“I could say the same about Ryan,” she shrugged, “why do you two insist on hanging out with us anyway?”
“There’s a difference,” Heath explained. “Lee's a junior, Ryan and I are freshmen. So, we're not that much older than you two.”
“You mean, you can't find any high school girls who will give you the time of day,” she teased.
“I’m a freshman who managed to make Varsity,” he laughed, “the only guys who can get more girls than me, are the football players.”
“Yet, I'm the one you bring to the game,” she rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you're Mister Popularity, dragging your best friend's cousin along.”
“Maybe my best friend's cousin is the only girl I want,” he grinned.
“Idiot,” she practically whispered it, not quite sure how to take his comment. She’d always had a crush on him, and sometimes, thought he might feel the same way. But he was Ryan’s best friend. The same kid that used to pull her hair and shoot rubber bands at her.
“Maybe,” he shrugged, and playfully kicked at her feet. “But you like it.”
“I swear,” she balled up her hands into fists, “if you try to kiss me, I'll slug you.”
“It’s a good thing I can run,” he smirked. She gave him an “I dare you” glare. “Relax. I'm not going to kiss you... yet.”
“I hate you sometimes,” she wrinkled her nose, “you know that, right?”
“No you don't. You think I'm charming.” He leaned in and gave her a quick little kiss on the lips. Before she could react, he took off laughing through the parking lot.
“What's up with Heath?” Harper asked as she walked up to Everley.
“Huh?” Everley came to her senses. “Did you say something?”
“I said what's up with Heath?” her friend asked again. “He went running by us laughing like a lunatic. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, “is your dad here yet?”
“No,” Harper laughed, “why are you avoiding my other question?”
“Oh, Heath?” Everley blushed. “That idiot kissed me.” Strangely enough, she no longer felt the need to slug him anymore.
***
By the time Monday rolled around, Everley had mastered the art of avoiding Heath, but Benny seemed to be around every corner. Thankfully, even when he was with his dad, he refrained from making comments, but that didn't stop him from making her feel uncomfortable.
She wondered why he'd come back to town. Didn't he still have it good in New York? With whatever her name was?
Closer to the week's end, her disappearing act had Ryan and Harper concerned. Brandi had kept her promise about not mentioning the fight, but she was almost certain the little gossip wouldn't be able to resist telling her pals all about the kiss.
Ryan would talk to him, because Ryan was one of his best friends, and that's what best friends did.
“Everley?” Harper knocked on the bedroom door. “We're all going out to the bar tonight. Think maybe you'd want to join us? Gabriella's coming. I know you haven't seen her yet, because she's been out of town, but Everley, I know she'd want to see you-”
“Is this a girl thing?” Everley asked, interrupting what she was sure would turn into the biggest run on sentence ever.
“Well,” Harper stammered, “can you open the door? Please? It's been a week since I've seen you, and Ryan only sees you at work. You keep sneaking in and out to avoid everyone, and-”
Everley swung the door open and moved aside so her friend could come in. “So who's going?” Harper was avoiding the question and Everley could only guess why. Still, she wanted to hear the truth from Harper. When her friend looked down at the ground, Everley sighed. “Just tell me.”
“He isn't going to bother you, Everley,” Harper said. “But he's our friend, and he always goes when we get together.”
Guilt washed over her. She wasn’t trying to get everyone to ostracize Heath. He deserved their group of friends just like she did. Maybe even more than she did.
That didn’t mean she wanted to see him.
“It’ll be okay,” Harper said.
“He told me he was still in love with me,” Everley blurted out.
“Well, we all knew that, Everley.” The lack of surprise in Harper’s statement confirmed it. “He’s been in love with you-”
“I know, I know,” Everley sighed. “Since we were little. But he can't honestly think that's enough to fix everything. Like we can just go back to the way things were before everything went to hell.” That was putting it lightly. Everything had gone to hell, and it felt like it was still continuing to dive further into the darkest pits of the underworld.
“I don't think he wants that,” Harper said, “he's been angry for a long time, and he's only recently started working through it.”
“Then I screwed it all up by coming home,” Everley stated.
“It was rocky at first,” Harper admitted. “Especially after that night at the bar, but I think that was more because he wasn't expecting to run into you that way. But according to Brandi, you two are talking... that's a good thing, right?”
“Sure,” Everley shrugged. If Brandi had left it at that, then she wasn't about to spill the beans either. Neither woman said anything for a few minutes, but Everley could see the desperation in her friend's eyes. “Okay,” she said, “I'll go.”
“Yay!” Harper hugged Everley and then made her way out of the room. “Leaving at seven!” she exclaimed on her way out.
***
Being out with everyone was actually nice. The last time they had all been able to get together, they were too young to get into any sort of bar -though Heath and Owen managed to use fake IDs a couple times before they got caught- and often had to settle for late night sandwiches.
“Lee can't make it,” Brandi pouted, “he's working late tonight.”
“I still can’t believe you hooked up with Brenan, of all people,” Gabriella laughed.
Everley laughed with her, because, as alike as Brandi and Lee were, their flirtatious personalities and wandering eyes made actual relationships quite difficult.
