Page 55 of From the Wreckage
My blood runs cold. The latte nearly slips from my fingers.
“What?” I manage, my voice higher than usual.
“You know—dark hair, ridiculously good-looking, broody as hell. Jason wouldn’t shut up about how the guy threatened him for hitting on you.” She smirks, leaning in. “Seriously, Bri, you didn’t tell me you had someone like that in your corner.”
Panic scrambles through me, but somehow, I keep my smile in place. “Oh. Him.” I force a laugh that feels brittle. “That’s Everett. He’s… uh, my dad’s friend. Like a protective big brother, I guess.”
Lily laughs, her brows raised. “Well damn. I wish I had a hot, protective big brother like that.”
I roll my eyes, taking a long sip of my latte to keep from choking on the lump in my throat. “Trust me, he’s just… intense sometimes.”
“Intense and hot.” Lily wiggles her brows before a customer waves her over. “Anyway, see you around, Bri!”
I nod quickly, my heart still hammering as she walks away.
The moment she’s gone, I duck into one of the quieter aisles and press my back to the shelves, my pulse thundering.
What if people start talking? What if Dad hears something?He thinks Everett is just a good guy who helped me out after the accident. If he even suspected the truth….
I press my hand to the necklace beneath my shirt, the sunflower pendant warm against my skin. Everett’s gift. His claim on me.
My stomach twists. I got carried away by his possessiveness and took too many risks.God, what if Lily or someone else had seen us kissing?
In a small town like Silverpine, secrets don’t stay buried forever.
And I’m terrified of what will happen when ours comes out.
CHAPTER 38
Brielle
The sunflower pendantis hot against my chest as I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling.
I should be asleep. Dad’s light clicked off an hour ago. The cabin is silent. But my mind won’t stop racing.
Lily’s words circle like vultures.
Who was the hot older guy?
I wish I had a hot, protective big brother like that.
Intense and hot.
She said those words like a joke, but it doesn’t feel like one. Because if anyone else starts asking questions… if Dad ever hears…
I press my hands over my face, groaning. I can’t keep this bottled up. I need to tell Everett what happened. We’ll figure out what to do.
The decision settles into me like gravity. I push the blankets back, slide into a hoodie and sneakers, and creep through the cabin. The boards creak, but Dad’s snores rumble steadily through his bedroom door. I slip out the back, the cool night air kissing my skin, the lake shimmering under the moon.
The walk on the trail feels longer in the dark, each step laced with anticipation. By the time I reach Everett’s cabin, my nervesare shot, my stomach a mess of dread and longing. I knock once, lightly.
The door opens almost immediately. He fills the frame, all shadows and heat, his hair mussed like he was already in bed. His chest is bare, sweatpants slung low on his hips.
“Angel,” he rasps, surprise giving way to something darker in his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
I open my mouth, ready to explain, but the words stick in my throat. Instead, I whisper, “I needed to see you.”
His jaw flexes. He drags me inside, shutting the door with a thud, and suddenly I’m pressed against it, his mouth on mine.
