Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Everleigh
Echos - Guest Room
B riley has made it her mission to avoid me. I’m pretty sure that she even scheduled her shifts for my days off just so she doesn’t have to see me nearly as much. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. My head was all screwed to hell with emotions and thoughts I couldn’t decipher. I never expected guys to be a problem when it came to the two of us. I never thought she’d go after my ex-boyfriend, or that it would bother me so intensely that she had.
But it was time to face reality now. If she didn’t want to see me, that was fine. She’d have to get over it eventually.
The weather was getting colder, giving way to fall. The leaves were beginning to change color and stores were stalking up on Halloween decorations more thoroughly. It was my favorite time of year, even if the haunted houses did scare me. A small smile touched my lips as my mind drifted back to my teenage years. We’d always go to the haunted mazes in town, and late at night, me and Jameson would cuddle up on the couch and binge horror movies while Kash and Ashton sat somewhere around us.
I’d just shoved my way through the double doors of the building leading to my chemistry class when someone stepped into my path. It was so abrupt, and for a moment, I thought it was another girl coming to toss a drink on me. Jameson was anything if not persistent.
I was partially relieved when my eyes fell on Lucas, but another part of me thought the drink might have been easier.
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he accused with a dangerous bite to his tone.
Other students shuffled past us in a hurry, and I knew I couldn’t afford to be late to class. Professor Whitlock has been on my ass about tardiness since day one, and I really didn’t feel like being outed in front of the entire class again. That had been humiliating. Even more so when I fainted.
I blew out a breath and stepped off to the side to allow other students to walk by more easily. “I’ve had a lot going on,” I admitted.
Lucas clenched his jaw, narrowing his eyes at me. I didn’t see him pissed very often, but the few times I have weren’t pleasant. “Like what?” he countered in a condescending tone. “Kissing your ex-boyfriend?”
“He kissed me.” Not that it was a very pliable argument. I one hundred percent kissed him back.
Lucas sighed, running his hands through his blonde hair. My eyes raked over him, taking in his dark blue button-down shirt and dress pants. I didn’t understand why he always dressed like he was going to some kind of business meeting, or upscale party. His clothing choices didn’t bother me much when we first got together, but with everything going on right now, I couldn’t help but find it oddly amusing. Amber had been right. Lucas was the furthest thing from a tatted up bad boy that I could get.
“Look. I’m not mad.” He breathed out, moving to stand in front of me. “Not about that. I saw the video, and you did try to shove him away. I’m more upset that you’ve been avoiding me.”
“My mom just died. Tate and Emma just moved in with my grandparents. I just found out that my sister was dating my ex-boyfriend.” It didn’t matter that they were now broken up. The fact that she thought it was okay bothered me. “I just have a lot going on.”
Lucas took a step toward me, settling his hands on my hips to pull me forward. My stomach coiled with repulsion. I didn’t want this right now. I didn’t want to be touched, to be mocked, to be criticized. My chest felt heavy from my mom’s passing, and I haven’t even had the opportunity to grieve properly because of everything that’s been happening.
“I know. I just miss you.”
A snort sounded from behind me, causing my entire body to go rigid. I knew who it was without even having to look. Heat crept up my spine and Lucas tensed, his gaze falling on the person who had interrupted this…moment.
Ashton came to stand beside me, towering over both me and Lucas. The height difference was unsettling and made him look even more intimidating than he was. I knew in my heart that he was about to make this even worse for me. He’d tell Lucas how we fucked at his parent’s house, how I came all over his dick when my own boyfriend couldn’t even get me off, and how I kissed him in the car afterwards.
Ashton smirked at me, like he knew exactly where my train of thought had headed.
“I-I have to get to class,” I stammered.
Ash draped an arm around my shoulders despite Lucas still gripping my waist. “Relax. We still have seven minutes.”
Lucas dropped his arms from around me and glared up at my ex-boyfriend. “I don’t appreciate you kissing my girlfriend,” he snapped. Even with the anger radiating off of him, he didn’t hold a candle to Ash.
I bit my lip nervously, afraid of what Ashton would say in return. He was about to make this a lot harder on me. There was no doubt in my mind about that. I just wanted to get to class, to get through the rest of the day, and then go to work. Was that too much to ask?