“It’s complicated,” Brandi grinned, “but enjoyable. Everley can be my date tonight, right? After all, her boy seems to be missing too.”
“He's not my boy,” Everley muttered. She glanced around the table and groaned. Everyone was interested in what she had to say about the matter.
“Catch me up,” Gabriella said. “So, you come back to town, and what? Just pretend he doesn't exist?”
“We're...” Everley frowned, “working on being friendly.”
“Friendly,” Brandi laughed, “with their lips! Probably tongues too- OUCH! Everley! What was that for?” She rubbed her side where Everley had elbowed her.
“Is that why you've been avoiding him this week?” Harper asked as she leaned forward in anticipation of some more information.
“Did you sleep with him?” Gabriella asked.
“I don’t want to know!” Ryan shouted. It was the first peep from either of the men, and Everley hoped the interruption would kill the conversation. Her hope died when Owen nodded towards the bar, and the men made themselves scarce.
Gabriella, Brandi, and Harper huddled closer to Everley. “Well?” Harper asked.
“No!” Everley exclaimed, “and I'd rather not discuss any of this.”
Heath slipped into and grabbed a seat at the table, as if the mere mention of him was some sort of a summons. “Sorry. Long game tonight. We had to go into a tenth inning, then wound up losing.” When he was done explaining himself, he looked around the table, “Where are Ryan and Owen?”
“Try the bar,” Brandi giggled, “and get out of here, we're gossiping.”
“No we're not,” Gabriella rolled her eyes, “because Everley isn't giving us any details.”
“I’d like details too,” Heath joined the huddle, “details like, where the hell have you been all week?”
Everyone turned towards Everley, expecting an answer.
“I don't see how that's any of your business,” she said. All eyes went back to Heath.
“I guess not,” he shrugged, “but if you kiss a man and then disappear, he does tend to worry...”
“Wait,” Brandi stopped the volley. “I thought you said he kissed you?”
“I did,” Heath confirmed, “and she ran away. Then she kissed me at the apartment before kicking me out of her room.”
“I knew it!” Brandi shouted, fist pumping the air. “I did interrupt something!”
“You interrupted drunken stupidity,” Everley growled, “I'm going to join the guys at the bar.” They were safer company at the moment, seeing as Heath didn’t seem too intent on joining them.
“Nope!” Brandi thwarted that escape plan and grabbed Everley by the hand. “You're going to dance with me!” She pulled a protesting Everley out to the floor.
“Should we join them?” She heard Harper ask.
“Duh,” Gabriella answered.
The four of them made their way to the dance floor, leaving Heath alone at the table. She felt horrible, but the guilt quickly faded when she saw him get up and join Ryan and Owen at the bar.
It didn’t take long for Everley to lose herself in the music. She swayed along with her friends, and enjoyed the fact that they weren't drilling her for answers. She didn’t want to answer questions and she definitely didn't want to think about anything other than having a good time.
Eventually, Harper and Gabriella were stolen away by their respective dates. Now alone with Brandi, Everley could feel the atmosphere change. She wanted to duck out before her friend started in, but there weren’t very many places to hide in the bar… or even in town.
“Lee's missing out,” Brandi looked around the floor, catching the eyes of several admirers. It was the last thing she expected her friend to say. Still, it made her uneasy.
“Don’t you dare leave me alone,” Everley warned. A wandering Brandi would leave her open. Not only to the possibility of Heath trying to cut in, but to anyone who might think she was on her own.
“I’m not going to ditch you,” Brandi said with a roll of her eyes. “But maybe you should be ditching me.”
Everley tried not to groan. The conversation was going down a path she thought she’d been clear she didn’t want to take. She could understand Brandi’s concern, but the last thing anyone needed in this situation was meddling. “I thought we were done discussing this?”
“It’s far from over,” Brandi informed her.
“I swear to God, Brandi. If you tell me he’s still in love with me, I’m going to deck you.” Everyone had told her at least once how much Heath had pined for her. Whether or not that was an exaggeration, she couldn’t be sure. Her own feelings were a muddle of confusion and her run ins with Heath had been hot and cold… like even he didn’t know what he was feeling.
Brandi took Everley by the hand and led her closer to the bar.
Closer to Heath.
“We are not doing this,” she protested.
Brandi spun her around, giving Everley no choice but to look at Heath. “Have you really been avoiding him?” Brandi asked. “Look at him. He’s miserable.”
“Way to plead your case,” Everley rolled her eyes, but didn’t turn her gaze away. Everyone seemed to be having a great time, watching a game, chatting and drinking with friends. But not Heath. He was just sitting there, hunched over his drink. He looked just as miserable as he did the day she broke up with him.
“He’s missed you,” Brandi continued. “Even if he won’t say it. I've seen him try to start something with other girls, and it’s never worked out. Because, as impossible as you may think it is, that man has never gotten over you, and still loves you with all his heart.”
“He's in love with a memory,” Everley said.
“How will you ever know unless you talk to him?” Brandi gave her a little shove in the right direction. “And I mean really talk to him. No more of this running off crap when it gets too intense.”
