“I do love you!” she shouted back, “I don't know how else I'm supposed to prove it to you!”
“Get over him!”
“Screw you!”
It was always the same argument, and it happened every year around her daughter's birthday. Why couldn't he see her sadness was about the child she’d lost and not his high school rival?
Running away had been a mistake, but Mer Harbor had become so suffocating that she saw no other option. Besides, she usually had fun with Benny. How could she have predicted he'd forever be jealous of a relationship that had ended years ago?
“Six years, Everley,” he started up again. “It's been six damn years and he hasn't come looking. He doesn't care about you anymore.”
She knew he wasn't looking, and she knew exactly where he was. Heath had returned to Mer Harbor shortly after she left, and he wouldn't look for her, because he hated her.
Mistake or not, she was determined to make what she had with Benny work. She owed him that much. “What do you want from me?”
“Be with me,” his expression softened, and he stopped shouting, “and I mean really be with me. Stop putting it off and marry me.”
He’d asked her several times, and she always found a reason to wait. She wasn't completely sure what her hang up was, after all, they were practically married anyway. Maybe the jealousy would end if she stopped putting off the inevitable. “Would that make you happy?”
“It’s all I've ever wanted, Everley,” he said. “He's not coming back, and I'm here, and I love you.”
Everley knew she should say no. Heath might not be coming back, but that wasn't the point. She loved Benny, but not the way he wanted her to, and marrying him would probably be another huge mistake. Her mind and heart both screamed “run”.
“Okay,” she said instead, “let's get married.”
***
Monday came quickly, and Benny found himself slinking back home that morning, begging for his father’s help. He wasn’t exactly sure what his father could do in regards to Everley, but the man had more connections than anyone he knew. Making things happen was Benjamin Sr.’s job.
“Absolutely not,” Benny’s father stated. “After all those strings I pulled to get that divorce expedited? Just let her go, son.”
“Divorcing her was a mistake,” Benny insisted.
“Marrying her was a mistake,” his father snapped. “I know you're upset about your engagement crumbling, but do you really think going after Everley again is wise? After all that's happened, she isn't going to take you back, and she never loved you in the first place.”
“We were happy once,” he said, “I just gotta get her to remember that.”
“You were a rebound!”
“Fine!” Benny shouted. “I don't need your help anyway!” He didn't give his father a chance to argue. Before the man could speak, he stormed out of the house; he was halfway down the block before he started to cool down. A conversation outside the sandwich shop caught his attention. Heath and Brandi were seated outside, seemingly enjoying the nice weather. Neither noticed him on the sidewalk, and there was no indication they’d noticed him slip behind the fence for some cover either.
“No breakfast for Everley today?” Brandi asked.
“She's not feeling so great,” Heath answered. “Sent me a message saying she was staying home today.”
“Oh,” Brandi said, a sympathetic tone in her voice. “Is everything okay?”
“To be honest, it just sounds like a pretty nasty cold. I told her I'd be by a little later to see if she needed anything.”
That was all Benny needed to hear.
***
Everley awoke to the sound of someone knocking on the door. After a quick glance at the clock, she figured it wasn't Heath, and therefore not worth getting untangled from the blanket cocoon she'd created on the couch.
“Everley?”
It was Benny. Dammit.
“Everley? I know you're in there!” he called, knocking again. She continued to ignore him, but that didn't stop him. “I just wanna talk. Can you open the door?”
Hell no.
Her silence didn’t deter him even a little bit. “Fine. You can just listen then. Look, I'm sorry for all the things I said and did. I was hurt, and I let it get to me. I made bad choices. Really bad ones. I didn't mean all those hurtful things. I still love you.”
Everley snorted out a laugh. His idea of love wasn’t something she needed, or even wanted in her life.
“He already left you once.”
“And you didn't?” she shouted, unable to contain herself. At least Heath had tried. She was the one who had pushed him away, not the other way around. Benny, on the other hand, had been all too eager to drop her and forget about her.
“I came back,” he reasoned. “He didn't even look for you.”
But Heath had come back. Not because things hadn’t worked out with college and baseball. He came back because he wanted to fix things. Benny was only hounding her now because his backup plan fell through.
“Just go away!” Everley insisted. She was tired of hearing it. Benny was just a mistake she wanted to forget about.
“You can't give him what he wants,” Benny ignored her request. “Did you tell him what happened in New York? This isn't high school anymore. His infatuation will wear off, and when he realizes you have nothing to offer, he'll come to his senses.”
Everley hid her head under a pillow in an attempt to cover her ears.
It didn’t work.
“He'll want to get married. Are you gonna make him wait forever too? Does he know about the baby? You know he's gonna want a family, and if he knows you lost a second one, he's gotta know you probably won't be able to give him that.”
The realization cut her deep. Tears started falling, and the crying made her already stuffy nose even stuffier. The headache she'd developed started pounding away harder than before. Not true... She tried telling herself. Heath knew about everything, and he still said he wanted her. He knew she was damaged and he still treated her as if she was perfect.