Ashton’s grin was malicious, one that didn’t reach his eyes. There was something sinister about it, and chills prickled along my skin as I braced myself for the impact. He turned to face me, his eyes hard and cold, eyes that used to be so full of joy and love. He gripped my face between his hands, causing my heart to palpitate from the searing touch. He searched my gaze momentarily before crushing his mouth against mine, stealing my breath in the process. Confusion clouded my thoughts. The only bright side was that he didn’t kiss me long enough for me to even think about reciprocating. It was rough, demanding, and controlling. He pulled away as fast as he’d begun and turned to give my boyfriend an arrogant smirk.
I shifted uncomfortably, trying to put as much distance between the two of us as possible.
Lucas lunged for Ashton, something so out of character for him that I never saw it coming. Panic burrowed through me, and I knew there was only a limited amount of time for me to act before he ended up on the ground. I jumped between them just in time for Lucas to throw a punch, his fist connecting with my jaw. Pain splintered through my face causing the bone to throb and my hands immediately moved to cup it. My head spun and incoherent words were shouted, but I couldn’t make them out as I doubled over.
Through my foggy vision I could see Ashton throwing a punch of his own, sending Lucas to the floor, and then he was on him. Tears stung my eyes as I stood there helpless and disoriented.
A soft hand landed on my back, and I blinked through the tears, Amber slowly coming into focus as she looked at me with concern. She said something, but it was as distant to my ears as everything else was.
I sucked in a breath, trying to will my body to cooperate. After a few moments, the ringing stopped, and my vision settled. Lucas was on the ground, blood pouring from his nose and lip. Jameson and Kash were tugging Ash away from him, but it was futile at best. Ashton was much bigger than either one of his friends and had more muscle.
Ashton’s chest was heaving, a deadly intent in his stormy gray eyes. He looked…dangerous. He looked at me, a flash of concern crossing his features that confused me even more. Finally, he relented, allowing his friends to pull him back.
“Come on,” Amber said, tugging on my arm. “We can skip today. You’ve been through a lot.” I wanted to laugh. She didn’t even know the half of it.
I shook my head. “I c-can’t,” I stuttered, though my head was spinning. I sucked in a deep breath and glanced around the relatively empty hallway, though there were a few people who stopped to watch the drama unfold.
I knew it was a bad idea to jump between them like that, and in the end, it had been pointless. Lucas still got his ass beat. He seemed fine for the most part. Just bloodied up a bit. He forced himself to his legs, wiping his hands over his face.
“We should go before a teacher spots us,” Amber insisted. “You’re on scholarship. They won’t be as lenient.”
“Okay,” I whispered, knowing she was right. I could afford to miss another day. As long as it didn’t become a habit. Well…I really couldn’t, but I’d be able to make it up.
Jameson approached us, his eyes locked on mine. My throat constricted at seeing him again after our night together. I’d been doing a good job of avoiding him for the most part. “Are you okay?” he asked. His gaze raked over my face and then down to my neck. “Did he do this?” He reached out, brushing his fingertips along my throat.
Horror swept through me at what he must have seen. Ashton’s fingertips bruised into my skin. I shook my head, a little too quickly to be believable, but it was the truth. Those bruises didn’t come from violence. Amber glanced at my neck too, her lips pursing as she tried to gauge where they came from.
“Who choked you?” he pressed, anger swimming through his green eyes.
I wasn’t about to tell him how I’d gotten them, and I couldn’t exactly lead him to believe that Ashton had been the one to do it in a violent way. That would be a lie and would cause problems between them. Frankly, I was a little surprised he didn’t already know.
“We really need to be going,” Amber urged. “Can we talk about this in the parking lot or something?”
Jameson hesitated, and for a moment, I thought he was going to refuse and keep demanding answers. But after a few moments, he nodded in reluctance. Ashton and Kash made their way over, and I fought the urge to look at them. My mind was a wreck due to all the things happening lately, and all of these emotions I couldn’t make sense of.
Amber linked her arm through mine and I allowed her to lead me down the hallway. Her heels were loud against the marble flooring, and it made me wince every time she took a step. I was half expecting for a professor to come out and get onto us, but no one ever did. Then again, it was early morning and there was only one class in session right now in this hall.
When we got outside, the fresh air helped calm some of my racing nerves. It was still relatively cool out due to the sun hiding behind a few clouds. The parking lot was void of people, so that offered me some relief. We followed Amber to her car, and I immediately leaned against the hood, my jaw throbbing from where his fist had connected. I’d been in such a daze that I hadn’t even seen where he’d run off to. Would he snitch on Ashton? I didn’t even understand why he flipped shit on Lucas in the first place. I suppose I’d be pretty irritated if someone shoved me too, though.
