Page 65 of Destroying Everleigh

My chest felt heavy as I got to work wiping down the counters, even though they were already clean. I couldn’t even try to convince myself that things would get better when in reality, they were just getting worse and worse as the days went on.

The life felt like it was slowly being drained out of my body. Piece by piece until eventually, there wouldn’t be anything left. Maybe it was a part of the grieving process, of having to care for my youngest siblings when I couldn’t even care for myself properly. Who knows.

It shouldn’t be this difficult to just simplylive. My siblings deserved better. My mother deserved better. Now she was gone, forced to die alone because her former husband cared more about himself than he did any of us—the people he brought into this world and had sworn to protect. I hope he suffered the same fate.

A familiar voice sliced through my thoughts, startling me. “Fancy seeing you here.”

I raised my eyes from the task at hand, focusing on Lucas’s blue ones. Colt was by his side with his hands shoved in his pockets. At least it was just them and not the entire crew they tended to hang out with.

I forced a small smile, happy to have a table of my own, even if it was just them. Lucas always tipped me well when he came in, so it wasn’t like I’d be missing out on anything by accepting them.

“Table for two?”

I knew I should feel guilty about what happened with Kash—a better person would have. But I couldn’t even summon the energy to really give a shit about it. Instead, I was left wanting more from a person who should technically be off limits to me. It wasn’t like anything could happen between us. Not really. But fuck. He made me feel like a needy little whore. It was an experience I wasn’t well accustomed to.

Colt nodded in response and I grabbed a couple of menus before leading them over to a booth. They sat across from one another, and I got their drink order and headed off to make them. My head was still a mess of things, and it felt like my body was moving robotically while my mind was on another planet. Working usually helped to keep me busy, but with it being as slow as it was, I probably wouldn’t be so lucky tonight.

When I returned, Lucas grabbed my arm and pulled me into the seat beside him. I huffed a laugh. “I’m working,” I reminded him.

“We’re your only table. I’m sure your boss won’t bitch too much, and if he does, find another job.”

Annoyance flickered inside me followed by a current of rage. How fucking spoiled and naïve could he be to think it was as simple as that? He had everything handed to him on a silver platter, just like Ashton. Plus, I liked my job. It was easy and even paid well every now and then.

I bit my tongue, not wanting to cause a scene. I didn’t even have the energy to argue with him. He could think whatever he wanted and perceive me however he wanted. It made no difference to me at the end of the day. Not when there were more important things on my mind.

“Are you guys planning on ordering food?” I asked instead, arching an eyebrow. “Because I’ll have to put your order into the system for the cooks.”

“It can wait,” he said, like I had all the time in the world. He rubbed his hand along my back in a soothing gesture, but it did little to soothe anything. In fact, it just annoyed me more.

The guys started talking amongst one another like I no longer existed. It was fine with me, though. My mind was on a constant loop. Kash. Ashton. Jameson. My mom. Briley. Tate. Emma. Rent. Soccer. My chemistry project. I was being suffocated by all the pressures that the real world was throwing at me. A part of me just wanted to give up, but it wasn’t an option. Sure, Briley could start staying in the dorms if that’s what she wanted, but what about Emma and Tate? They needed me, and I couldn’t let them down. Not like ourfatherhad.

Lucas’s words sliced through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. He was still speaking with Colt, both of them in an animated conversation. “I can’t believe you fucked Crystalright there on the floor.” He laughed, like it was the best thing to happen since cell phones.

I couldn’t even prevent the eyeroll. I suppose I should be lucky that Colt never attempted going that far with me. He was usually respectful when it came to me, probably because of my relationship with Lucas. We’ve made out and he’s groped me, he’s had me blow him, but it hadn’t gone any further.

Colt snorted in response. “It was the only opportunity to fuck someone else without my girlfriend being pissed about it.”

Allison’s enraged face flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t even fight the laugh that bubbled up from my throat. “Oh, she was pissed,” I pointed out. And rightfully so. I might not have liked her at all, but Colt was still her boyfriend.

He flashed me a sheepish grin. “She was, wasn’t she?”

“How was it?” Lucas asked, causing me to look at him with raised eyebrows. Why did he want to know? Did he have a thing for Crystal, too? Did everyone want to fuck her? Ashton, Kash, Colt, possibly Lucas. What the hell? She was gorgeous, but there had to besomeonewho wasn’t attracted to her.

Colt shrugged. “Nothing to write home about.” His gaze found mine from across the table. “Hmm. Maybe you could let me have a spin with Everleigh, so I can cross that off my bucket list, too.” He said it in a teasing way, but it still got under my skin.

“Well, I can’t control what either of you do during Spin the Bottle,” Lucas replied, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

I huffed out in annoyance, folding my arms across my chest. “I’m right here assholes,” I retorted dryly.

Lucas smiled at me, like it was no big deal. “If you want to fuck Colt, I don’t care. Not as long as you’re mine at the end of the day. But that goes both ways.”

I reeled back, confusion slamming into me. “What?” I balked. “Like an open relationship?”

“Kind of. You get one side piece, and I get one, I guess.”

My chest constricted. If he loved me like he claimed, why would he want that? Was that what Ashton wanted when we dated? Was that why he wanted to share me so badly? I stood up on shaky legs and stumbled out of the booth. I grabbed my notepad and a pen and glanced at them expectantly, ready to get this shit over with.

Lucas sighed, slouching back against his seat. “Don’t be like that, Everleigh. It was only a suggestion.”

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