The hair on the back of my neck stands up. His slimy hand grips my waist.
Stop touching me.
The invasive contact infects me like a virus. I can’t stand it—the fear, discomfort, resentment,everythinginside of me ...
Get out.
Get out of me.
“Ready to show me how dirty you really are?”
I’ve been with a lot of guys since that night almost two years ago, but I’ve only had sex with one. The one who stole it from me. The one who broke me. The one who told me what I was and what I was going to be. He took everything that night. And he’s owned me ever since.
Fuckhim.
Fuck them all.
“Jimmy, back the hell off.” The jerk puts his hands up in surrender and steps back. A familiar blue pair of eyes latch onto mine.Carter. “Hey, you okay?”
I stare at him.
He swipes his blond hair from his face and glances over his shoulder. “Don’t mind Jimmy. He’s all bark, no bite.”
I follow where he looked and find Jimmy already lost in conversation with another girl, but the sight doesn’t shake the grime he left on me. It sinks deeper, and deeper, and deeper.
Get out, get out.
Of my skin.
My bones.
My chest.
“He won’t come back. I promise.” Carter’s lips curve, and my eyes drop to examine his smile. The way he’s looking at me, it’s like I’m just another girl at the party. Like I’m normal. He hasn’t tried to touch me, which makes him tolerable. I can tell he’s experienced, that he’d know what to do. He’d know how to make it go away. I think Ineedhim to make it go away.
My breaths come out faster.
One.
Two.
Three.
Counting doesn’t wash away the nerves, but still, I hold Carter’s gaze like a laser on a target.
Tonight, I’m reclaiming my virginity and giving it away on my terms. Tonight, the past no longer owns me.
I’m Eva now. And I call the shots.
Finally, my lips curve back.
Eva
(Present Day)
Fists are swinging as I approach Marco’s house. I sidestep to avoid the two guys that flip off his front porch and tumble onto the lawn.
I roll my eyes.Idiots.