“So,” Amber began, moving to stand beside me with the three guys looming over us. It felt weird having them here like this. “You want to tell us what happened to your neck?”
Ashton’s lips twitched into a smirk, and I fought the urge to glare at him.
“It’s not important.” I shrugged. “I barely even remember it happening.” It was a subtle dig, and by how his eyes narrowed, I could tell he understood what I was getting at.
Kash looked at me in confusion. “You…don’t remember getting choked?” he asked with skepticism.
I glanced back over at Ashton. “Some things just aren’t that memorable.”
Jameson was glancing between the two of us, and my pulse started thundering against my neck. Jamie and Kash had always been pretty observant. And while that was a decent trait to have, it was backfiring on me right now.
Jameson’s lips tugged into a frown, the wheels turning in his head. He glanced over at Ashton who was still staring me down like he wanted to set me on fire. “Didn’t Evie go to your parent’s house last night?” he asked.
Amber’s lips parted in surprise, and she glanced over at me. “What?” She blew out a breath and shook her head. “No. We’re staying on topic. What the hell does that have to do with the marks around her neck?”
Jameson rolled his eyes and marched forward until he was suddenly invading my personal space. My breath caught in my throat as he grabbed the hem of my shirt. I twisted away from him, trying to create more distance between us, but it was hard to do when there was a vehicle pressed against me from behind.
“Kash, a little help here.” Jameson glanced over his shoulder, placing his hands on my hips to hold me in place. He then turned to Amber. “Back when Evie and Ash dated, he’d leave bruises on her. They’d always be on her hips.” He snorted in amusement. “The first time we saw them was a few months after they’d been dating. Summer was approaching so we all went to the lake. We thought he was abusing her.”
Amber looked at him incredulously. “And he wasn’t?” She shot Ashton a weary glance, like she didn’t trust him one bit, and I didn’t even blame her.
“No.” Jameson smirked.
Kash approached, winding my arms behind my back the best he could from the awkward position. He looked over at Amber with an unreadable expression. “They were sex marks,” he said dryly.
Heat spread through my body at the fact that they all knew this, and that it had become the center of conversation. Jameson tugged my shirt up right beneath my bra, and I trembled against them, embarrassment clawing through me.
Jameson snorted, though there was no amusement anymore. I knew what he was seeing. The marks on my hips from where Ash had grabbed me and held me against the tree. There were probably marks on my back, too.
Kash released me and I hurriedly yanked my shirt back down, folding my arms across my chest like it would somehow help.
I shifted uncomfortably, hating the way everyone was staring. “We should probably go,” I muttered, glancing over at Amber. “Are you coming with?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but Ashton cut her off before she could get the words out. “We’re going to the frat house,” he decided for us. “We need to make sure you don’t have a concussion.”
I reeled back, a little surprised that he even cared. “He didn’t hit me in the head,” I protested. “I’m fine.”
The last thing I wanted to do was spend more time with them. My emotions were all over the place, and I hated that it didn’t matter how mean these assholes were to me, I still cared for them in some way. Maybe it was because I knew that their cruelty wasn’t misplaced.
Ashton stared at me with that cold hard look I was growing accustomed to, the one that made it feel like he was trying to burn me alive with his eyes alone. “It’s not up for debate. It’s the least you can do after making us all skip school today.”
My lips parted in surprise. What the hell was his problem? Anger trickled through me at the insinuation. “I didn’t make you do anything. You didn’t even have to come.” I waved a hand in the air dismissively. It wasn’t my fault that he punched Lucas for whatever reason. It wasn’t my fault that his ego was so big he couldn’t control it.
I glanced around the parking lot, trying to find any traces of my boyfriend. Relief pooled in my stomach when I spotted him standing near his car, his eyes falling on me. The blood was mostly gone, but his button-down shirt had stains on it from the assault. Hopefully that meant he hadn’t gone to speak with the dean and had just gone to the bathroom to clean up and compose himself.
“Don’t piss me off right now,” Ashton snapped, a warning flashing across his face.
Jameson moved to stand beside Amber, draping an arm around her shoulders. She glanced up at him in adoration before leaning into his side. A sharp pang sliced through my chest at the sight of them together like that, but I forced it away the best I could. My lower lip curled beneath my teeth as I bit into it and tore my gaze away, only to find Kash watching me, like he was assessing my reactions.
