginning to dry around her nose and mouth, making her look like she’d just stepped out of an eighty’s horror film.

“Fine.” Ashton sighed. His lips curled with disgust as he took in the younger Knight sister. “Come on. And don’t get blood on my leather, or you’re licking it off.”

Briley nodded and followed him to his Challenger, leaving the three of us alone. It wasn’t until they drove off that Everleigh pulled away from Jameson, regardless of how cold she was.

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