Page 98 of When Wrecked Meets Ruined
Evie tensed, and I heard her sharp intake of breath.
I gritted my teeth. “I didn’t fuck—”
“That’s not what she’s saying. Are you calling sweet little Callie Becker a liar? I heard she was a virgin too. Arealone.”
“Oh my god,” Evie muttered under her breath. I tried to pull her closer, but she shoved me away and took off.
Fuck.
Ainsley gave me a triumphant smile. “Looks like your little girlfriend is upset. I’d say I’m sorry, but I’d be lying. Hannah.” She snapped her fingers. “Let’s go.”
Hannah, a quiet redhead, opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again and followed Ainsley.
After they were gone, I glared at Walker. “Did you say something about Callie?”
“The fuck?” Walker said. “When have I ever ratted you out about anything?”
True. He’d never do that.
Jackson winced. “I bet it was Hannah. I was with her that night.”
Kelsey shook her head, disappointed. “You fucked up, Ridge.”
My jaw clenched. “I didn’t fuck Callie Becker.”
“You’re missing the point,” Kelsey said. “This isn’t about Callie Becker.”
Fucking hell. She was right. I didn’t hang around to discuss it any further. I went in search of Evie.
I checked the porch, the kitchen, the living room, and all the rooms upstairs. I knocked on the bathroom doors. No Evie.
On the way back to my place, I called, but she didn’t pick up. Finally, I found her on my back porch, staring at the lake, and I dropped onto the step next to her.
“Which party was she talking about?” she asked, staring straight ahead. “Was it the night we talked on the phone?”
I hesitated a moment before nodding. “Yeah. But I didn’t do anything with Callie.”
She looked down at her clasped hands. “My freshman year was one of the worst years of my life. The summer before, I was still taking dance classes. I loved those classes. They were the best part of my week. And I loved Ainsley’s mom. Annabel. She’s nothing like Ainsley. She was a good teacher, and she always made me feel special. Like I belonged in that class with her daughter and the other girls.”
I wanted to tell her that she was better than all of them put together, but I kept my mouth shut and let her talk.
“I had no idea that my mom stopped paying for those classes. But I probably should have known better.” She let out a humorless laugh. “Annabel encouraged me to try out for the cheering squad. It wasn’t really my thing, but she told me to give it a try. She said she believed in me. So I tried out and was the only freshman girl who made it on the varsity squad. Ainsley was crushed. She wanted it so badly. I told the cheering coach that Ainsley deserved it more than I did and that I was quitting, so she should get my place. But she said if I quit, they’d give it to one of the older girls, not Ainsley.
“I kept my spot because a little part of me was proud to make it onto the varsity squad. After everything that happened, I always thought it would have been better if I’d never even tried out. But I stayed on the cheering squad for all of my freshman year because I didn’t want Ainsley to think she’d won.”
She stood up and walked toward the dock without waiting for my response. When I fell into step with her, she stopped and faced me. “I’m tired, and I just want to be alone. I would drive home, but I’ve had too much to drink. So, unfortunately, I’m stuck here tonight.”
She made it sound like a prison sentence. “Come to bed if you’re tired.”
“I’m not sleeping with you.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “I told you nothing happened.”
She huffed out a laugh. “Rumors start for a reason, Ridge.”
I stared at her with my jaw clenched. She, of all people, should have known not to listen to rumors. “You can’t be fucking serious.”
Evie shook her head. “I just need to be alone.” She walked away, and this time I let her go.
