Chapter 16: Forever Wild: Chapter 15

The next day when Ev comes over something’s different. It’s cloudy and the wind is blowing in a cool breeze. She sits in the same spot as usual, on one side of the workout area, as she goes through my inbox.

Everly reads off the details and waits for my reply. But instead of offering up her usual thoughts on my decisions, she says nothing. I just turned down an appearance request at a popular drag show in two weeks (love the show, but the time conflicted with James getting back into town and I know he’ll have a million things to go over). Not a peep out of Everly.

“Newburg High School sent information for a silent auction. They’re looking for items again this year and they thank you for your contribution last year.”

“Screw the kids this year,” I say.

She doesn’t even crack a smile .

“Okay, no to⁠—”

“Oh my god. I was kidding. What’s up with you?”

She looks up and blinks several times like she’s coming out of a haze, then stares back at the screen as she mumbles, “Nothing.”

“Something.” I stop what I’m doing. Instinctively, I go to run my hand through my hair but it’s shorter and already slicked back. She did a good job. It was torturous having her hands on me. I don’t know what the fuck is happening with me lately but I need to get a grip.

I was so keyed up I almost gave in and called Meredith. Thank god I didn’t. That is not a road I want to go down again. Not even just for sex. There are far less complicated options. Not that I’ve called any of them either. I’m trying very hard not to think about why that is.

“We’re friends, right?” she asks.

I swallow. “Sure.”

“And friends sometimes do each other favors.”

I’m not sure where she’s going with this, but I nod. “Yeah, of course.”

“I need to have sex.”

My brows shoot right off my face and a strangled sound escapes from my lips.

For the first time today, she looks at me like her usual self.

“I’m serious.”

“How am I going to help with that?”

She arches a brow, and all the blood from my face drains south as I realize her intent.

“No,” I say adamantly.

“Why not?” She stands and walks over to me. Fuck she’s gorgeous all fired up and confident like right now. I love it when she’s wholly herself, no holding back. But there’s no fucking way .

“So many reasons.”

Tension stretches out like a rubber band and I’m not sticking around to watch it snap. I have to forcibly keep myself from moving closer. There’s no reason to invade her space because this isn’t happening. Can’t happen. Won’t happen. She doesn’t know what she’s asking for.

Turning, I head into the house.

“Okay, but hear me out.” She follows me, leans against the counter as I go around to get a glass of cold water. Heat courses through me.

“No.”

“I know you’re attracted to me.”

My lips part to deny it, but she doesn’t let me.

“And I’m attracted to you. Besides, I’m leaving in a few weeks. It doesn’t have to be a big thing.”

“I think you know that’s a lie.”

“We’re adults. We can handle this maturely.”

Says the woman who scaled my fence a week ago.

“You’re beautiful, Ev, but this can’t happen.”

Her hazel eyes spark with frustration and maybe a bit of embarrassment. “Why not?”

“You’re Ty’s sister and we’re friends, nothing more. I don’t want to complicate things.”

Her gaze narrows. “Are you for real right now?”

I shrug one shoulder. I’m afraid to make any other movements for fear she’ll see right through me. Instead, she turns on her heel, returning a minute later with all her stuff, bag slung over her shoulder.

“Come on, don’t go. We can still hang out.” Although now I’m definitely thinking about sleeping with her so it might be a painful afternoon .

“I don’t want to hang out, I want to bang it out,” she mutters quietly.

I nearly laugh at her words and how seriously she says them, but my groin tightens.

“Are you afraid I’m going to get all clingy? Because you’re hot but honestly half the time I want to punch you in the face, so I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”

“No, that isn’t it. I told you. I don’t see you like that. I’m sorry.” Lies. Lies. All fucking lies.

Her gaze narrows and she glares at me so hard I want to squirm. Me? The guy who stares down the biggest, baddest guys in the league.

“You should go out with that guy you were talking to online.” I barely get the words out before I clamp my mouth shut and grind down on my molars.

“You want me to go bang it out with someone else?”

I say nothing, and the silence hangs between us for so long I can hear the tick of the air conditioning as the fan shuts off.

Everly looks away first. She digs into her purse and pulls out her phone, presses some buttons, and puts it to her ear. I don’t know who she’s calling, but I already know I’m in trouble.

“Hey, Thor. It’s Ev.” Her voice is bubbly and sweet, and she giggles at something he says.

I tell myself I don’t care but jealousy sweeps through me so strongly I’m moving to her to take the damn phone away. Possibly smash it.

She spins away from me. Every instinct in my body says to toss her over my shoulder and claim her, but that’s fucking ridiculous. She’s not mine.

“I know I said I was busy tonight, but my schedule freed up.” Her head tilts back to stare at me. She’s playing me, testing my sanity, and seeing if I’ll stop her. And I’m having a hard time not falling for it hook, line, and sinker.

She spins back to face me with a smile stretched across her face. “Perfect. How about seven o’clock?”

She nods. “I can’t wait.”

After she hangs up, she bats her lashes innocently at me. “I’m sorry, what was it you wanted to say to me?”

“Don’t play this game.”

“What game?” she asks way too sweetly.

“You and I aren’t a good idea but that doesn’t mean you should go out with some guy just to try and piss me off.”

“You literally just told me to go out with him. And why would you be pissed? You’re not interested. Right?” She takes a step closer.

I can smell her coconut-scented sunscreen and her fruity shampoo.

My nostrils flare and my fingers itch to touch her, but I am nothing if not controlled.

I don’t answer, but my silence is enough to have her stepping away.

“Great, then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”