Fuck him. Fuck them all.
I just wanted to go home and curl up in bed like I’d done the day before. My body was depleted of energy, which was strange for someone of my age.
Lucas’s voice rang out and he was moving to greet me within seconds. “Come on, Everleigh.” His tone was hard with an edge to it, the sound sending chills down my spine. It reminded me of the way he’d spoken when he came to the diner with Colt, and I suggested breaking up with him. I’d never considered Lucas to be dangerous before, or even violent. But there have been moments where I wasn’t so sure what he’d do if he was pissed off enough.
Ashton whirled around to face the newest threat, his back snapping ramrod straight. I didn’t miss the way that he slowly backed up until he was blocking my path, caging me in like I was something that needed protecting. But that was laughable. He didn’t give a shit about me. He made sure I knew that.
“She’s not going with you,” Kash said dryly. He was standing at my side, making it to where I was completely boxed in.
I reached out, placing a hand on Ashton’s back. His muscles flexed beneath my touch, probably from the sharp inhale he took. I attempted to push him, to give me room so I could see my boyfriend, but he didn’t budge.
It felt oddly possessive, and I wasn’t sure what to think about that. “You guys are acting like he hit me on purpose.” I huffed out in annoyance.
If that was the case, we would have already broken up. It really wasn’t his fault. He couldn’t have guessed that I would have jumped in between them. I hoped he didn’t think that I was trying to protect Ashton. That wasn’t the case at all. In fact, he needed to get taken down a peg. I just knew that Ashton had more experience with fighting and was a lot bigger than him.
Kash snaked an arm around my waist subtly, his fingers brushing beneath the skin as he shoved them beneath the fabric. My heart started racing from his touch alone, and all I could think about was when we’d been in the kitchen, and he had me on the counter.
“Doesn’t matter,” Jameson added unhelpfully.
“Let me see her,” Lucas snapped. “She’s my girlfriend. If she wants to come with me, she has every right to do so.”
Anxiety rippled through me. I didn’t like this at all. How they were shielding me from my boyfriend, how he was getting more irritated with each passing second, how I was tired of standing in the parking lot. I just wanted to relax, and to forget this day ever happened.
I blew out a breath, racking my brain in an attempt to find some lame excuse that he’d accept. “I’m just going home with Amber,” I decided.
Amber glanced over at me and nodded in approval. It was so subtle that I wasn’t sure if anyone else would be able to pick up on it. I didn’t want Lucas to go home with me. He’d interrogate me and rage about what happened today. I wasn’t in the mood for it. But I also didn’t want to put him in a weird position.
“No,” Lucas growled, his voice growing closer as he approached. Ashton stumbled back against me from being pushed, his back plastering against my front which forced me into the car behind us and crushed Kash’s hand in the process.
My breathing picked up. I didn’t want another fight to break out. The last time he pushed Ashton, he ended up on the floor covered in blood. Lucas must have pushed him again, because Ash was falling into me again, harder this time. The air left my lungs from the pressure of his body crushing mine and a whimper fell from my lips.
Kash clenched his jaw, unwinding his arm from behind me as soon as Ash managed to right himself again. He tugged me away so that I was no longer behind Ashton. But that left me in perfect view of Lucas, and that was what he wanted.
“If you touch me again, I’m going to lay you the fuck out,” Ashton warned in a cold tone.
I was surprised he was being so lenient with Lucas. It probably had to do more with getting kicked out of school than anything. He wasn’t the most reasonable person.
Lucas looked over at me, his shoulders dropping in relief. “Come on.” He held out a hand, expecting me to run right into his arms. But truth be told, he was scaring me. Dried blood was caked beneath his nose and in the corners of his mouth. His eyes were unhinged-looking, and his posture was rigid. I’d never seen him act this way before.
But I also didn’t want to be the center of whatever the hell this was. These guys hated me, and didn’t owe me anything. I couldn’t exactly expect them to protect me.
My hands trembled at my sides as I took a step toward him. A mixture of fear and adrenaline were coursing through my veins. Would Lucas blame me for what happened? Would he take it out on me? Usually when he got mad, he just distanced himself from me. But I could already tell that wouldn’t be the case this time.
