Chapter 7
EVE
It took a solid three days before I was mentally able to leave my room. On day two, the trauma of the attack hit me hard, and if it wasn’t for Connor bullying me, I wouldn’t even have eaten or showered.
When Brodie knocked on my door the morning of day three, I was starting to come out of my darker thoughts, and it was a welcome relief to see his gorgeous face lingering in my doorway.
Everything had been out of sorts between us since had Andrew spilled his big secret, and I decided that now was the time to finally have the talk.
Even dressed in two-day old sweats, unbrushed hair, and probably morning breath.
“Hey, can I come in?” he asked, hovering in the entrance.
It bothered me to see his normal confidence wavering, uncertainty painting his expression in drawn lines, and I knew I couldn’t allow this to go on any longer. Brodie had saved my life, and I was acting like a child who’d found out about Santa and was mad over the lie.
“Of course,” I said, shuffling back on my messy bed and patting the spot beside me. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
His tentative smile had a warmth blooming in my chest, and when he hurried over to all but jump in beside me, I felt almost normal for the first time in days.
“I’m so fucking sorry,” Brodie said, no hesitation, turning to take my hand in his as his blue eyes implored me to understand.
“I never meant to keep our first meeting a secret from you, but I just didn’t know how to bring it up.
Then, after we got to know each other, it felt weird to try and insert it later. If that makes sense.”
I was nodding before he finished. “I’m the one who’s sorry.
I shouldn’t have acted like you cheated on me…
” Honestly, the news had held a sting of betrayal that made no sense.
“…when all you did was save my life. Thank you, Brodie Keller. Thank you for being there that day and not running from the danger and driving me to the hospital. I never did ask how I’d gotten there, assuming it was just medical services, when all along it was you. My guardian angel.”
Pink bloomed high on his cheeks as he shook his head.
“Evie babe, don’t go painting me with a halo.
Anyone would have done the same thing. I’m just so happy you were okay.
I phoned the hospital every single day for updates, and when you made a full recovery, I might have teared up for a minute. Or maybe it was allergies.”
He swallowed roughly, and I couldn’t help but lean over and press my lips to his. Bad breath or not, I had to kiss him. “Andrew said this was fate,” I whispered, “and crazy or not, I’m inclined to believe him.”
Brodie’s groan was guttural, and I felt it all the way to my core. “Baby, I swear to God, you are part of my soul. We bonded that day, and when I saw you in Eth’s classroom, it was like witnessing a miracle. I hope you know I’m never letting you go.”
Another kiss, and the sense of unease between us was completely gone, leaving me bursting with warmth. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
Conversation was lost after that, as we spent time kissing and touching and enjoying being together.
After that, he left me to get ready for the day, since I was finally ready to head back to classes.
Ethan brought me my coursework, and got me excused from the mandatory attendance subjects, but I didn’t want to miss any more.
It would be nice to get back to normal, since I refused to let that asshole who’d almost killed me twice take anything more from me.
I really wanted to spend time with the guys again, though Andrew was the only one I hadn’t seen much of.
He’d spoken exactly five words to me since our hallway collision: I couldn’t reach your dad. Then nothing.
So…yeah. Not only did we have no new information about who was trying to kill me, but things between me and Andrew were more awkward than ever.
As much as I was a hot, broken mess who’d almost died again, I couldn’t stop thinking about our dirty fuck fest. A part of me wanted more.
Even if I was still furious about how he’d simply up and left when we were done.
Today, though, I would be rejoining society, and he couldn’t ignore me any longer.
“Come on, Eve,” Lacey called from downstairs, startling me. “We’re going to be late.”
Right. “Fuck, sorry. Be right down,” I called back as I snatched up my bag and pushed my hair behind my ears. First day back to class and I was about to be late. But it was worth it to have the morning to heal with Brodie.
“Sorry,” I huffed again as I launched myself down the last few steps. “I’m ready. Let’s head to class.”
Lacey had thankfully come out of the accident with only a few injuries and a dozen stitches and had been around twice already to visit.
She was now caught up on the family drama, and had been steadfast in her friendship, even knowing my father almost got her killed. It barely seemed to faze her, actually.
