Page 26 of Destroying Everleigh

I’d become infatuated with Everleigh as soon as Ashton brought her around the first time. It was innocent then. I’d just thought she was pretty. But as I got to know her, and she started coming around more, she started becoming irresistible. It had been their six-month anniversary when I realized I loved her, not that I’d ever admit it.

Dad had started drinking early one night, going on and on about how much of a fuck up I was. He cracked my ribsthat night, beat my face bloody, and then spit on me for good measure before stumbling back to his room for the night. I knew it was coming though. That was his anniversary with Mom. He always got extra pissy about it, and I was the one who suffered.

I remember lying on the ground, wheezing, hot tears stinging my eyes. I couldn’t tell Kash. He’d want me to come over and his parents already thought I was a bad influence on him. Ash was gone for the weekend for some away game, so I dialed the one person I could.

Everleigh.

I told her not to come into the house. I’d never forgive myself if she became a target of my father, and Ash would kill me for getting her hurt. So, I stumbled outside and slid into the passenger seat. The look on her face had been a mixture of agony and rage. When we got to her house, she took me upstairs. Her parents were horrified at the mere sight of me. But they didn’t judge me like Kash’s parents did. They let Everleigh take me upstairs to her room. She had me strip down to my boxers, and under other circumstances, I would have joked about it. But it had hurt to breathe, let alone make snide comments. After I stripped, she warmed the tub for me and had me sink down. Her hands were gentle as she wiped the blood from my body, not showing any sign of disgust at all, just anger and determination. She was especially careful around my ribs, noting how swollen and bruised they were.

Once I was all cleaned up, she led me to her bed, covering me with a blanket and cuddled up behind me. Her arm snaked around my hip instead of my waist, so she didn’t accidentally hurt me. She didn’t ask questions, knowing it was all so fresh. And then we slept.

Jerking myself out of the memory, I stared fondly at the girl perched on Ash’s lap. I hated that I wanted her. It was wrong. I’dnever betray him like that, but not having her was just as bad as if I did have her and lost him because of it.

I schooled my features, not wanting them to even come close to guessing what had just gone through my mind. “You never answered my question.” I grinned.

She huffed a frustrated sigh. “They’re okay, I guess. Just not enough for me to get one tatted on my body.”

“Maybe this will change your mind.”

I lunged forward, dropping the worm down the front of her shirt. She squealed, jumping to her feet and dancing around, attempting to shake it from her body. Ashton and Kash were howling with laughter, even Crystal’s annoying laugh reached my ears.

“Get it out, get it out!” she chanted, pulling at her thin shirt.

I laughed. “I would, but then Ashton would probably break my hand.”

“Oh God,” she said again. “It’s in my bra!”

Ashton was still laughing when he moved toward her. He reached down the front of her shirt, his fingers grazing her breast way longer than necessary before he retrieved it and dropped it in the grass.

After Everleigh composed herself, she rounded on me. “Asshole,” she growled, marching her short little legs toward me. She shoved at my chest, but I didn’t even stumble. She was cute when she was mad. When she came at me again, I wrapped my arms around her and hoisted her up, pulling another scream from her. I threw her over my shoulder and started toward the lake.

“Put me down, Jameson,” she screeched, pounding at my back.

Footsteps sounded from behind me, and I knew it had to be the guys. They always enjoyed it when I tormented Everleigh. It was great. I never did anything to actually hurt her, but gettingon her nerves had become one of my favorite hobbies. Especially when it meant I got to touch her. Anything for her to look at me, to pay me an ounce of attention. Fuck. I was addicted.

“I’m so getting this on video,” Kash called out, making her squirm harder against me.

I started walking through the water, not giving a damn if my sweats got wet. As soon as we were in a deep enough part, I threw her off me, watching as she plunged beneath the surface. I glanced behind me and Kash indeed had his phone in his hands, a grin splitting his face. Crystal stood off to the side, a scowl twisting her features. She couldn’t stand it when she wasn’t the center of attention, and in our group, Everleigh would always be in the center.

When she emerged, she was sputtering and coughing dramatically. I was about to make another comment when she pounced on me, pulling me down with her until we were both beneath the water. My hands were on her hips, her arms around my neck. I don’t think she thought this through when she attacked me. We were now in a very compromising position, and I never wanted to come up. I tugged her against me, letting her think it was to hold her under. But really, it was so I could feel her pressed against me.

When she patted against my chest, I let go and then followed, popping my head above the surface. She shot me a cocky little smirk, thinking she won this round. But she was wrong.

I got to hold her. Therefore, I was the real winner.

She was drenched from head to toe, her black hair matted against her skin. “You’re lucky I forgot my phone,” she snarked. “You’d be selling your bike to replace it.”

I snorted in response. She knew damn well that I wouldn’t give my bike up for anything. It was my only form of transportation, and I’ve grown to love the damn thing. My father clearly didn’t think that through when he pushed it off on me.He thought I was too stupid to figure out how to drive it, and then when I learned, he hoped I’d wreck it and kill myself in the process so he didn’t have to deal with me anymore. I was convinced that his fists would kill me before some tragic accident took me out.

The first time he’d hit me, I’d been in complete shock. We’d just gotten back from burying my mom and that’s when his drinking habit formed into alcoholism. I was heartbroken, only twelve years old. My mom had been my best friend, so when she died, it felt like a piece of me went with her. Dad was grumbling about my shoes being in the walkway, but that’s where Mom had always told me to keep them. I couldn’t bear to change anything yet. When I opened my mouth to explain how I felt, he backhanded me so hard, I fell. My relationship with my father had always been strained before that. He’d never been abusive, just extremely strict and worked long hours. We never had heart-to-heart conversations, or anything like that. But when he hit me that first time, it felt like my world completely shattered.

Water splashed up around my ankles as I walked back toward the bank. Ashton’s hand was clasped in Everleigh’s ahead of me, and Kash was standing in the sand with his phone still out, a grin splitting his face as he fucked with the screen. He was probably posting the damn video for everyone to see.

When we got out of the water, Crystal placed her hands on her hips and glanced between me and Evie. “Remind me who’s dating who, again.”

Kash shot her a warning look, but she dismissed him entirely, her jaw ticking with annoyance. Fury danced within her blue eyes, like Ashton’s relationship with Everleigh had anything to do with her. If Ash had a problem with our friendship, he would have said something. He wasn’t the type to just sit back and ignore something that was bothering him. For a while, I thought it was because he was just that confident. But I’ve seen himbeat kids up for less when they made a move on his precious girlfriend. So, I was at a loss. Not that I’ve ever made a move on her, but I’ve definitely touched her, hugged her, cuddled with her. Right in front of Ashton. That just made me want to do it more, to see how much I could get away with before he lost his shit on me.

It wasn’t until a year later when I decided to taunt him, to see how much he’d let slide. We’d just gotten back from running around, playing with a soccer ball out in Ash’s yard. Everleigh was talking about how much her heart was racing, so I put my hand over it to feel the pounding of the organ. Then, I slid my hand down to playfully grab her breast. I remember Everleigh gasping, Kash choking on his spit, but the reaction from Ashton was the most surprising one. He didn’t say a goddamn thing.

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