I took another step and another, but as I started to approach him, I was being jerked back just as quickly. My breath caught in my throat, confusion burrowing through me. Ashton’s scent invaded my nostrils as he held me close to his body.
“You hit her,” he accused, staring down Lucas.
My boyfriend scoffed. “It was an accident. She jumped in the way.”
I struggled against Ashton, but he was gripping my biceps, making it difficult to move in general. “It’s fine.”
It wasn’t that serious. I didn’t understand why Ashton was hellbent on taking me with them. To torture me more probably. That thought was unsettling. It made no sense to me. Lucas wasn’t abusive. He just made a mistake. It could have happened to anyone. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, making it difficult to sort through them.
Ashton glanced over at Kash. “Take Evie to Amber’s.” He gave him a pointed look, indicating that it wasn’t really where we were going.
I opened my mouth to protest, but Kash was already grabbing for me, threading his fingers through mine. His hands were softer than expected, and I wondered if he had some kind of skin routine. The thought made me want to laugh. He had more tattoos than Jameson along with a lip piercing. His dark blonde hair fell to one side, giving him an edgier appearance. He didn’t seem the type to worry much about his skin.
Lucas was shouting as Kash tugged me in the direction of his truck, and I didn’t even have to look to know that Ashton was probably blocking his path to me.
“He’s just going to show up at my house later,” I pointed out, a hint of amusement to my tone even though nothing about this situation was funny. This would just delay the inevitable.
“Hopefully he’s cooled off by then,” he replied, dropping my hand once we reached his vehicle. He fished his keys from his pocket and unlocked the doors. “Do you still need help climbing into the truck?” He smirked.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Ashton had a truck when we were teenagers and it had been lifted, making it damn near impossible for my short legs to get up in it. I hadn’t grown much since then, but I’d try just to spite him.
I rounded the vehicle and jerked the car door open. This vehicle wasn’t as lifted as Ashton’s had been, so that gave me some relief. I placed my palm on the inside of the door and used it for support, pushing myself up to put my foot on the metal frame. It was easier than expected, but still had my heart thundering in my chest due to my overwhelming fear of slipping and making a fool out of myself. I closed the door behind me and tugged the seatbelt over my chest to click it in.
“I’m impressed,” Kash said as he climbed in on the driver’s side.
“I’m not completely helpless.”
He snorted in amusement, and I was taken aback by how normal this felt. A sense of longing filled me, and I abruptly turned to look out the window. The sound of the engine revving filled my ears, and he tore out of the parking lot at an unnecessarily quick speed. I didn’t know where we were going, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get away for a moment. I knew he would never truly hurt me, so there was nothing to really worry about in that sense.
Kash’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel, his jaw flexing as he kept his eyes pinned on the road. “There’s something you should know,” he said after a few moments.
My head fell back against the seat. I already knew I wasn’t going to like whatever he was about to tell me. Nothing could just be easy for me. It was one thing after another, a storm wrecking through my life, turning everything upside down in its path. Part of me wanted to stay ignorant, to tell him to shut the hell up because I wasn’t sure how much more I could handle. But the other part of me knew that it would eat me alive if he said nothing. Especially after dropping a bomb like that.
I blew out a breath. “What is it?”
Kash continued to stare at the road for a long while, his tongue flicking over his lip ring a few times. “Amber and Jameson…” he trailed off. “They’re dating.”
A knot formed in my stomach at that revelation. Amber hadn’t said anything, and she was usually pretty forthcoming about the guys she messed around with. Then again, I haven’t spoken to her a whole lately.
“Since when?” I asked softly.
He grimaced, clenching his jaw again. “Since the night of the chemistry project.”
My eyes fluttered closed, guilt swarming through my stomach. He fucking lied to me. And for what? To get in my pants, or to ruin my friendship? Heat built behind my eyes, warning me of the angry tears that threatened to spill. I was glad he told me, though. Even if it was a little bit too late for that. It was still better than discovering it on my own. This just solidified what I already knew. That night had meant absolutely nothing to him. The things he said, the way he held me, the intimate way he slid in and out of me at first before roughly pounding me into the mattress.
I sucked in a ragged breath, hating that it bothered me so deeply. I couldn’t understand why he had sex with me. If it was to sabotage me in some way, wouldn’t he have wanted me to know about Amber sooner? Suddenly, the way he’d just been holding her to his side made a lot more sense. They were in a relationship.
“Thanks for telling me,” I mumbled.
