2. Elliot
ELLIOT
I laid in bed that night, my head a fucking mess.
I was sick to death of seeing Evelyn in my lecture hall several times a week.
On the other hand, I was glad I got those moments to torment her.
I couldn’t get to Gabe, her brother, but I sure as fuck relished in taking out my hatred on her, his dear little sister.
The one he raised after their parents were killed.
The one he’d do anything for. She was as close as I could get to fucking his life up after what he did to me, so I took the opportunity, knowing I wouldn’t get another one.
Sleep evaded me. Evelyn’s big green eyes kept haunting me. Seeing her crimson cheeks and noting the way the quiet beauty tensed whenever I looked even remotely in her direction had my insides in a state of turmoil.
The truth of the matter was, none of this was Evelyn’s fault. It was all Gabe’s fault. She had nothing to do with my feelings other than being the punching bag I could let them out on. It probably made me a huge prick, but I didn’t care. In order to get to him, I had to use her.
Collateral damage.
I rolled over and punched my pillow, irritated out of my mind.
Aside from fucking with her in class, there wasn’t much else I could do.
She was a good student. I did grade her harsher than everyone else, and I knew her well enough to know she tended to crack under pressure.
Or at least she had when she was a kid. I hadn’t seen her in years, and to find her name on my class roster immediately brought me back to life. At least a life of revenge.
I sank back onto my pillow and closed my eyes, remembering the first time I’d met her all those years ago.
“I just have to run in and change, and then we can hit up that party,” Gabriel said as he led the way up the sidewalk, moving toward the two-story white house.
“I didn’t know you were coming home for the summer, but I’m glad you did.
The guys and I miss having you on the team.
” He opened the front door and stepped inside.
He held the door while motioning for me to come in, so I stepped into his house, noticing the smell of vanilla and cinnamon lingered in the air.
“It wasn’t planned,” I told him, sliding my hands into the front pocket of my jeans. “I was hoping to land an internship, but it didn’t go through. It was either hang out on an empty campus all summer or come home. How are the guys anyway?”
Gabe shrugged as he closed the front door behind us. “They’re good. The team blows this year. You carried us for so long, it’s almost like we don’t know how to do it without you.”
He was stroking my ego, and I didn’t mind. “I’m sure it’s not as bad as you say it is.”
He rolled his eyes. “Martin is pitching,” he deadpanned.
A scoff ripped its way from my throat. “What the fuck? Seriously?”
He pursed his lips and nodded. “Unfortunately.”
“What happened to Tucker? He was supposed to take over.”
“His parents moved. He’s pitching for The Wolves now.”
“Fuck,” I muttered.
Gabe just lifted his brows and dropped them as a response. “Anyway, I’m going to run up to my room and change. You can have a seat in the living room.” He motioned to a room behind me before moving up the stairs.
I turned, taking in the house that was nothing like the one I’d grown up in.
His house was warm and inviting. Just walking up the sidewalk, I could tell that it was the kind of house that had a loving family having dinner together every night.
Pictures of him and his kid sister lined the walls.
I looked over the pictures as I walked closer and closer to the room that he directed me to.
When I finally stepped inside, I found a girl sitting on the couch.
She had a plate of cookies sitting beside her, and her eyes were glued to the TV screen.
When I entered the room, she looked over at me. Not expecting to see a stranger, her brows lifted and her big green eyes doubled in size. “Who are you?”
“My name is Elliot. I’m friends with your brother.” I pointed my finger toward the ceiling. “I’m just waiting for Gabe to change. Then we’re going to a party.”
She turned her attention back to the TV, not bothering to say another word.
Things felt awkward. The house was too quiet, and I was in a dimly lit living room with this little girl I didn’t know. Unsure of what to do, I awkwardly moved to have a seat on the opposite end of the couch.
“I won’t bite, you know?”
I turned my head to look at her. “Well, I’d hope not. You look too old to still be biting people.”
That made her giggle, the sound light and bubbly.
“How old are you anyway?”
“Thirteen,” she answered, dusting the cookie crumbs from her hands.
She looked younger than thirteen. Most thirteen-year-old girls tried to look older than they were by dressing in tight tops or short skirts, but she was wearing a pair of overalls with a striped shirt beneath them.
Her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she didn’t have a speck of makeup on her face.
“I would’ve thought you were ten or something.”