“Just think about it,” Benny said, “you know where to find me.”
Chapter 13
“Everley!”
Heath had been pounding on the door for the past couple of minutes, but she was such a mess that she couldn't bring herself to answer it. She had been crying ever since Benny had left two hours ago, unable to shake off the things he’d said.
“Everley!” Heath shouted again, sounding more worried than angry. “I'm knocking because it's polite, but Ryan gave me a key. If you don't answer, I'll assume you're hurt and barge in!”
She had long since left the safety of her fort and had been sitting in the bathroom, hands holding her flattened belly, running over an almost invisible scar, reminding her of everything that had been taken away. She’d lost count of how many times she'd thrown up since Benny had left. All the sobbing and sniffling had her sick to her stomach.
He’d been right about one thing: She was damaged, unstable and no good for Heath, who deserved so much better.
“Jesus, Everley,” Heath said when he found her.
She hadn't even heard him come in.
Everley felt him put a hand on her forehead. “You're burning up.” He scooped her up and brought her back to the couch. After he'd run off for a moment, she saw him return, and felt a cool washcloth drape over her forehead.
“Why?” she managed to croak out, her voice long past gone.
“Why what?” he asked, kneeling beside the couch, and smoothing his hand over her hair. “Why am I here? I told you I'd be here. When you didn't answer, it scared me. What happened? Why are you so upset? Talk to me Evie.”
Everley shut her eyes and shook her head. She couldn't tell him. How could she give him hope one minute, only to turn around and crush him the next?
“All right, you don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.” As always, he was patient and understanding. “Look, why don’t you just gi
ve me a moment? I need to make a phone call.”
When he stood, she immediately felt empty. He made his way into the next room, and she could hear him talking to someone. Everley hoped he wasn’t calling Ryan or Harper. The last thing they needed was to rush home because they were worried about her.
When he returned, he took her hand and gave it a little squeeze.“I'm here. I’m not going to force you to talk, but I’m not going anywhere. I called in and was able to get a sub for the rest of the day. So, unless you really don't want me here, you've got me for the rest of the afternoon.”
“Stay,” she said, slowly finding her voice again.
“All right,” he said, watching as she opened her eyes to look at him. “Can I join you on the couch?” Everley nodded and sat up, letting him sit behind her. He pulled her back to him, and after adjusting the washcloth on her head, he wrapped his arms around her. “Get some rest,” he whispered. “I'm here.”
“Why are you taking another chance on me?” She cringed at how small and weak she sounded.
“We went over this.” She could feel him tense and she hated that she did that to him. That she put any kind of doubt in his mind when he was already taking a blind leap with her. “You have my heart, Everley, always have.”
“I'm not good enough for you,” she whimpered. “I can't give you what you want.”
“Who the hell told you that?” he asked.
“Does it matter?” The tears started falling again despite her desperate attempt to stop them.
“No more of that.” He peppered her cheek and neck with kisses, laughing when she squirmed a bit to pinch his side.
She let out a little giggle, the kisses tickling her neck. “Stop it.”
“Then you stop having this ridiculous notion that you're not good enough for me,” he said. “You're all that I want, Everley, and if you'll have me, then I'll be the happiest man in the world.”
“And when you want more?” she asked out of the fear that she could never give him the family he wanted. The family they both wanted.
“More than you?” he scoffed.“Not in this lifetime, or the next, likely not even the one after that. How many lifetimes do you think we get?”
“Knock it off,” she sighed, “I'm damaged goods-”
“Goddammit,” he growled. “You ran into Benny, didn't you? Don't listen to a thing he says.”
“But it's true,” she sniffled, “I'm damaged beyond repair. You deserve better. I pushed you away-”
“We’ve been through this,” he interrupted. “We were young. No one could really expect us to handle a loss like that without a blowout. You pushed, I ran. Maybe neither of us should have, but we did. But we need to let go of that guilt, Evie. Somehow, we’ve been granted this second chance, and I’m more than happy to work past everything with you. Now… why don’t we stop with the worries and try to get your fever down?”
There was still so much she needed to tell him, so many reasons he deserved better, but she didn't know how to say it. Right now it was just easier to let him comfort and take care of her. When her ability to form coherent thoughts returned, they could figure it all out.
***
Despite being worked up over whatever Benny had said to her, Everley had insisted Heath stay. It was a small comfort, but the fear that she might push him away again still plagued him. If Benny could get to her that easily, there was no telling what a little more pushing might do.
He let her sleep as he kept watch, deciding that now was not the time to discuss things. Right now, he needed to make sure her fever went down. They could work on everything else when she was well again.
When Harper arrived home a short while later, she glanced at the two of them and shot Heath a questioning look. “Aren't you supposed to be working?” she whispered.
“Took the rest of the day,” he said it as quietly as possible, but Everley shifted while making little disgruntled sounds. “Shhh,” he kissed her cheek and murmured soothing words into her ear until she calmed down again. Her fever had subsided a bit, but she was still a little warm.