He glanced over at me, an unreadable expression etched into his features. “You didn’t know?”
I shook my head. “He said they were just talking.”
It shouldn’t hurt as much as it did. Not only did he lie to me to get me to have sex with him, but he was dating Amber—the closest person to me. Someone that has been by my side since I met her. Maybe he really was interested in her, which I suppose was better than him using her, but both scenarios were pretty messed up. I’d been vulnerable with him, and now it was coming back to bite me in the ass.
I blew out a breath, watching the trees and buildings blur by as we drove down a random road. On the bright side, even if Lucas did decide to show up at my house later, I had to work. With everything going on in my life currently, being with him was starting to feel like more of a burden.
We continued to ride around for about ten more minutes before Kash finally made his way back to campus and pulled into the parking lot of the fraternity. My stomach was still in knots as I hoisted myself out of the vehicle. We were both silent as we made our way toward the front door. Everyone was already here, their cars scattered throughout the driveway.
I followed Kash into the building, my heart sinking all over again when my eyes locked with Jameson’s. He was seated in the armchair with Amber in his lap, just like the last time we’d all been here together.
“Did Lucas say where he was going?” I asked, glancing over at Ashton who was taking up the far side of the couch.
Ashton took a sip of his beer, his eyes on me the entire time. I tried not to let it affect me. But the truth was, they all affected me. “No,” he bit out.
Kash took the seat on the far-right side of the couch, which would put me in between the two of them, and I knew it was planned—just like last time. Anything to make me uncomfortable. But I was too numb to care all that much this time. I sank into the spot between them and snatched Ashton’s beer from his hands just as he brought it to his lips. He glared at me as I took a long swig from it, the bitter liquid seeping onto my tongue. Beer wasn’t my beverage of choice, but beggars couldn’t be choosers, and right now, it was hitting the spot.
I just wanted to feel okay again—to have a safe place I could run off to when the pressures of the world got to be too much. I took another drink, chugging it this time. The substance burned my chest, but I kept going.
“Sure,” Ashton said dryly. “Help yourself.”
Kash snickered, draping an arm around my shoulders. “It’s been a long couple of weeks. I think we can all just chill for the day.” Yeah…a long couple of weeks pissing me the hell off. He directed a pointed look at Ashton, one I couldn’t even begin to decipher.
“Whatever,” he mumbled. “I’m grabbing another beer.” He pushed himself to his feet before looking at me again. “Want one, princess ?” he mocked.
“I won’t say no.”
He scoffed. “You never do.” I was about to chew him out for that comment, but he was already turning on his heels and heading for the kitchen.
Asshole.
Amber was giggling at something Jameson whispered to her, his arms wound tight around right beneath her large breasts. It shouldn’t have made me feel insecure, but it did. She was stunning, curvier, and toned. Knowing Amber, they’ve probably already had sex. Part of me wanted to tell her what happened between us, that way she wasn’t blindsided by it and wouldn’t blame me. But the other part of me didn’t want to ruin it for her. She genuinely seemed interested in him.
Kash tugged me closer to him, the warmth of his body radiating through the air where our sides now connected. He was equally as attractive as his friends, and he was single. But he was also hellbent on destroying my life, just as much as they were.
“What are you doing?” I whispered, glancing over at him. My tone was calm, but my heart was racing from the intimate position.
He just smirked at me, a devilish gleam in his blue eyes. He subtly inclined his head toward Amber and Jameson. His new girlfriend shifted in his lap uncomfortably while he just glared at us.
“You’re hurting me,” she said.
He snapped out of whatever trance he’d just been in and loosened his hold on her.
Ashton strolled back into the room with two beers, his footsteps pausing for a moment as he took in my new seating position. He handed me one and sat down right on my other side, much closer than he’d been before. I was trapped between the two of them, my heart threatening to combust.
Kash snorted in amusement, but didn’t comment on it. I twisted the cap off and took an eager drink, relishing the way it went down much smoother than the last.
“Are you okay?” Kash asked suddenly.
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. I didn’t know what to think of the question, or the fact that it had been directed at me in general. Was this another part of their games? Be nice to me and get me to let my guard down?
“What?” I frowned.
“You got punched,” he replied, as if I needed the reminder. “Are you okay?”
I shifted uncomfortably. “It doesn’t really hurt anymore.” That was the truth. It throbbed for a little while after he landed the blow, but truth be told, he couldn’t really throw a punch. If he had managed to hit Ashton, it wouldn’t have done anything to him but piss him off.
