by Amber Lacie
Eve braced herself and took another sip from her cup. “Go on.”
“Obviously I was devastated, we were supposed to be getting married. I thought he loved me, for better or for worse, you know? I was so stupid.”
“No, you were hurt. I’m so angry right now. I have the urge to call him up and chew his ass out.”
“I was hurt, but he had good reasons.” Fuck. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I didn’t want to cry. It never made anything better.
“There is no reason for anyone to cheat. Ever,” Eve tried to rationalize.
“He wanted a family and I couldn’t give him that. I can’t give anyone that,” I whispered, sadness lacing my voice.
“So, the fuck what? That’s a bullshit excuse. There are other ways to have a family. Besides, he fucking knew all of that before he proposed.”
“He felt I took his choice away from him.”
“Fuck him. It’s your goddamn body,” she voiced angrily. “Why are you talking about this now? Has he done something? I will fuck him up.”
She was so cute when she was angry. I love her, but there’s no way she could ever kill anyone. It wasn’t in her nature to hurt someone.
Ignoring her question, I continued. “Yeah, well––that’s not how he saw it. Anyway, he left me that night. I had already had a few drinks, so I figured what was a few more. I grabbed a bottle of wine when no one was looking and went outside to clear my head. When the tears became too much, I decided to hide in the gazebo, but I didn’t do a very good job.”
We both sat at the table staring at the empty bottle in front of us. My nerves were shot. Fuck it, I’ll just tell her. “I slept with Evan,” I finally blurted out.
She laughed, more out of shock. “I’m sorry, I thought I heard you say you slept with Evan.”
“I did. He found me in the gazebo––I was upset, drunk, and he was there. The way he looked at me, the way he touched me, and the way he spoke to me…it was everything I needed at the time. He was so good, Eve.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop. I have too many questions and none of them are in relation to how good he was in bed.”
I needed a good laugh, so I pushed her buttons just a bit more. “Not just good, so good. Like, ‘Oh my fucking God’, good.”
“Stop!” she shouted. “Why are you doing this to me? Damn it, you know I’m a visual thinker.”
The wine was long gone and I needed to sober up, so I set my glass in the sink and grabbed a bottle of water. “Sorry, but I had to. I think it’s hilarious how you can read about sex, but you can’t talk about it.”
“Shut it! It’s not my fault you’re a slut.”
I snorted in response. “Fuck you.”
“It doesn’t add up though.”
“What doesn’t?” I asked in confusion.
“Why you were so upset when I came in here, what does any of this have to do with the empty bottle of wine?”
“Evan’s back. I had the pleasure of opening the shower to find him watching me, while holding a towel just out of my reach.”
“Oh, shit,” she said as sudden realization hit. “I’m so sorry. I forgot to tell you.”
“You knew? What the hell?”
“Well, it’s not like I knew you had a thing for his dick. He’s here for the wedding.”
“That’s just fucking great,” I said, throwing my hands into the air. “I haven’t talked to him in seven years. He fucked me and left me, just like Paul. And today, when he saw I was pissed off, he tried to hold me and he called me baby. I’m not fucking his. He left without so much as a goodbye. Fuck him and his peppered beard.”
Eve sat, staring at me. I knew that look, she was calculating, sorting information, and plotting. I shouldn’t have said a word to her. “He has a peppered beard? What else does he have now?” she asked in curiosity.
“I don’t know…I didn’t get a good look at him. Maybe he had a stupid haircut. The way it was combed back out of his face with the sides short and tight looked like he was trying too hard. And it’s not a beard; it’s more like scruff. Then there was that stupid tattoo on his hand. Who does that? Who puts a tattoo there?”
“But you didn’t get a good look at him?” she asked mischievously.
“Screw off. I know what you’re trying to do, and I’m not interested.”
“You sure? Because that was a lot of detail for someone who doesn’t want anything to do with him.”
