Page 43 of Ache
“Tell me what?”
Everly and I just stare each other down. She’s chewing the shit out of her lip, fraying at the seams. The past is burying us faster than an avalanche, and she is the only one who can make the decision to let the truth save us or destroy us.
“If we tell him, he becomes a part of it. No turning back,” I warn her.
“He’s already a part of it.” She makes a good point.
Dejection reflects in her eyes as she continually glances between me and Alec. She’s deliberating. She cares about him. I can see it, and it kills me.
“We have to.” Her voice strains.
“Tell me what?” Alec demands. He’s in the dark, and he doesn’t like it one bit.
I can’t blame him. It’s a shitty place to be. Unfortunately, sometimes, the dark is the safest option.
“My name isn’t Everly Paige.” Everly shuffles towards Alec. “Well, my birth name anyway.” Alec stands still as a statue as Everly speaks. As do I. “My real name is Destiny Star Reynolds. My mom was,is,a drug addict, and she got wrapped up with some really bad people when I was young. She had married this guy who was a huge drug dealer in Chicago. He sort of became obsessed with me when I turned thirteen. He locked me away in my room and kept me like a prisoner.” She clears her throat. That time was so hard for her. The isolation, the loneliness. I can remember it like it was yesterday. Picturing her standing in that window, a sad image of a girl longing for something, for someone, to save her. For some reason, the idea popped into my head that that someone could be me. Climbing into her window was the best choice and the biggest mistake of my life.
“Did —” Alec clears his throat uncomfortably. “Did he hurt you?”
I know what he’s getting at. I thought the same thing at first. Why else do you keep a young girl locked up from the world?
“No. Never. He never touched me. It wasn’t like that. I was more like a doll. It was weird, no doubt, but he never abused me.”
Alec visibly sighs. Yes, it is a comfort knowing he never hurt her. I would have killed Gunner right there on the spot if he had. It would have fucked my whole career up, but it would have been totally worth it.
“So, how exactly do you two know each other?” Alec points between the two of us. Ah, the burning question.
“I took her virginity.” I slide my arm around Ever.
“Tage.”
Alec scowls, and my life is complete.
Everly pushes me off her. “Our past is complicated.”
“It’s going to become less complicated because we are getting back together.” I slip my arm protectively around Everly once again.
“What?” Alec visually slices Everly open with a look shaper than a straight blade. Scary.
“Um, no, we are not.” And she pushes me away once again.
“Then what was last night about?”
“Last night?” Alec repeats, his facial expression hardening.
“Tage,” Everly growls at me. It’s adorable.
“Yeah, we had sex.” I look pointedly at Alec. “It was incredible.” I twist the knife even deeper.Asshole. I know.
“Tage,”Everly explodes.
Okay, maybe I’m being a little too loose-lipped. It’s really not nice to kiss and tell.
The look on Alec’s face is priceless, though. I wish I could take a picture. He is trying so hard to keep it together, but the angry shade of red his skin is turning completely gives him away.Need a better poker face, buddy.
I shouldn’t be enjoying this so much, but I am.You’re going to be out of Everly’s life in three-point-two seconds, and I’ll make sure she never thinks about you again.
“Alec, I’m so sorry. I wanted to tell you. It was an accident. A mistake.”
