Page 60 of Destroying Everleigh

I knew that was code for her wanting to talk to me in private, so I stood and shuffled out of the booth. We made our way across the bar, which was more like a mini night club, and slipped into the bathroom. Amber glanced around, making sure it was empty before leaning against the bathroom counter.

She’d kept her distance for a while, letting me mourn my mom for a little while longer. But I knew it was killing her, knew that she probably wanted to talk to me about the party.

“I know this is completely out of pocket and you’re still mourning your mom, but I have to know,” she began. “Do you have feelings for Jameson Decker?”

The question was like a punch to the gut. My first thought was that she wanted to know because she was interested in him, and that had my chest tightening for reasons I didn’t even want to decipher. “He’s my ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Amber.” I shook my head. “It’s always been platonic between us.”

She didn’t look convinced. “You’re telling me the truth?” she asked skeptically. “Because there was so much sexual tension it was suffocating. Even Lucas and Ashton felt it. And I’veneverseen you kiss Lucas like that.”

“I’m being honest. I was drunk and caught up in the moment. Plus, it felt good to piss Ashton off at the same time.” I honestly didn’t even notice Ash when it was all happening, but if she said it bothered him, then I’d believe her. She had no reason to lie about something like that.

She laughed. “You’re a petty little bitch. I love it. Also, it was hot as fuck.”

I grinned back at her, happy that I got to have a small moment of normality. But it faded almost instantly when I remembered that she’d been paired with Ashton.

The bottle stopped on Amber, and she leaned forward, spinning it again for her partner. When it came to a stop, the snout was directed right at Ashton. It felt like the air had been jerked from my lungs. Ashton’s gaze found mine, a twisted smile curling the corners of his mouth, and I knew right then that I wasn’t going to like this at all. Amber shot me an apologetic look as she stood and adjusted her black dress. She made her way over to him and he was grabbing her instantly, pulling her down on his lap. His hands moved to grip the hem of her dress, and he pushed it up her thighs, revealing a lacy red thong.

My stomach bottomed out when he kissed her roughly and grabbed her hips. He started grinding her down on him, and I knew he was hard. He had to be. As much as I didn’t want to watch, I couldn’t force myself to look away. After a few moments, he turned her so that her back was to his chest and he put his legs between her knees before spreading her, like he wanted everyone to see. His fingers slid beneath the bottom of her panties, and he began fingering her aggressively, making her writhe all over him until her legs were shaking. His eyes were locked on mine the entire time, a sadistic glint in them. I knew it had to be payback for what me and Jameson did, so I supposed it was warranted. Once she came, he slipped his fingers in her mouth, making her taste herself. And with his eyes locked on mine, he did the same, dragging his digits along his tongue. Right then, I decided that the asshole would never kiss me again.

Amber must have sensed where my train of thought had run off to, because she placed a hand on my shoulder. “It didn’t mean anything,” she said. “It was just part of the game.”

I snapped myself out of it and forced a small smile. “I know.” The game was simple. You were basically partnered up with a guy and they got to do whatever they wanted to you for ten minutes while you sat there and took it. If you really wanted out of it, you could quit the game and refuse, which surprisingly didn’t even cross my mind when I’d been paired with Jamie, otherwise I might have considered it.

Amber looped her arm through mine, and we headed back toward our table, resuming our seats. By the time we were done, we all felt at least tipsy. Briley was drunk off her ass while the rest of us didn’t drink nearly as much. Looks like I was on babysitting duty tonight.

On the bright side, my grandparents offered to keep the kids for the week at the minimum, and I took them up on that. I’d have to make some calls first thing in the morning and sign a few papers before my first class began, but me and Briley needed the break.

I took a shower when I got home and dressed in some skimpy nightgown Amber had gotten for me. It was silk and was surprisingly really comfortable. Clutching my pillow to my chest, I stared out into the darkness within my bedroom. My heart ached from what happened today. I couldn’t catch a break. Ashton was doing everything in his power to make things difficult for me with the help of his two friends, my mom just passed away, I was short on rent by three-hundred dollars, and I still haven’t even started my chemistry project that was due at the end of this month.

I just had to keep reminding myself that all of this was temporary. I was going to school for a reason, and eventually, it would pay off. One day at a time.

After drinking my body weight in coffee, I made my way up to the elementary school to sign some paperwork. It took a lot more time than I expected to, and by the time I was finished, it was already nearly eight in the morning which gave me less than six minutes to get to class on time. Briley decided to skip school today. She was taking it a lot harder than me, and I didn’t blame her. Pretty sure she was always Mom’s favorite, even if she was the one causing most of the problems in our youth. It was probably because she was younger and still relatively innocent when Mom got sick.

As soon as I pulled into the campus parking lot, I threw my bag over my shoulders and jogged across the cement. I’d left my hair down today due to being rushed this morning and applied my usual dark liner and cherry lip gloss. I was wearing an oversized gray sweatshirt and black leggings with some black and white converse shoes.

When I slipped into the class, Professor Whitlock immediately stopped talking, narrowing her eyes at me. I was only three minutes late, but she was a real hard-ass.

“You’re late, Ms. Knight. Would you like to tell us why?”

My skin crawled with the heat of everyone’s gaze and all of the emotions I kept bottled started rising to the surface. I was on the verge of a panic attack, my chest rising and falling in random increments.Everyonewas staring, making it that much more humiliating.

“She looks like she’s going to be sick,” someone whispered, the words echoing through the quiet classroom.

Ms. Whitlock paid them no mind, her accusing glare focused on me. “You were almost late your first day, too, if I remember correctly. We have a strict policy?—”

She was cut off by an enraged Amber. “For Christ’s sake. Her mom just died yesterday, give her a damn break.”

I was torn between feeling relieved that she stepped in to save my ass or being horrified that she just announced that to the entire class.

I stumbled backwards a step, my insides burning with panic. I hated being the center of attention like this. Being called out for something as small as being a few minutes late to class. My stomach twisted with unease, and I grew lightheaded. I kept trying to suck in oxygen, but I couldn’t get enough.

Whispers erupted throughout the classroom, making it even worse. The ground tilted beneath me, my legs buckling under my weight before everything went black.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Kash

Sam Tinnesz - Play With Fire

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