I took another swig of my beer, chugging it like I’d done with the last one. The alcohol was starting to warm my insides and calm me, maybe that’s why it no longer hurt. Relaxation washed over me, and I settled back into the cushions, silently enjoying the heat coming from each guy on either side of me. Not that I’d ever admit that aloud.
This felt familiar—comfortable even. My eyes fluttered closed, Kash’s arm soft and warm beneath my neck. I wasn’t that tired, but I didn’t want to watch Jameson flirt with my best friend right in front of me. It hurt more than I cared to admit.
“Jameson,” Amber shrieked with a laugh. “Stop.”
I grimaced and peeled my eyes open against my better judgment. His hand was between her bare thighs, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what he was trying to do. Bile burned the back of my throat, anger flaring deep inside of me. I felt like a fucking fool for ever trusting him. Jameson was smirking, his eyes darting over to me.
“Fucking Christ,” Ash murmured under his breath, like it was something he didn’t want to be witnessing either. Not that he was any better. He had my sister suck his dick in my mother’s bed.
Ashton shifted on the couch, burying his nose in the crook of my neck. My breath hitched in surprise as his warm breath fanned over the sensitive skin there and I shifted nervously between them. He’s been acting weird the last couple of days, and I didn’t know what to think of it. I knew he still hated me, but there was more to it now. Like…sexual attraction mixed in with it. His lips brushed against my neck, causing me to tremble, but it was a nice distraction.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
He didn’t answer me. Instead, he trailed his mouth up the side of my neck until he reached my jaw, and then my lips. Goosebumps erupted along my skin, but I kissed him back. Probably because of the alcohol flowing through my veins, or maybe because I knew Jameson was watching.
Kash shifted on the other side of me and then pulled me against him so that my back was toward his chest. His hands snaked through my hair as Ashton situated himself again to reach me easier, his tongue diving into my mouth.
Amber’s surprised gasp was the only indication that she saw what was happening, which meant that Jameson definitely did, too.
I didn’t understand why he was kissing me. I knew he did earlier to goad Lucas, and he kissed me on the way back to my house after that awkward as fuck dinner party at his parent’s house. But my head was spinning, making it more difficult to think. The kiss grew more frantic, his weight pushing me back against Kash.
Ashton parted my legs, settling himself between them, his hands moving to grip my hips. Maybe I should have been embarrassed that my best friend was seated only a few feet away, but it wasn’t like we hadn’t seen one another in more compromising positions. She saw that video of me and Lucas, and I’ve seen her get fingered and fucked at college parties. This was just making out.
Kash moved my hair over one of my shoulders, dropping his lips to the side of my neck while Ashton devoured my mouth. If my former boyfriend had an issue with Kash kissing up on me, he didn’t show any sign of it.
My head was fuzzy with desire, images of what it would be like to have them both skittering across my mind. Carefully, Ashton pried the beer out of my hands and broke the kiss, leaning over to set it on the floor before he grabbed the hem of my shirt and pushed it up beneath my bra. His mouth found my stomach, his tongue darting out to leave a wet trail behind as he licked and sucked at the soft skin there. I shuddered against Kash, who was winding his arms around my chest and sliding his hands beneath my shirt to cup my breasts.
“Get up,” Jameson growled in a low voice. It was directed at Amber, and anger flared inside of me again at the callous way he spoke to her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, but the shuffling that resounded throughout the room indicated that she was obeying.
Their voices faded into the background when Kash slid his hands beneath my bra to grope my bare breasts, his fingers flicking over my nipples. A whimper fell from my lips, bleeding into Ashton’s mouth as he ground against me, his hard erection pressing against the front of my leggings.
The front door slamming had Ashton grinning against my mouth, like that had been the plan all along. To piss Jameson off. But why would he do that? Wasn’t it his idea to date my sister simply to get under my skin?
“That was easy.” He smirked, kissing me again before he climbed off me and righted himself on the couch.
Kash removed his hands and helped me sit back up. I leaned down to grab my beer and as soon as I resumed my position, he grabbed my face, turning me toward him. His lips met mine hard, taking the breath from me. His lip ring pressed against my mouth, and I could hear Ashton’s amused snort sound from beside me.
My head was spinning when he pulled away, confusion burrowing deep inside me. What the hell was happening?