Page 11 of Only Everything
“Taur—”
“There’s no fucking way. We’ve already walked that far. Have you lost your mind? Can you not hear me dying over here? I’m damn near sucking air through a straw.”
He laughed. “You’re being dramatic.”
“Actually…I’m not.” I threw my hands up but kept my tone soft. “Emmett, listen, I know you’re excited about seeing this lookout. I’m sure it’s fantastic. I’m telling you, though, this is beyond me. I’m trying so hard to?—”
“Tryinghard?”
At his deepening tone, I wanted to close my eyes in defeat. In what I knew was coming.
“I’m already tired.”
“You’re not even trying.”
“What do you mean? I’m here. I’m attempting, but I know my limits.”
“Do you? How? It’s sure not by pushing them. Anyone could see that.”
My gaze narrowed. “Why don’t you just say what you’re implying?”
“Do I have to? For two years life was great. Third year, you were trying, but I could see you were pulling away. Ever since Reid?—”
“Enough! My brother has nothing to do with my weight. That’s what’s bothering you, right? I’ve gained a few pounds? I don’t go to the gym with you anymore. I eat what the hell I want. I’m not following your every order. Reid didn’t cause that,you did. You. I’m a person, Emmett. One who knows how to make their own decisions. I see that now. I don’t like the gym. I like candy and chocolate. I love my fucking job.” Emmett curled his fist as he glared down at me. “I’m allowed to have choices. They don’t have to align with yours. If you don’t like how I choose to live my life?—”
“Don’t you fucking say it.”
I knew better than to give a response. Good, bad. It was the bait. Emmett was just waiting for me to set the hook. The moment I did, he was going to bite my head off. Maybe worse.
“Walk, Tauren. Keep going.”
I stayed still, slowly shaking my head. “I told you; I can’t do it. I don’t want to.”
“Move your fucking ass.”
When I still didn’t step forward, he grabbed my arm, locking on tightly as he began to pull me at a swift pace.
“You’re doing this fucking trail and climb. You’re forcing yourself out of your comfort zone. I’m so sick of hearing you say you can’t do something. You’ll keep going until your legs don’t work anymore or you’re incapable of enduring another step.”
“Emmett, let go of me.”
Still, he pulled me through the thickening trees, holding on with crushing strength. As the trail seemed to narrow, it did give way to a little more light, but with how dark the clouds were becoming, I wasn’t sure the point of continuing.
“Emmett.” I slid on foliage, barely managing to stay upright. If it hadn’t been for his hold still pulling me along, I would have fallen. “Emmett, I said stop!” I gained footing, jerking back my arm. “You’re hurting me.”
“Hurting you?” He surged forward, V’ing his hand at my chin to dig his fingers and thumb into my cheeks. “This isn’t hurting you. Keep going, or I will.”
“You’ll hurt me?” I grabbed his wrist, squeezing as I tried to pull back. It only had his other hand flying up to hold the back of my head so I couldn’t break free. “Fine. You don’t want me to give up. Okay, but listen to me. I’m tired, it’s far and it looks like it’s about to start raining. The sky is dark. The wind is picking up. Let’s make camp or rest a bit. Then we can continue on later if this passes. We’ll be here for days. We don’t have to rush.”
“Walk, Tauren.”
Tears blinded me. Not from the pain but because I knew this defeating existence. If I kept rebelling, if I continued to fight, he was going to hurt me. My father had done enough damage that I knew how bad it could get. Emmett may only have hit me once, but he’d crossed that line. It’d be smooth sailing from here, and it was too isolated for me to take any risks.
“Tauren.”
The warning was clear. I bit down hard clamping my mouth closed as I jerked back and started walking. The tears fell, and I let them roll down my cheeks as I stared angrily ahead. Footsteps sounded as Emmett made it to my side.
“There. See. Was that so hard? You don’t need to rest. Pushing you to do this will be good. You’ll see just what you’re capable of. It’ll be hard, but an accomplishment. You’ll thank me later.”
