Chapter Eight #3
There are people everywhere, congratulating us and trying to get in on the rush of the win. Myers is talking to a college reporter, replaying the events of the game.
It takes Everett all of five minutes to get to me, and by the time he does, Dante is already at my side with his arm wrapped around my waist, leaning into me.
“Your best friend is a brilliant coach, Ev,” he praises.
“Uh-huh,” Everett mutters, eyes trained on every inch of me that’s pressed against Dante.
“He totally won that for us. I feel like dead weight to him. Isn’t that right, babyface?” He’s making kissy faces at me, ruffling my hair with his free hand.
I roll my eyes, shoving at his chest. “Alright, asshole. Celebrate with your frat bros.”
Winning always makes him disgustingly affectionate, and today’s win was hard-won.
Dante groans. “But you never give me your attention anymore. Let’s go and—”
Everett pulls me straight out of Dante’s arms with generous force, my back hitting his chest with an oomph. “He’s got plans, Dante. Congrats, though. You did great.”
Dante’s eyes grow wide, bouncing between Everett and me as he tries to read Everett’s possessive behavior and my confusion.
He grins like a Cheshire cat. “Thanks, man. Have a good night!”
Then he’s running off, meeting up with some brunette who was waiting a couple of feet away, and I feel the familiar weight of Everett’s fingertips tugging at my earlobe.
“Good job out there, puppy. You killed it,” he compliments.
I flush, hiding my face from him. Ever since that night, his compliments seem a bit more… suggestive in their intent.
“Thanks,” I mumble.
“Sky! Good job!” Henry finds us, Kelly trailing behind him as he yells. “You look sweaty.”
I flip him off, which only proves to make him laugh.
“He is,” Everett confirms, so I shove him off me.
“Fuck you,” I sneer, but it lacks any real bite.
Everett shrugs, as if he has every right to touch up on me and announce the state of my body to all of Florida.
“Let’s swim then!” Kelly suggests. “I brought my swimsuit.”
Before I can give my opinion on the idea, she grabs my hand, leading me to the car. Behind me, Everett grabs my things from the bench.
Honestly, swimming doesn’t sound that bad.
Ten minutes later, we’re parking at a more secluded part of the local beach. There’s a shitty little dock and a lot of open water, but not much else.
Kelly strips off her clothes, revealing her two-piece swimsuit. My eyes dart to Everett, but he’s not paying her any attention.
Henry ditches his pants, opting to swim in his briefs, and Everett follows his lead. I didn’t bring trunks, so a second later, I’m pulling my shorts off too.
Kelly dives into the water, Everett and Henry racing to the end of the dock to see who can catch more air. By the time I make it to the edge of the dock, they’re all bobbing against the waves.
Henry and Kelly are splashing each other, laughing and screaming, enjoying the warm air and the sunset.
Everett stares up at me, eyes dragging over my body in a way that makes my skin crawl. Pleasant yet unnerving; oh so confusing.
I think that allowing him to taste me has unlocked a whole new plethora of alluring expressions Everett can make.
“Come here, puppy,” he commands, voice low enough for just my ears to pick up, his blond hair stuck to his forehead as his arms move around him in the water.
I can’t stop the grin that overcomes my face, and before I know it, I’m jumping in and coming up right next to him.
Everett laughs, brushing my hair out of my eyes. “Nice.”
I splash him.
Our legs brush under the water, and we both become aware of this connection at the same time. Everett’s eyes find mine, honey in the setting sun.
“Enjoy the game?” I ask him, searching for literally anything to say.
“I sure did.”
I jump slightly as I feel his fingertips graze my stomach, my abs flexing under the touch. I shiver without my own consent.
He smiles, and for lack of anything better, I say, “Good.”
“Mhm.”
I feel his fingertips again. They’re making passes, swiping slowly over my navel in spaced-out intervals. And I let him; I welcome it. The warmth, the affection, the curiosity.
We’ve never had a problem casually touching each other before, but now everything feels so charged, so full of something that I can’t quite name.
Every time I feel the warmth of his skin on mine, a little voice inside of me starts screaming, more, more, more!
“Are you coming to my apartment tonight?” I keep my voice casual, making sure I don’t imply something I shouldn’t.
He cocks his head. “Should I?”
“If you want,” I offer, and Everett smiles wider.
“I want.”
What else do you want, Evie?
That is what I want to ask, because I don’t know anymore. But I’m almost certain that he doesn’t know either. He’s always been straight, and now he’s got this curious look in his eyes when he looks at me, and I can’t help but wonder if he looks at other guys like this, too.
And if he does, will it hurt? Will it kill me? If he does, does that mean something it shouldn’t?
Does this mean I want him?