Everley looked over her shoulder at her friend, who was urging her to get off the dance floor. Looking back at Heath, she could tell he wasn’t having a good time, and she knew it was partially her fault. She'd been avoiding him, and even though that was probably for the best, it wasn't fair to him. After another shove from Brandi, she stopped dancing and walked over to the bar.
Chapter 8
Everley was quiet after they took the baby away, and Heath didn't know what to do to comfort her. One of the nurses had been sweet enough to put a little box together, filled with footprints, hospital bracelets and various other mementos for the two of them.
Heath slipped the little headband he’d bought for their daughter around the box and tucked it away in his backpack for the time being. As much as he wanted to look at the items inside, the wound was too fresh. RIght now he needed to be strong. One of them had to keep it all together, and it was unfair to expect that of Everley after all she’d been through.
"I don't understand,” her voice was no more than a hushed whisper when she finally spoke. “She was just kicking around yesterday.”
Heath still couldn't bring himself to say anything, the lump in his throat was still too painful. Talking without breaking down was impossible.
He needed to be the strong one.
His silence didn’t do anything to help her. “What did I do wrong?” She started crying again.
Heath wrapped his arms around her and did the only thing he could; he held her as she cried.
***
Everley shook the painful memory away as she took a seat next to Heath. If he noticed, he didn’t acknowledge it.
“So,” Everley cleared her throat. “Ten innings, huh?”
Heath looked up from his drink and just stared at her for a moment, like he couldn't believe she was talking to him. She hated the look in his eyes. They’d always been expressive, and now, they told her just how much she’d hurt him since she’d come home.
“We lost by three runs,” he answered.
“That sounds rough,” she muttered. Small talk had never been her strong suit. He shrugged and looked back at his drink. The quiet that fell over them seemed to drown out the noise of the club. It was awkward and damn near heartbreaking.
“I’m sorry,” she sighed. The words felt lame coming out of her mouth, though she meant them with all her heart. Heath didn’t say anything in return. “I mean it,” she tried again. “I’m sorry for coming back, for turning everything upside down and then avoiding you. I just… I'm really confused right now and we both know how good I am at running.”
“I suppose if you avoid the problem, you can't make bad decisions.”
“Really?” she snapped. “I came here to apologize. There’s no need to be an ass!”
“Sorry,” he looked back at his drink. His shoulders fell and he let out a pained sigh. “But… I'd be lying if I said that didn't hurt.”
“I’m sorry,” she apologized again. “For what happened the other day… and for snapping at you just now.”
“Okay,” he nodded, then turned towards her again. “I suppose if you can be civil, I can try too.”
“I really am sorry,” she said again. For everything, she added silently. No matter how many times she said it though, nothing could fix what she’d broken.
“Having you back… at first, I thought it would make me miserable, because you were so adamant that I stay away. But then something strange happened...”
She hadn’t expected him to move past small talk after her apology. It surprised her that he jumped right into what she was sure was going to be something hard hitting and heavy. Something she wasn’t sure she was ready to dive into. “What’s that?” she asked anyway.
“The more I tried to stay away, the more we crossed paths. Then at one point, you actually started talking to me. I thought that maybe, we could at least be friends again and get to the point where we actually enjoyed each other's company.”
“But I'm making that dif
ficult,” she offered.
“Maybe just a little,” he teased.
“I meant what I said. It's hard being around you. But… it doesn't mean I hate you or don't care about you,” she felt a lump forming in her throat and knew the tears were well on their way. “I care about you a lot, and I hurt you really bad. When you told me you were still in love with me… all I could think was how much I didn’t deserve it. I don't even deserve a chance at having you as a friend, because I'm a terrible person.”
“You don't really believe that, do you?” he asked. A few tears fell as she nodded. “Please don't think like that,” he begged.
“I can’t help it,” she sobbed, burying her face in her hands. Everyone would be looking at her if they weren’t already. She hated being the center of attention, and right now, she was doing a damn good job at attracting an audience.
“Hey.” She heard Heath get off of his stool and felt him stand next to her. “Why don't we go outside for a few minutes?” he asked.
Everley looked up at him and wiped the tears from her eyes. What had she ever done to deserve his compassion?
“Come on,” he offered his hand and smiled softly at her.
She took his hand and let him lead her out of the bar. “Thank you,” she said once they were outside.
“That bar was getting rather stuffy,” he reasoned.
The cool breeze was a welcome change to the over-crowded bar. She could feel her nerves calming down just enough to thwart her impending panic attack.
“Well, well, well...”
Heath groaned and pulled Everley into his arms. While she hated the idea that he felt the need to protect her, dealing with Benny was an ordeal that required reinforcements. Especially now that she was sure it was obvious she’d been crying.
“Ignore that idiot,” Heath whispered.
“You did run back into his arms,” Benny continued, ignoring the fact that his audience didn’t care what he had to say. “Maybe he is dumber than I thought.”
“What do you want?” Heath asked. “Didn't I tell you to get lost the other day? Are you looking for a rematch?”
“Free country,” Benny said. Everley knew he wouldn’t dare try to take on Heath again. “I wanted a drink. I don't need your permission.”
Back to the Beginning Page 5