Chapter 41 #4
“This way,” I nudge my head to the right when she starts toward the stairs that would take us up to the library. I’m sure she thought I’d shove her in the dusty, dank room full of old books like Rowan had, but what I have in store for her is much better than that.
“Why are you telling me all this now?” Everly asks after a few minutes of silence. “What’s happened that makes you think I’m in trouble?”
“After what transpired yesterday with your father—I knew we needed to act fast,” I explain. “It would be impossible to coordinate anything without you in the know.”
Her pace slows. Quietly, she asks, “What happened yesterday?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
As we make our way down the wide hallway, anxiety begins to creep up.
All I want to do now is run. Everly can decide to trust me after we’re safe.
But I can’t do that. Even if it was as simple as throwing her over my shoulders and walking out the front gate, I couldn’t do it.
Because at the end of the day, as much as I wish to fight it, part of Everly will always belong to someone else.
If I want a chance of owning a piece of her heart, I have to be willing to compromise.
We round a corner and head down two more hallways before the glass wall appears. Everly’s interest perks up as she stares straight ahead with wide eyes. By the door, Sheldon’s waiting for us. He gives a curt nod before opening it. I allow Everly to step inside first and follow close behind.
The smell of rich soil and foliage is thick inside but that comes as no surprise given the atrium is full of vibrant greenery.
It’s three floors of wide-open space, made from glass and metal.
The overcast sky keeps the space relatively cool, but I can imagine it gets hot from full sunlight on those rare days where clouds are nowhere to be seen.
There are metal spiral staircases scattered about, leading to different platforms you can stand on and look down upon the forest below.
The mosaic tile floor picks up the sound of our footsteps as I lead Everly deep into the heart of the massive addition to Bowbrook.
“This place… it’s beautiful,” Everly says, breaking the silence as we continue to stroll through the atrium.
I look over to find her mouth open, eyes twinkling with curiosity and some true color in her cheeks.
The Universe is brimming with excitement, either Its own or hers I can’t tell.
Embers dance around Everly’s face as she gapes at the plants strategically sequestered here and there.
I smile, pleased to see I found something that makes her happy.
“Why are we here?” Everly doesn’t turn to look at me as she speaks, too busy gawking to bother. “Don’t you have class?”
“I do. I should be leaving but I told you I have a surprise for you and this room is half of it. You’ll stay here while I’m gone.” I tell her. “Sheldon will hang out by the door to keep anyone from coming in.”
Everly sighs. “And me from getting out.”
I don’t confirm this but she’s right. I can’t afford for her to slip away. Little does she know, Conner is lingering by the other exit on the far side of the room.
As we walk, I can hear the sounds of the small fountain built into the middle of the room. With a great deal of difficulty, I force my feet to come to a halt. Everly stops too but after a few additional feet to separate us. She eyes me warily.
“You said this is half the surprise?” she asks.
I nod. “The rest of it is just beyond these bushes.”
The suspicion melts away to full-blown fear as she takes a step toward me. Her brows crash together and tears mist her eyes. Instantly, I close the rest of the distance between us, hating the stricken look on her face.
Before I can ask what’s wrong she blurts out, “If this is another game or if this will hurt me, please don’t make me?—”
“It’s not,” I promise vehemently. I reach for her hand again, wanting to comfort her in some small way.
Everly jerks away, her eyes growing impossibly wide. With a heavy sigh of frustration, mine drops down by my side.
“If it’s not, why are you hanging back?” she demands.
“Because I figured you’d want some privacy.”
“Privacy?” she repeats, her wariness deepening. “Privacy for what?”
It takes a great deal of effort to force myself to smile. If she knew how hard it was for me to hand her off like this, maybe she would take pity on me. Or maybe not.
“Trust me, Everly. Just keep going.”
“Why should I?” she counters bitterly. “Where has trust gotten me so far?”
Her skepticism hurts. I’ve never cared for others' opinions about me before—mostly because I’m a Milligan. I’m better than everyone else. Who cares what the little people think? But Everly isn’t just someone. Her opinion of me matters more than anything.
“Things are going to be different, Everly. Just wait and see.” I give her a half-smile. “Now go on. Someone’s waiting for you.”
Everly sniffles, the tip of her nose is slightly pink as she fights back worried tears. “Who? Rowan?”
Movement from behind her almost steals my attention. Almost . But Everly will always be my main focus.
“Me, Everly.”
Because she’s facing me when he speaks, I watch as life bleeds into her face. I hadn’t realized just how tired and haunted she looked until it all melts away before me. Her beautiful hazel eyes brighten, her face relaxes, and a single sound of surprise slips past her lips as she whirls around.
Jealousy is a live wire rioting in my veins. I want that reaction from her.
“Maverick!” She takes four long eager strides toward him and for a second, I think she’s going to leap at him.
Vick seems to think so too because he reaches out with both arms as if ready to catch her despite the fact he looks anything but excited to be here.
The move seems to snap Everly out of her excitement.
Abruptly, she stops just out of his reach.
Her shoulders tense and I can audibly hear her draw in a deep breath.
I don’t see Everly’s face but I watch as Vick’s expression hardens.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Evie,” he promises through clenched teeth.
Everly doesn’t move, but around her the universe’s bright colors pulsate with excitement. Still, she hesitates, hanging back.
His gaze flickers from her face to over her head at me. We glare at one another. This new truce between us is fragile and will fail should one of us take even the smallest step out of the agreed lines.
Somehow, we’re going to have to make this work. Everly’s life, and mine, depend on it.
Without saying another word, I slip away—heading back in the direction I’d come.