Page 14 of Love You From Afar

As much as I want to watch sweet justice be served at the hands of Everett, I also don't want to see him go to jail for assault while we’re in the middle of nowhere.

“Everett, he’s not worth it,” I exhale. “Let’s go.”

Everett is practically seething when his glare snaps to me.

“Let’s go,” I repeat, my tone a calming whisper.

His expression softens at the sound of my voice before turning to face the man pinned to the wall, glaring daggers at him one last time.A silent threat.

“You’re a sorry piece of shit,” Everett growls in the man’s face. His voice drips with disgust as he lets go of the guy’s jacket before turning on his heels and walking straight to me.

SIX

Everett

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask once we’re in the truck. My eyes sweep up and down her body for the hundredth time just to confirm that she’s not hurt. I wouldn’t have been able to hold myself back if that grimy bastard had laid a hand on her.

I’m so pissed off that I’m actually shaking. I finally understand the term ‘seeing red’, because my world seems to be painted in a crimson hue right now. If I didn’t care about my livelihood, I could have killed that jackass. How many women has he tried to assault before Skylar? People like that deserve to spend their entire life rotting in a prison cell.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Skylar softly replies. She’s visibly shaken up, her pulse beating like a drum against the smooth skin of her neck. She closes her eyes, slowly breathing in and out as she tries to calm herself down.

“I’m sorry, Skylar,” I rasp. “I wasn’t paying attention. He almost…” I trail off, recalling the terrified expression on Skylar’s face as the man caged her in, reaching his filthy hand toward her silky hair.

“Everett, stop,” she whispers. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m just… Thank you for being there.”

Her lips pull together, the corners turning up as she smiles. Really smiles at me for what feels like the first time in forever. It’s not a fake or forced smile… It’s genuine, raw, and so achingly beautiful.

My eyes flicker down to her curved lips, so full and smooth. I wish I didn't know how those soft lips felt against mine. I wish I didn’t think about it on a daily basis. I wish I didn’t make the no-touching rule, because all I want to do right now is pull her shivering body into my arms.

I’ve had plenty of explicit thoughts about Skylar over the years, but my desire to hold her right now has nothing to do with sex. I feel a primal need to comfort her. To comfort myself, because I have no idea what the hell was going through that asshole’s mind, except for the fact that he wanted her, and he didn’t give a shit who saw. That’s what unsettled me the most, the fact that he pursued her like that in broad daylight. For all I know, he could’ve had a gun or a knife… I shake my head, running a hand through my hair.God, I can’t even let myself think like that.

“I can see the wheels turning in your head… You’re beating yourself up over nothing. I’m fine, Rett,” she reassures me, her voice a calming whisper.

Rett. My heart clenches because she’s the only person who calls me that. The first time anyone has called me that in nearly three years.

I nod my head, swallowing down the lump in my throat. I flash her a half smile as I put the truck in drive before turning up the heater. The tense energy from before seems to have shifted to something much softer, more civil. And as much as I’d like to call a truce, I can’t let my guard down.Not with her.I’d rather say nothing at all than something I’ll regret later. So I turn up the radio, resuming the noisy silence lingering between us.

* * *

A persistent rumblerolls through my stomach, reminding me that we didn't stop for breakfast. We left Dallas almost four hours ago, so I’m sure Skylar’s getting hungry as well. It’s barely eleven a.m., making it too late for breakfast but a little early for lunch. If she is hungry, she hasn't said anything to me about it.

She’s been focused on her e-reader since we left the gas station, barely looking up or muttering a word. I’ve had the urge to ask her what she’s reading a couple of times, but I also don’t know how to feel about starting a casual conversation with her. I keep telling myself that it’s best to maintain the silence, that even small talk could lead us down a slippery slope.

I discreetly glance at her, catching a glimpse of her completely zoned in on the book she’s reading. Her brows are pinched together in deep concentration, her indigo eyes hooded by dark lashes. She’s skimming her pointer finger back and forth across her smooth lips, briefly removing it to tap the screen and turn the page. It’s an odd feeling to have her this close to me, yet it still feels like we’re miles away.

Maybe I should just rip off the band-aid and ask her what she’s reading.We can talk without bringing up our past, right?

I can be civil with her. Hell, maybe I should just try. I mean, we are going to be in each other’s lives for the foreseeable future. I should say forever, but who the hell could spend forever with my jackass of a brother? So for now, I’ll stick with saying the foreseeable future.

Even after this trip, we won’t be able to avoid each other. We’re going to be family, after all. I feel a sharp jab in my chest when realization hits me, I’m going to be her fucking brother-in-law. I clench my fist around the steering wheel at the sour thought, needing to release some tension.

Despite the way I feel about her, I’m a grown-ass adult and I need to start acting like it. We can’t tiptoe around each other for the rest of our lives.

Another loud grumble rolls through my stomach, sounding like a weird growl. Skylar must have heard it judging by the small smirk stretching across her face. I highly doubt her book made her laugh at the exact same time my stomach growled, sounding like a damn earthquake. If I was hesitant about breaking our silence, my stomach made sure to solve that problem for me.

“You getting hungry?” I speak up, keeping my gaze fixed on the road.

“I think I should be the one askingyouthat question,” Skylar snickers, her eyes darting to my noisy abdomen.

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