Page 12 of Destroying Everleigh

He thought about it for a moment before sinking back into his seat. “It’s cool,” he relented with a sigh. “Not much fun when you don’t have anywhere to go.”

“Have you tried asking Kash?”

He snorted at that. “Are you kidding me? He’s been up Crystal’s ass for months. He won’t miss an opportunity to see that bitch.”

I reeled back with surprise. I didn’t even know he’d been interested in Crystal. Then again, I’ve kind of been off in a world of my own lately. Guilt gnawed at me at that realization. Kash was our other best friend, and James was right. If Kash had a girl he was interested in, nothing would stop him from pursuing her. He’d take any opportunity he could.

“Crystal hasn’t shown any interest in him?” I pried as our teacher started passing out papers.

He shrugged. “Not sure. He hasn’t really talked about it other than to say that he wants to bang her.”

“Haven’t they already hooked up?”

He huffed a laugh. “Yeah, but apparently it wasn’t enough.”

She was an easy lay, but I haven’t tried to turn it into something serious. Maybe she preferred just being casual.Wasn’t anything wrong with that I supposed, but she did come on pretty strong. If she was treating Kash the way she did me, then she was leading him on. Simple as that. It was fucked up if that was the case. I’d have to dig deeper into it to make sure. Kash wasn’t good at casual, not when feelings were involved already—hell, I wasn’t sure anyone was.

Leaning back in my seat, my head spun with this new information. Suddenly, I felt like even more of a jackass for letting her cling to me earlier in the cafeteria. She’s been our friend for a while, but that didn’t offer her immunity to do whatever the hell she wanted at no cost.

My mind was still reeling by the time class ended and I trudged into biology. My thoughts immediately disintegrated when my eyes caught Everleigh’s from across the room. She was seated at one of the large round tables in the back. She quickly tore her gaze from mine, redirecting her attention to her fingers.

My heart pounded furiously as I made my way toward her and slipped into the seat next to hers. “Hey,” I whispered.

She shot me a weary look, confusion twisting her facial expression. She probably thought I was an asshole.

When she didn’t reply, I released a loaded sigh. “Look. I’m sorry. That wasn’t what it looked like.”

Her teeth sank into her lower lip, the sight doing things to my dick that should have been illegal. She was breathtaking. Even when she was mad at me. Even when she wore baggy T-shirts and hoodies with joggers and sweats. Being around her was an addiction in itself—one I wasn’t willing to let go of yet.

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “Don’t worry about it. It’s fine.” But I could tell she didn’t mean it—that she just didn’t want the confrontation.

“I’m being real with you, Everleigh. She had just grabbed me when you walked in. I was frozen for a moment, but I promise you, I don’t care about her that way.”

She hesitated, not willing to believe me that quickly, and I couldn’t even fucking blame her. “Was this just some kind of game to you?” she countered, disregarding everything else I’d said. “Because if it is?—”

“It’s not,” I replied firmly.

“I don’t know what to believe.”

I scooted closer to her, reveling in the floral scent of her perfume. “Then believe this,” I muttered, cupping her face in my hands. My lips came down on hers in the middle of class and I was thankful that the teacher was running late as usual.

She parted for me, almost like she couldn’t help herself. Even as the class erupted in shocked gasps and murmurs, she still kissed me back. My grip tightened around her, my tongue slipping through the gap in her mouth. The cherry flavor of her lip-gloss melted against my tongue and I fucking devoured it.

She pulled away, her skin flushed with embarrassment and desire as she turned her head. I watched the accelerated movement of her chest while she worked to catch her breath, and I couldn’t help but grin. Knowing I had that kind of effect on her was empowering.

“You’re crazy,” she murmured, turning to look at me again, but a small smile played around the edges of her mouth, and I counted that as a win.

“Hell yeah, I am.”

I moved my hand beneath the table, placing it on her upper thigh. My fingertips brushed along the smooth surface of her sweats. If she’d let me, I’d slip my hand beneath her waistband and stroke her pussy, but she already said she wasn’t ready yet, and I didn’t want to push my luck. My gaze drifted to her soft facial features, noting how she bit her lower lip when she was nervous. The skin was irritated and red as she chomped down on it, her attention fixated on the white board across the room. She knew I was staring; she could feel it. It was obvious in the rigidway she sat, the slowness of her breathing, and the slight flush on her porcelain skin.

I loved how inexperienced she was. I also loved how she’d banter back and forth with me when she thought it meant nothing.Thatwas who she was. Not this small, meek thing. But when it came to her, I’d take whatever side she gave me. I just wantedher.

My fingers moved upwards on her thigh, the heat of her body radiating through my palm. Her throat bobbed with nervousness when she swallowed, and I could feel my own heart rate pick up at the mere sight of her reacting to me.

“Are you going to King’s Hollow this year?” I asked in a raspier tone than intended. King’s Hollow was a pumpkin patch with extra activities set up for all ages. There was a haunted house, a few bouncy castles, a place for face painting, the field for pumpkin picking, and a spot to get temporary tattoos. There were also food trucks littering the parking lot.

“Probably. We go every year.” Her gaze met mine. “Areyougoing?”

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