Her smile was broad as she looked me over. “Maybe some pants. Though, you do you, friend.”
Confused, I glanced down to find I was in my half-buttoned shirt, socks, and runners, but had spaced completely on jeans, which no doubt were still sitting on the end of my bed.
“Motherfucker.”
With a sigh, I dumped my bag and raced back up the stairs. Kicking off my shoes, I got the pants on in record time and finished buttoning up before returning to my friend. “Okay, I might be a little frazzle-brained since the accident, but at least Brodie and I sorted our shit out this morning.”
Lacey patted my shoulder and handed me the backpack.
“That’s great news—not that I had any doubts.
You two are meant to be together.” She swallowed roughly.
“What happened in town was messed up. You’re not the only one battling a few demons from it.
But we’re in this shit together. I won’t let any asshole destroy us. Not even his memory gets to live here.”
Funnily enough, it was more than the gunman bothering me, who was thankfully dead.
It was Andrew Knightsbridge and his connection to me, my father, and what this meant for all of us.
Not to mention his ability to wring the most intense orgasms from me…
Yeah, he was a damn bother. Not to mention the guilt building now that I was out of my depression.
I’d fucked him and not told Ethan or Brodie about it. Was I a cheater now?
“Oh, and before I forget,” Lacey said, reaching over to grab a white paper bag from the side table. “Connie wanted me to give you this.”
Trying to ignore the way it bothered me when she said Connie, which made me the worst friend in the world, I took the bag and forced a smile.
The scent of pastry hit me as I crinkled the bag, and sure enough, when I opened it there was an almond croissant nestled inside.
He’d written on the inside of the bag: Eat the damn breakfast, brat. Don’t make me chase you down.
“Did he get you food too?” I asked, glancing at the table again. There was no second bag.
Lacey waved me off. “Nah, but it’s cool. I already had something.”
That had my stomach doing a flip-flop, as a different sort of guilt hit me because, What do you mean he got food for me and not his girlfriend?
“I’ll share,” I said too loud and abruptly, since I was an awkward dickhead. “I don’t need it all.”
I’d thrust the bag out at the same time, which only had Lacey laughing as she gently pushed it back toward me. “No, you need it more than me. You’re fading away, girl. Not to mention, Connie won’t be happy if I take your food. He’s pretty particular.”
There was no way I wanted to discuss that statement with his girlfriend, so I just forced another smile and gestured toward the door. Thankfully, Lacey, who was genuinely one of the best fucking humans I knew, took my hint and linked her arm through mine to drag me out of Bluebell House.
Apparently, none of the guys were home, as there’d usually be one of them around. I knew that Brodie had taken an urgent work call after our morning, Ethan had class—which we were currently heading to—Andrew was no doubt vacuuming the lawn for dirt, while Connor and Haze hit the gym.
“How are you feeling?” Lacey asked as we crossed campus slowly, the morning sun barely a blip through the clouds that were shading the sky today. “You’re still awfully pale.” Her voice grew harder. “Wish I could kill that asshole again. Just slower.”
Hugging her closer, I sighed. “I’ll never be able to thank you for saving my life, no matter how long I live.” I’d tried a dozen times to really put it in words, but there was no way to adequately express my gratitude. Lacey didn’t seem to want to hear it anyway.
She waved me off one more time. “It was nothing. How are you sleeping?”
My nose wrinkled as I thought back to the last few days. “I’m still not sleeping well, but Ethan has been with me at night, so the nightmares are manageable.”
Lacey nodded. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. It was traumatic. I’m basically a damn mafia princess and I’ve been jumping at shadows since then too. You’re doing much better than you think.”
Her words reassured me in a way I hadn’t known I needed, easing a little knot inside my chest. I wasn’t sure how it had happened, but Lacey might be the best thing to come out of Bluebell House yet.
And that was saying a lot, seeing as I was fairly sure I was in love with at least two of the men who lived under that roof.
As we walked into campus, I noticed a few glances coming my way.
At first I thought nothing of it, but when the whispers followed, I started to wonder if they’d all found out about the attack somehow.
There were a lot of witnesses, and despite how powerful Connor and Ethan thought their family was, they couldn’t have been that thorough in cleaning up the evidence.