“Leave it, Eve. Just forget I said anything at all. Don’t we have a bachelorette party or something to plan?” I asked, trying to change the subject.
Giving in––for the moment, Eve grabbed a folder from beside her on the table and opened it before passing it to me. “Queen Brix thought we needed guidelines.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope, and there are specific instructions,” Eve stated flatly.
“Wow. She’s beyond ridiculous.”
“I have no idea what he sees in her. She’s so manipulating.”
Pulling out a sheet of paper from the folder, I started reading over everything. It was insane. Not only was there an itinerary, but it was also highlighted to let us know which of us would be responsible for each part. Who is this chick?
“Brix currently has my mom and Robert running ragged. My mom finally broke down, and let Theron pay for a wedding planner. Now it’s someone else’s problem. I emailed her a copy of everything Brix left me. That poor planner has no idea what’s in store for her tomorrow morning, but at least it’s on her plate and not mine. I’m still waiting for Robert to snap out of whatever trance he’s in.”
“I haven’t decided if she’s an alien that is using her mind powers to control him, or if she’s a witch gone rouge.”
Eve laughed, “Maybe she needed him to help fulfill a curse and now she’s poisoned his mind with her powers?”
“Or maybe she’s got a magic pussy—”
Eve waved her hand in the air stopping me mid-sentence. “I’m going to stop you right there. I do not want to visualize that. Let’s just go with witch.”
Nodding my head in agreement, I took another sip of water. I watch her expression change as she processed whatever thought she was working on. I could see it eating at her, slowly picking away at her nerves. No longer able to contain it, she finally asked the question. “How are you going to handle things with Evan? You can stay in one of the rooms upstairs if you want. Besides, I know you’re not on the best terms with your roommate, Jyllyan.” The disdain in her voice when she said Jyllyan’s name was perfect.
“You said it wrong––it’s Jillian, but with y’s,” I stated mockingly.
“Sorry, I forgot. Why does she need to inform everyone how it’s spelled anyway? It’s not like I’m writing it down somewhere.”
“No clue.”
“But seriously, Kayla, I wasn’t joking about you staying here. God knows we have the room.”
“Thanks, but I’m already settled in next door. If Evan gets in my way again, I’ll just put him in his place; I got this. One more night and then I can go back to my apartment. For now, I’m just trying to avoid her until I can find someone else to replace her.”
“Have you told her she needs to move out yet?”
I nervously picked at the paper in my hand, creasing the fold in the corners I had already made. “No. She frightens me,” I admitted.
“Then she’s never going to leave.”
“It’s fine––I have to feed the fish anyway. It’s not like she’s going to.”
“You and those damn fish. What are their names again?”
Trying to keep a straight face, I brushed a fleck of dirt from the table. “Huck Fin, Swim
Shady, and Captain Cuntfins.”
“You can’t even say them without smiling.” Shaking her head, she began to chuckle. “Those are the worst names for fish.”
“Yeah, well, I was in a bad mood and it made me feel better.”
Eve did her best to hide he
r yawn, but I caught it anyway. She was always a good friend and this time was no different. I knew she had had a rough week between the kids and the craziness with her brother’s wedding, but she was still making time for me. It was time to call it a night and face the craziness waiting for me back at the house. “Today was crazy, I’m just going to crawl into bed and pretend none of it happened. Thanks for the wine,” I said with a smile.
“You sure? I can sit with you, if you want.”
“I’m sure.” Blowing her a kiss, I tossed my empty water bottle in the recycling bin and headed back to the guesthouse. Hopefully, Evan is gone, or asleep, and I can avoid the crazy until tomorrow morning.
As soon as I stepped through the door, I knew my luck wasn’t on my side. The asshole was sitting on the couch, shirtless, waiting for me. What made it worse was the fact that he looked sexy as fuck doing it. Tattoos covered his forearms with the designs crawling down his hands. I watched as his chiseled shoulders rose and fell with each breath, while his darkened eyes stared back at me. I hate him.
