Page 72 of Ache
Christ, this girl and everything she’s been through.
“Ever.” Alec kicks his shoes off, then loses his clothes. “Baby, it’s okay.” He draws her against his naked body and lets her unload all her emotions into his neck. He looks up at me as I stand there like a dufus. I’m not good at all this crying stuff. He jerks his head, communicating to me to get my ass in the tub. He doesn't have to tell me twice.
I strip down and climb into the tub, Alec repositioning him and Everly, so I can snuggle up to her free side.
As much of a cocky bastard as he is, Alec is much better in the emotions department than I am. He seems to handle outbursts and crying like a pro. At the moment, I’m thankful for that.
“That was pretty badass,” Alec hums to Ever. “You had me scared.”
Everly laughs through her tears. “Alec, shut up.”
“I’m being serious. I know who I’m sending next time I have to squeeze a client.”
“Yeah, my glasses and braids are really going to intimidate them.” She wipes her face. The water is nearly covering her chest now.
“That’s the angle. They’ll never expect such an innocent-looking badass. We’ll call you Ghostface Killer.”
She scoffs at the name.
“I know a place that can fill that job description,” I chime in.
In no time, Alec and I have Everly smiling more than frowning. We don’t make a half-bad team.
Once the water reaches max capacity, I turn the faucet off, and the three of us just sit and soak in the steaming hot water. We’ll spend all day in here if that’s what it’ll take to make Ever happy.
“It felt good.” Ever vacantly places her palm on the surface of the clear water. “Telling her off.”
“She definitely deserved it,” I agree.
“Think she’ll back off?” Everly slides her eyes up to meet mine.
I shake my head solemnly. My gut tells me no.
“Yeah, me neither.”
“We’ll figure it out.” I caress her thigh.
“Maybe I should go back into hiding? If I’m out of the picture, no one can get hurt.”
“Ever, no,” Alec protests immediately.
“She won’t be able to get what she wants. And Alec, your career won’t be in danger,” Everly argues.
I stay silent. In my professional opinion, it's not the worst idea. Everly and I could easily disappear, but where would that leave Alec? Could he just drop everything — his high-powered career, his friends, his family — and up and vanish? That is a hard ship to sail away on.
It’s easier for me since I’m a ghost. I have no attachments, no family or core set of friends. I’ve been a loner since the age of sixteen. I can disappear and no one would come looking.
“I don’t think my career is in danger. I think your mom is bluffing, honestly. If she was going to pull something, it would have happened by now. She would have greased the wheels, but it’s been three days and nothing.”
“The possibility, though.” Everly doesn’t seem on board with Alec’s argument. I tend to agree with him. By now, if Vicki had the means, she would have pulled something.
“Well, if I can’t disappear” — Everly pokes holes in the surface of the water — “maybe we should find out what’s in that box.”
“Seriously?” I sit up.
“Why not? If we get rid of the contents, we get rid of the problem.”
“Umm . . .” Alec disagrees. “I’m not sure it works like that.”