That made her frown at me. “Why?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Most girls your age are caking their face in makeup that’s too dark or gluing those long fake nails to their fingers. You still look like a kid.”
Her mouth tightened into a straight line, and her eyes narrowed. I could tell that she didn’t like my assessment of her.
“It’s a good thing, trust me.” I leaned back, finally feeling comfortable enough to relax a little.
“How can that be a good thing?”
I bit the inside of my cheek, wondering if I should let her in on a little secret.
Then I decided to say fuck it. I had hoped to be a teacher one day, so I figured I might as well get used to shaping young minds.
“Most girls think that they need to look a certain way to be cool, popular, liked by a guy, or whatever the case may be. However, becoming someone else will never truly make you happy. Be yourself. If you’re a weirdo who likes to play with those trading cards, do it.
Sure, some people will make fun of you for it, but eventually, you’ll find the type of people you’re supposed to be with.
And that’s how you make yourself happy.”
She rolled her eyes and laughed.
“What?”
“Are you like a youth leader or something?”
I snorted in disbelief. Did I look like a fucking youth leader? “No.”
“So you just go around handing out the secret of life to everyone?”
“You’re kind of a smart ass, you know that?”
She giggled again, the sound drawing a smile out of me, and eventually, I chuckled too.
“What’s so funny?” Gabe asked, walking into the room.
I looked up at him. “Your sister is a smart ass.”
That only made her giggle harder.
He snorted. “I could’ve told you that.” He looked over at her. “Tell Mom and Dad that I’m going out.” He turned to walk out of the room, but I stopped him.
“Dude, is she old enough to be left alone?”
He stopped and turned back to face me. “Yeah, she’s fine.” He waved off my concern.
I looked over at her. “You’re cool with being left alone? You don’t ever get scared?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m fine. Sometimes I get the creeps when it storms and I’m alone, but that’s it.”
I turned back to Gabe. “Isn’t it supposed to rain soon? That’s why the game was postponed.”
He rolled his eyes. “So what? She’s thirteen. She’ll be fine.”
I didn’t have any siblings, but leaving her alone didn’t feel right. “When are your parents going to be home?” I asked, looking only at her.
“Dad won’t get home until later tonight, but Mom gets off at five and she’s usually home by six.”
I looked at my watch to find that it was already nearing six. Dropping my arm back to the couch, I looked back at Gabe. “That’s like twenty minutes. Let’s just chill here for a bit.”
His hazel eyes doubled in size. “Are you serious right now? We’re going to miss the start of the party.”
“Who cares? Everyone knows that only losers arrive at the party on time. Plus, my mouth has been watering since I walked in here and smelled these cookies.”
Gabe’s little sister rolled her eyes as she tried to hold back a smile. She reached between us and pushed the plate over to me. “Help yourself.”
I smirked as I grabbed a cookie. “Thanks.” I took a bite of the soft, still warm cookie, and my eyes fell shut as I savored it. “Mmmm, what kind of cookies are these?”
“Snickerdoodle. It’s my secret recipe,” the girl said.
“You made these?”
She grinned and nodded.
“These are the best cookies I’ve ever tasted.”
When I offered her a smile with my compliment, she blushed. “May…be I’ll make you a batch sometime,” she muttered awkwardly.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” I told her, just as the front door opened, grabbing everyone’s attention.
“Hey, kids. I’m home,” a woman said as she walked in.
“There, she’s home. Can we go now?” Gabe asked, his arms held out to his sides.
I popped the rest of the cookie into my mouth and grabbed another off the plate before standing up. “Thanks again….” My brows knitted together as I realized that I didn’t get her name.
“Evelyn, but everyone calls me Eve.”
I nodded. “Thanks for the cookies, Eve.” I winked before following Gabe to the door.
Stepping outside, the sun had fallen behind the heavy storm clouds that were rolling in, and the wind had picked up. Both of us walked to Gabe’s car, which was parked against the curb, quickly. I tossed the last bite of cookie into my mouth and wiped my hands down the front of my jeans.
Gabe shook his head as he started the engine. “What is it with you and cookies?”
“That was a good fucking cookie. Plus, did you see how excited she got when I told her? It was cute.” I chuckled.
“Cute? I’m pretty sure just inflated her ego to the size of a house. I hope you don’t get sick of those cookies any time soon because she’ll probably have a batch ready every time you come over.”
I laughed. “She’s a sweet kid. I’ll eat the cookies as long as she makes them.