Page 34 of Resurrecting the Enemy
Because neither of us had a car, we had Uber’d our way to the party, but I couldn’t really care less about the ten-block walk back to Eden’s. I was upset and confused enough to need the fresh, cool October air. And since neither of were wearing heels, we could do this.
“What happened back there, Lake?” Eden finally asked. “You were shaking earlier.”
We were already half a block away, striding down the sidewalk. “I slapped Ramsey.”
She lost her footing, but quickly got back in her rhythm. “Holy shit, are you serious?”
I nodded, staring straight ahead, hoping her house would magically appear. “We were arguing in the shed and…”
“And?”
“I told him I didn’t have feelings for him, and…” I let out deep, painful breath. “…and he told me he was just going to go ahead and go back to the party and find out what Erica had that I didn’t.”
Eden stopped dead in her tracks.
I had to stop a few steps ahead of her and turn around. “What?”
I’d never seen that look on Eden’s face before. When I thought of Eden, I thought of light. I thought of an easy happiness. Eden was the optimistic one out of us both.
However, Eden did not look optimistic right now.
She looked pissed.
“Are you freakin’ kidding me?” she hissed. “Did he really say that to you?”
I grabbed her hand and started pulling her with me. “He did,” I confirmed, but I couldn’t let Ramsey go down for this without telling her the entire truth. “He knew I was lying. He knew I was lying about having feelings for him, so he pushed.”
We started back down the street when she reluctantly muttered, “That still doesn’t make it right, Lake.” But before I could comment one way or the other, a familiar black Range Rover pulled up and parked a few feet ahead of us.
Ramsey got out of the driver’s side and slammed the door as Dash got out of the passenger side. Both guys looked like they were ready for battle, but I was too far gone in my confused feelings to recognize the danger for what it was.
They both came to stand in front of us, and Ramsey’s voice sounded like dark smoke still hot from the flames. “I need you to get in the car, Lake,” he rumbled. “I need you to get in the car before I really lose my fucking shit.” His brown gaze was burning bright with emotion. “If you think you’ve seen me at my worst, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
“Ram-”
“Get in the fucking car before I burn this entire town to the fucking ground!” he roared like a thunder cloud. His hand shot out and was around my neck as Dash rushed in to grab Eden from interfering. “And don’t think I won’t do it, Lake.”
My eyes burned, and Ihatedthat. I hated how he could see them gloss over. I hated how confused I was. How could I want someone I didn’t like? Why did his high-handed ways turn me on when I despised being bullied?
The first tear trailed down my face, and the second it did, Ramsey let go of my neck and stepped back.
I closed my eyes as I took in a deep breath, and that forced another tear to escape. The idea was so loathsome, I quickly wiped the offending tears away.
I glanced over at Eden, and she looked heartbroken for me. I gave her a small nod and conceded defeat as I made my way over to Ramsey’s car. Ramsey opened the passenger side door for me while Dash did the same for Eden with the back passenger side door. Once we were on our way, not a word was said the entire way to Eden’s house.
When Ramsey pulled up in front of her house, Eden made it out of the car without any fanfare, but when I reached for the door handle, Ramsey’s voice stopped me. “This isn’t over.”
I turned my head, not looking back, but letting him know I heard him, and said, “Do me a favor Ramsey. There’s still time to go back to the party and find out what Erica Chambers has that I don’t.” I steeled my voice. “Go back to the party, and just leave me the hell alone.”
“Never,” he replied quietly, but forcefully.
I got out of the car and didn’t look back once.
Chapter 19
Ramsey~
Dash sat in the recliner, a drink in his hand, not saying a word. In fact, he hasn’t uttered a word the entire ride back to Chance’s house. We could have gone back to my house, but with Mom and Dad there, I knew we couldn’t raid the liquor cabinet, and I needed to raid a liquor cabinet. What a fucking disaster tonight turned out to be.
