As soon as Cain and Micah appear, I down the remainder of my second beer then tell Brooke, “I’m gonna head home.”
“Are you sure? You can stay the night. Almost everyone plans to I think.”
“Yeah. I just want to sleep in my own bed.” Not that I will get much rest since the nightmares have branched out with some new episodes. My favorite has been Remy turning into a zombie, with oil and sludge oozing out of his orifices. I definitely miss the dreams where he was smiling.
Making sure to avoid bumping into the guys, I head to my car and get in. I intend to go home but end up driving to the rec. It’s the last place anyone (specifically Luca) would look for me. And I figured they wouldn’t be open with the weather. They always close for storms before other businesses did.
And sure enough, when I get there, they are. The building is empty. And the same side door is open as I slip inside. Once I reach the pool, I sit on the edge and stare at the surface. It feels like a lifetime ago since I’ve been here.
Footsteps sound behind me as I turn to look, blinking a few times before I realize Everett is here.
“Hey,” he utters, approaching sluggishly. “I saw your car when I passed by.”
Rotating back to the pool, I remain silent as he says, “I shouldn’t have said those things. Even if you don’t think aboutme the same way I do you, we’re best friends. And I care about you.”
“Are we friends, or did you just want to sleep with me?” I ask, suddenly questioning every moment. Had he only been hanging around with the expectation of sex? Do we all do everything with the expectation of something in return?
“Of course we are. Things have been different since you got around those snobby bastards. You’ve changed whether you know it or not. And I worried I’m losing you.”
You already have.“Why do we hurt people we care about?”
“I don’t know. Fear. Jealousy. Those were my reasons. I panicked.”
“Remy died,” I blurt out. It still doesn’t feel real.
“I heard.” Everett pauses before he focuses back to me. “That’s why I wanted to check on you. I figured it’d bring up some of the trauma with your mom.”
“His family didn’t deserve to bury him.”
“No, they didn’t, but there’s no love lost from me for the guy.” Everett stops talking for a few seconds when I face him, his hands up in front of him as he continues, “I’m just saying, he was an asshole who intentionally could’ve ended my season.”
“Yeah. Remy was an asshole. But he shouldn’t be dead. His mom doesn’t deserve to bury her son,” I state, watching as he shrugs his shoulders.
“Yeah, I feel bad for the lady. But I could’ve had a life-altering event all because of him and his dickhead buddies.”
Yeah. They’re all dickheads. Agree with that part. “It’s a game, Everett. A meaningless, pointless game.”
Everett claps his hands together. “You’re right. It’s just a stupid game. But it’s all I have right now. Besides, he shouldn’t have been out on the water that drunk. He made a stupid decision that cost him his life.”
I made a stupid decision that cost my mom her life.“We all make stupid decisions. He didn’t deserve to die for it.”
“Fine. Okay. I’m sorry the dude died. But I don’t think this is really about Remy.” Everett stares at me as he states, “It’s his buddy.”
“What? This has nothing to do with Luca.”
“I can’t do this with you, Ivy. You’re not the same person anymore.”
“No, I’m not. I haven’t been since the worst night of my life changed everything. I’m sorry I can’t go back. But you have to know I never meant to hurt you.”
“Yeah. Just like you didn’t mean to kill your mom. I get it. I’m another on the list of victims.”
My breath hitches as I watch him stand, he takes a step then turns back to look at me. There’s hatred on his face I don’t recognize. But all my mind can register is him saying I killed my mom.
He stoops down, his thumb swiping across my cheek before he says, “The tears are old, Ivy. Maybe your rich boyfriend will fall for them again. I don’t want his sloppy seconds. So, save your apologies. I thought I could be your friend. But I don’t know how. I need more. I’ve been here for you. But you had to go spread your legs for the first rich bastard who gave you two seconds of his time. I’m done.”
I blink, staring at a boy who I can’t find anything familiar about. “It’s true. You were only nice to me when you thought we’d have sex. Did you ever truly care about me?” There’s no way he did. He said he loved me, promised we’d always be friends. But was lying. Everett had no intention of only being my friend. He wanted more and told whatever lie needed to get what he desired from me. That’s all people do. Use you then throw you away when you don’t give in to their demands. I’m a toy, a possession to manipulate. The same guy who assured me Iwasn’t responsible for my mom’s death just used it to hurt me. It doesn’t matter if he meant it, he said it. And the one thing I know for a fact, words are the one thing you can’t take back.
And he doesn’t even try to retract his words. He just says, “I thought I did,” then leaves.