“Are you just going to ignore me the whole time?” he finally asked. The sound of his voice prickled my skin, but I wasn’t going to give into him.
“That’s the plan. I’m going to bed.”
“Kayla––please, just give me one minute. Please.”
Looking up at the clock above the kitchen sink, I smiled. “One minute. Go.”
“I’m an asshole. And before you say anything, I know you already know that. What I did…leaving without telling you––it was shitty. I was hurting and so were you.”
He had excuses and I had questions. “Why couldn’t you have kept walking? You could’ve just left me in the gazebo.”
“I couldn’t do it. No one should have to hurt like that.”
“You made it hurt worse when you left, Evan.”
“I know. I fucked up,” he admitted, looking ashamed.
“Why? Give me one reason why you couldn’t just talk to me.”
“I would’ve stayed.” He said it as if it was supposed to clarify everything. Instead, I was left feeling more confused.
Shifting my feet, I waved my hands for him to continue. I needed to know what his reasoning was; or was it that I wanted to know. I guess I’m a firm believer in self-torture. I watched as Evan tried wiping the strain off his face, but it was no use. When he finally spoke again his voice was lower, softer—almost like the words hurt him as they fell from his lips.
“I was trying to run from everything, to get away from it all, to forget…and you made me want to stay. I knew that if I didn’t leave when I did, I would have never been able to. You didn’t need me. I was no good for you. I destroy things––it’s what I do.”
“You don’t get to say in what I need or what’s good for me. Maybe I did need you––maybe I felt safe with you. Maybe when I woke up the next morning I felt like everything was going to be all right. But I was wrong. Not only did Paul not want me, but the first person to ever make me feel like myself was gone too. How fucked up was I that no one wanted me?”
I stood in the doorway clenching my fists, watching him as his long frame straightened, exposing the band of his black boxer briefs. My shoulders lifted as I corrected my posture, trying to hide the face that had my walls crumbling down with just a glance. With each step he took, making his way over to me, I found myself taking another deep breath. His body engulfed mine as he slid his hand under my unmoving arms and around my waist, before lifting me into the air. Without hesitation my legs wrapped themselves around him as I pressed my lips to his.
His kiss was like a sweet poison. He may have tasted like honey but deep down, I knew I wouldn’t survive it. This wasn’t going to end without me getting hurt, and I knew it.
Evan’s fingers dug into my hips as he pressed me up against the door. “Kayla.” His deep timber voice vibrated against my skin as his lips trailed down my neck. This is bad. This is so bad, but I fucking want it. “I’m not leaving again, not unless you’re with me.”
“Liar.”
“Watch me,” he whispered as he peppered kisses across my skin.
I didn’t know if he was telling me he wasn’t lying or if he actually wanted me to watch him. Either way, it didn’t matter––my eyes were already on him. I watched as his tongue slid across his bottom lip before he sucked it between his teeth.
His gaze held mine as he spun us around and carried me into the bedroom. “I have to touch you,” he mumbled.
That was the last thing he said before tossing me upon the bed. It is also the last thing I remember him saying as he pulled my shirt over my head. He was so quiet, so in control. His hands slowly slid over my skin, gently pulling off my shorts. All the while, his mouth seared my skin with hot kisses as his tongue sent chills racing down my spine.
“Shit,” I moaned breathlessly. My fingers gripped his shoulders as he buried his head between my thighs. Not one sound fell from his lips. The way he lifted my hips with his hands, bringing my body to his mouth like a meal he couldn’t live without, had my nerves on standby. One quick move in any direction and I would be done. It was like he knew exactly what I needed, when I needed it, and how I needed it.
My head rolled back against the mattress as my nails dug into his skin. “Shit. Shit. Shit.” It’s the only word I seemed to know. Suddenly, a ragged face with dark eyes leaned over me. My fingers moved of their own accord, softly stroking the side of his face where the speckled gray was taking over. Slowly lowering his mouth to mine, I instinctively lifted my hips in response to his hands gripping my waist.
