Page 22 of Reckless Roses
“It tastes like you’ve been in someone else’s mouth tonight, Zach. I can’t move past that right now.”
He scoffs. “That’s a little dramatic, no?”
“No.” I stand from the bench. “Weaponizing my friendship with your brother doesn’t forgive the fact that you cheated on me. Again.”
I turn around to walk away, tears welling in my eyes once more, realizing how manipulative he truly is, masking his mistakes and spinning our conversation so I’d forgive him easier. I didn’t realize until I was kissing him again how he orchestrated the entire conversation to end exactly the way he desired.
“You’re acting fucking childish, Elena!”
“Funny you say that, considering you treat me like a toy you don’t want to share.” I stop, glancing back at him. “I’m going home. I’ll talk to you later.”
I watch him stand, but I begin walking again before I can give him the chance to catch up. “If you’re going to act like that, don’t bother calling me.”
I roll my eyes, lifting my middle finger in the air as I disappear into the night. I round the side of Milo’s house and head down his massive driveway, down the hill that heads back toward town and home.
I’m halfway there, strolling through the quiet darkness, when Leo sends a message in the group chat letting us know we should be scarce tonight—our mom caught him sneaking in after dropping Darby at home. He told her we were both sleeping at the Hayes’ house to try and save our asses, though I’m sure she’ll know we’re full of shit.
Nobody sees right through us like our mother. She’s a fucking force.
Suddenly, my phone vibrates in my hand, and I glance down to see Everett’s name flashing on the screen. I swipe to answer it, and before I can greet him, his voice roars from the other end, “Where are you?”
“I’m walking home.”
“By yourself?”
“Yeah.”
My brother grumbles under his breath, and I hear shuffling on the other end of the line before he shouts, “Hey, bitch! Whythe fuckdid you let my sister leave in the middle of the night by herself when she’s been drinking? What is wrong with you?” I swear, I hear what sounds like some kind of slap before someone groans.
“Fuck you, Everett. Don’t fucking touch me.” Zach’s voice is muffled in the background.
“Elena, stay where you are. I’m going to make this piece of shit come get you. You cannot be out running around town by yourself in the middle of the goddamn night. Are you crazy?”
“You didn’t care when it was August and Leo leaving the party,” I snap back.
“Leo wasn’t alone, and he took an Uber! August left early,” he counters before adding, “and neither of them is my baby sister!”
“I’m four minutes younger than you. Calm the fuck down.”
“Four minutes younger but a foot shorter.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine, Everett. I’ll let you know when I get home. I’m almost there.”
“Leo said not to go home.”
“I don’t care,” I say, even though that’s not where I’m going.
“Stay on the phone with me until you get there, okay?” Everett asks.
“I’ll go get her. This is ridiculous,” a voice that doesn’t belong to my brother echoes through the phone. “Why do you put yourself in these situations, Elena? You always have to cause such a scene, and it’s the people who fucking care about you who get caught in the crossfire like this.”
“I won’t get in the car with him, Everett. I won’t.”
“He’s already walking in the house.” My brother sighs defeatedly, like he’s as tired of mine and Zach’s bullshit as we are. “What happened? Do you want me to tell Leo to sneak back out and come get you himself?”
I love my twin more than just about anyone else on this planet, but the overprotective audacity is getting on my goddamn nerves.
“God, no! I will text you when I get home.Fuck.”
