Page 85 of From the Wreckage
In the checkout line, Marlene waves from behind the counter, her lipstick a shade too red for her pale complexion. “Morning, sweetheart. You look pretty today. Love does that, doesn’t it?”
I flinch, my smile brittle. “Just fresh lake air.”
“Mmm hmm.” She winks, sliding my bread across the scanner. “Well, it suits you. Don’t let the tongues wag too hard. You know how people are around here.”
I laugh weakly, clutching my purse until my knuckles ache. My heart pounds so loud, I’m afraid everyone in the store will hear it.
By the time I leave, the sun feels hotter and the air heavier. Silverpoint thrives on gossip, and now my name is threaded with Everett’s.
When I step backinto his cabin, Everett is stretched across the couch, long, muscular legs crossed, flipping absently through channels. The smell of coffee lingers in the air.
His head lifts, eyes softening the second they land on me. “Hey, angel. Took you long enough. I was starting to think you ditched me.”
I paste on a smile, setting my purse on the counter. “Marlene likes to chat.”
He groans good-naturedly, reaching for me. “Come here.”
I go willingly, curling against his chest, breathing in the mix of soap and cedar and something uniquely him. The nerves in my stomach twist, but I hold them down. His arm tightensaround me, his lips brushing the top of my head like he has no idea the world outside is sharpening its knives.
“Missed you,” he murmurs.
I close my eyes, clinging tighter, because the truth is I missed him too—even though I was only gone an hour. “Missed you, too.”
We spend the afternoon together. Our coffee mugs sit abandoned on the table. His thumb traces idle circles on my arm while we pretend to watch whatever’s on TV.
Later, he coaxes me onto the dock, where he spins me in lazy circles to music on his phone.
I laugh when he dips me, my heart light for a moment.
Everett grins. “You’re laughing. Haven’t seen you laugh like that all summer.”
And that’s when the whispers come back…
“Shame it’s with a man like him. He’s too old for her, and I’ve heard things. Dark things. He’ll ruin that girl… and her father will be crushed when he finds out.”
I don’t let him see it. It’ll destroy him... and us.
For now, I let myself enjoy the way he looks at me like I’m the only girl in the world.
Soon enough, someone will tell my dad.
And then everything will come crashing down.
CHAPTER 60
Everett
Sunlight filters through the blinds,warm stripes cutting across the bed. Bri’s curled against me, her hair a mess against my chest, her breathing steady. For one long, selfish moment, I lie there and let myself believe this is my life. That she’s mine. That I get to wake up like this every morning.
But the weight in my chest reminds me it’s a lie.
I tell myself it’s the last time. One more morning. One more laugh. One more kiss. Then I’ll let her go. Not fully, but back to pretending we don’t mean anything to each other.
But I’ve been saying that every damn day since she slipped past my defenses, and it’s never been true.
Her lashes flutter, and when her eyes open, she smiles sleepily up at me. That smile destroys me.God, angel…I press a kiss to her temple instead of her mouth, trying to keep my distance, but she only burrows closer, her hand splayed over my ribs.
“Morning,” she murmurs, her voice rough with sleep.