“Do you need anything?” Harper asked. “I can make a run to the pharmacy if you’d like.”
“I think she just needs to rest for now, but…” Heath moved the washcloth that had long since dried. “Maybe another?” he asked, as he held the cloth up. Harper nodded and took the dried rag to trade it for a new one.
“Heath...” Everley muttered. “Sick...”
It seemed as if she was talking in her sleep, but her movements were becoming less random, and more purposeful. Suddenly, she shot up and her hands flew to her mouth. She was gone in a flash, and he heard Harper gasp as she moved quickly out of the way.
“I thought she had a cold?” Harper asked when she came back into the room.
“She'd been crying quite a bit by the time I got here,” he said, getting off the couch and stretching. “By the time I arrived, her stomach was just as much of a problem as her fever.”
“What happened?” she asked.
“I have no idea,” he answered. “I came to check on her and she was an absolute wreck. The way she was talking, it sounded like she'd run into Benny, but I'm fairly certain she hasn't left the house today.”
“Benny came by earlier,” Everley mumbled as she reentered the room.
“You let him in?” Harper asked.
“No, but that didn't stop him from talking.” Everley slumped down on the couch and started to pull the blankets up from the floor. She wrapped herself up in a cocoon and covered her face, signaling that she didn’t want to tell them anything else.
He wanted to strangle Benny.
Harper looked over at Heath as though she’d read his thoughts, and gave him a pointed look. “If you murder him, you'll go to prison,” she warned.
He needed to stay, and he knew it. Going after Benny, even if he only intended to give the man a piece of his mind, could be disastrous. Everley needed him, and he would do far more good here than out looking for her idiot of an ex. Thinking quickly, he pulled the blanket away from her face. “Why don’t we get some crayons? I can build us a blanket fort, and we can get some coloring done.”
Everley looked at him like he was insane. “Are you high? Aren't we a little old to be sitting in a blanket fort and coloring?”
“Nope.” He started grabbing throw pillows and tried to turn the cocoon into an actual fort. He wasn’t about to let her wallow in self pity. Even if the idea was a little silly, it would be worth it to get her mind off of what was troubling her.
“I think I’ve got some crayons and books from my last babysitting adventure,” Harper offered. Heath could hear her rummaging around in the hall closet as she looked for supplies.
“You're going to get sick, you idiot,” Everley teased.
“My immune system rocks,” Heath protested. “How about a little light?”
“Found the stuff!” Harper exclaimed. When Heath opened the makeshift door, he couldn’t help but laugh at the expression on her face. “You are planning on returning my living room back to its original state, right?”
“Of course,” he promised.
“Okay, kids,” she handed over the crayons and books, “I’m going to see what Ryan’s up to. Have fun.”
Once the door shut, Heath grabbed a couple books. “Look, Evie,” he said. “You still like superheroes, right?” He held up a book with a muscular man in a brightly colored costume.
“Maybe we're not too old for this,” she decided, as she took the book from him. Within minutes, she was hard at work, crayons spread out in front of her. It was almost like they were kids again. Despite her troubles, she seemed almost relaxed and carefree as she colored.
Heath decided now was the time to ask about her earlier encounter. “Did you wanna tell me what Benny was going on about?”
“Not really.” She didn't look at him, and her shoulders tensed as she continued to concentrate on staying in the lines.
“That’s fine,” he assure
d her. She would talk when she was ready. “But please remember that… whatever he said, it isn't true.”
“Okay,” she shrugged. Heath could see that there was still doubt there, but he knew that with time, they could work through that too.
Now, there were two things on Heath's to do list: cheer Everley up, and run Benny out of town.
Chapter 14
“We need to talk.” Heath wasn't expecting to see Benny so early that next morning, but the man was in the sandwich shop, bugging Brandi already.
“Heath...” Brandi warned.
“No worries,” he assured her. “I just need to talk.” Everley had finally opened up and told him everything Benny had said to her. He had spent countless hours trying to undo all the damage that had been done, and as the sun rose that morning, he realized he'd made little progress.
“So talk,” Benny turned to him and Heath wanted to smack the ridiculous smirk off the guy's face.
“I don't know what your game is,” he growled, “but you leave Everley out of it. You did enough in New York, you don't need to follow her around trying to break her.”
“She's already broken,” Benny stated, “I'm just trying to remind her who fixed her the last time.”
“You didn't fix a damn thing,” Heath said, “and you abandoned her when she needed you the most.”
“Like you didn't?” Benny shot back, “Face it Mitchell, you don't deserve her!”
That was one thing they could agree on. “Of course I don't deserve her! I'm plenty aware of that! But you shouldn't make assumptions about things that didn’t involve you.”
Benny just rolled his eyes.
Heath had always beaten himself up for leaving, knowing he should have tried harder, should have refused to go when she pushed him away. Even when she reminded him that she was the one who ended things, he still knew that he could have done more. “The difference between me and you is, she didn’t want you to leave. You chose to hurt her when she asked for your comfort. Now, you’re here for no other reason than to sabotage her.”
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