The first time we were together I didn’t have a clear head. A broken heart mixed with liquor had clouded my mind. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance after the wine I had had earlier that it would be more of the same. Yet, somehow, it felt different. It wasn’t the way he was touching me, it was the way I felt when he touched me. Not just compared to Paul, but to anyone I had ever been with. And if I were being honest, it scared me.
My heart and mind were conflicted, and the fear had me paralyzed. As if flipping a switch, my heart quickly closed him off.
Feeling him shift between my legs, I barely had time to catch my breath before my eyes opened to find him kicking his pants to the side. There he stood, completely nude. A shaky breath fell from my lips as he grabbed my thighs, pushing them apart, before swiftly pulling me toward him. With one swift move of his hand, he stole my breath. Gripping my hips, he used long, steady strokes to bring our bodies together in a dance of lust. I watched as the vein in his forehead tightened. Wrapping both of my hands around his neck without breaking eye contact, I looked deeply into his eyes. I wanted him to see what he could to do me. It wasn’t because I was falling in love with him––at least that’s what I told myself.
Evan needed to know that I wasn’t someone that could be toyed with. I wanted him to see what he could have and then, when he least expected it, I was going to take it all away. All is fair in love and war.
Within moments, his head fell to my chest with heavy breaths blowing hot air across my skin. Instinctively, my fingers softly stroked up and down his spine as he curled further into me, entwining me in his body. It was so fucking good, and I hated that it was so fucking good. He only wanted me because I was here––it was convenient. No one waits this long to come back, unless they never planned on coming back at all. At least this way he would know what he walked away from, what he left behind.
Come morning I would be gone, and Evan would find out what it feels like to be left––alone. Jyllyan would be leaving with her boyfriend for the week and my apartment would be mine again, which would give me a chance to put some distance between Evan and me. I was going to avoid the poison––at least I was going to try.
Evan
T he sun scattered across my face as the curtain blew in the breeze. If I didn’t know better, I would’ve thought I had died and gone to heaven last night. Feeling her beneath me, knowing she needed me as much as I needed her––it was s
omething I would never forget. My face creased and for a moment I had to remember what I was doing. A permanent smile was gracing my lips.
Feeling the pillow pressed against my back, I rolled over to wrap my arms around the beautiful blonde angel next to me. Although, instead of her sexy curves filling my hands, I was shocked to find nothing more than cotton sheets and down pillows. What the fuck?
For the first time in a long time, I hoped to find the girl still asleep in my bed, but unfortunately, she was gone. Quickly tossing on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I made my way through the house in search of her, but I found nothing. Checking her bedroom, I saw that her make-up case was missing and in that moment I knew that she had high-tailed it out of the guesthouse. I should’ve known it wouldn’t have been that easy, I silently chastised myself.
Chasing the girl, making her fall for me––I don’t know how to do any of it. I need advice. My fingers quickly slid across my phone as I paced in the bedroom. Pick up, Theron. Pick up.
“Evan.”
“Jesus, it took you long enough. Where’s Kayla?” I harshly bit out.
“Good morning to you, too. What happened?”
“Nothing. I just need to know where she is.”
A deep sigh stretched through the phone. I knew he was pissed, they were all probably pissed, but I wasn’t. For the first time since I had last touched her, I felt an ease in my chest. She made the pain go away. She made everything better.
“I’m an asshole––you know this and I know this. Now, where is she?”
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, all I know is that Eve is currently cursing your name. Kayla took off this morning,” he explained. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. “Man, whatever you did…you better fix it.”
Shit. Quickly ending the call, I tried desperately to figure out where I had gone wrong. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, it hit me––I knew exactly where I had messed up. I had treated her just like every other girl over the last seven years. Kayla was different; she was someone I wanted to be with and I didn’t show her that. She left me just like I had left her, and it sucked.