Page 66 of Destroying Everleigh

“Don’t be like what?” I countered, feigning ignorance. “I’m just trying to take your order so I can do my job.”

He raised an eyebrow, not convinced in the slightest. “Everleigh…” He trailed off, a stitch forming between his brows like he didn’t know what else to say.

“It’s fine. Really. If there’s someone else you want, they’d probably be a better fit for you. We can break up if that’s what you want to do, but I’m not into sharing.”

His entire body tensed, and his eyes seemed to grow three shades darker. “We arenotbreaking up,” he growled. A chill swept down my spine, making my breath catch in the most humiliating way. He didn’t say it in a sexy way. It was completely unhinged and possessive.

I swallowed thickly and nodded, having nothing else to say to that. Not when he was acting like this and not when we had an audience. “What do you want to eat?”

As soon as they rambled off their orders, I wrote them down and put them into the computer along with the drinks they’d ordered previously. The diner steadily grew busier, but not enough to profit a whole lot. The guys didn’t bother me again and did end up tipping quite well to make up for the slow night. But I still wouldn’t be able to afford rent. That thought weighed me down as I clocked out and climbed into my car, preparing for the ride home.

My head hit the seat, and I clenched my eyes closed. Just one day at a time. It might not feel like it would get better right now, but it had to eventually. Right?

Sweat coated my skin as I sucked in mouthfuls of cold water, attempting to catch my breath after that rigorous practice. The slight breeze helped cool me down some, but considering that it was still summertime, it didn’t help a whole lot. I rarely showered in the locker room, but I was heavily considering it. After a few moments of contemplation, I stripped out of my clothes and hopped into one of the stalls, allowing the cold water to pelt against my skin.

Once I was freshly washed, I put on the clothes I’d worn to classes, thanking the universe that no one decided to dump anything on me today. Jameson must have forgotten, but small wins were still wins.

I stuffed everything back into my bag before throwing it over my shoulder and made my way out into the parking lot. My eyes skimmed the area until they landed on Ashton. He was leaning against my car like he owned the damn thing. My heart started thumping wildly in my chest, like it did anytime he was near.

My footfalls slowed as I remembered what happened the last time he cornered me near my vehicle. If this was another attempt to humiliate me, he would be sorely disappointed. I wasn’t falling for that bullshit again. His eyes were cold and distant while he watched me, probably annoyed that he had to wait on me at all. But fuck him. I didn’t ask him to do that.

When I finally approached, making sure to keep a good few feet away from him so he didn’t get any funny ideas about grabbing me again, I directed a glare of my own at him. Which was proving hard to maintain when my mind decided to conjure up things. Like how Jameson fingered me right there on the couch in front of him and had me suck his dick. Like how he nearly walked in on me and Kash making out yesterday.

I blew out a breath, shoving all of those unwanted thoughts to the back of my mind. “What do you want?”

“You’re coming to our place,” he said simply, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

I reeled back in surprise at the audacity of this asshole. “No, the fuck I’m not. I’m going home to work on my homework, eat, and relax.” My stomach growled in response, vibrating through me to drive my point home.

“You can do all of that at the frat house,” he said boredly, like he’d rather be anywhere else than trying to convince me to go to his place.

“I’m not going. Not unless this is about our chemistry proj?—”

“It is.”

My posture straightened at that. “Oh. Well, why didn’t you start with that?” Annoyance was pulsing through me. He could be mad all he wanted, but beating around the bush was just going to delay all this shit. And frankly, I’d rather not spend any more time with him than absolutely necessary. Regardless of how much my heart still wanted him even after all this time.

He rolled his eyes. “Figured you could put two and two together. Why else would I want you there?”

“Fair enough. Now move.”

He didn’t. He just kept leaning against my car, staring at me with that hard expression. I glanced around the parking lot, fear spiking through me when I realized we were the only people left. He wouldn’t hurt me, right? He was pissed at me and hated me,but he wouldn’t actually harm me, right? I hated that I wasn’t even sure about that now. Once upon a time ago, I would have sworn on my life that he wouldn’t lift a finger to hurt me, not unless we were fucking. But things were different now.Hewas different now.

I released a heavy sigh. “Ashton. Please fucking move. I’m tired and I’ve had a rough week. Annoy me tomorrow if you want, but just give me today.”

He pushed off my car at last, but instead of stepping aside to let me through, he started walking toward me. On instinct my body tensed and locked in place, my fight or flight instincts taking over. But I wasn’t doing either of those things. I was frozen with fear. Once he reached me, I had to crane my neck to look up at him. He’s always been freakishly tall. Even in high school. He made me feel like a polly pocket in comparison.

“We gave you yesterday. Sorry about your mom by the way. Tragic, really. But I’m sure she’s rejoicing wherever her spirit went off to at the knowledge that she doesn’t have to take care of you any longer.”

My lips parted in shock. He would really use my mother’s death to torment me? If he was willing to do that, then what else would he do? A fire lit beneath my skin. Anger mixed with agony.

Despite my better judgment, I took a step toward him. My entire body was shaking with rage, fear, and pain. But it was the anger that was winning out above the others. “Maybe,” I admitted, even though I knew he was wrong about her. She hadn’t taken care of me in a long time. It had been the other way around, and she loved me. My eyes darted up to meet his. “How’s your brother doing?”

I knew I was playing with fire. But if he could deliver low blows, then so could I. As expected, something dark flashed across his face, unleashing within him. He reached out, locking his hand around my throat. I squirmed against him, but it wasno use. It only made him tighten his hold, depleting me of more oxygen. My hands latched onto his, trying to peel his fingers from my neck to no avail.

“You have some fucking nerve,” he growled. “We’re completely alone out here. I could do whatever I wanted to you, and you’d have no choice but to fucking take it.” As if to prove his point, he took his other hand and reached down the front of my shirt, slipping his fingers beneath my bra. His skin felt hot against mine and I was sure he could feel my heart hammering against my ribcage. With two fingers, he pinched my nipple, hard. I yelped in response, digging my nails into his wrist. There was nothing sexual about this at all. It was a power move. And another low blow at that.

But he wasn’t the only one with something up his sleeve. Mustering up as much courage as I could, I drove my knee into his groin, causing him to loosen his hold on me immediately.

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