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Had she used me to make herself feel better, to forget about her pain for a while? Was I nothing more than a distraction?
Minutes bleed into hours, and the sun paints the sky a bruised purplish-pink haloed by oranges and yellows. It rises over the lake, creating a mockingly beautiful picture.
This could’ve been our sunrise, the one we’d remember for the rest of our lives when we looked back on this moment. On this night. The colors would’ve tattooed themselves into our souls, reminding us that we chose each other.
Rain continues falling, and my knees buckle as I take my first step in hours. I stumble forward, my hand reluctant to let go of the tire swing. Of this place.
Of her.
But I do.
I let go.
A knock pulls me from my memories, and I blink a few times, settling back into the space around me. Not under the tree. Not soaking wet, freezing to the bone.
Inside.
In my bedroom.
In Divinity Falls.
In Hell.
The door creaks open, and as if on instinct, I scoot over, making room for her. It’s something we’ve done a million times, sneaking into each other’s rooms in the middle of the night to read and talk and just be together.
Her hands land on my shoulders, and the icy feel of them jolts me out of the past and fully into the present. I gasp at how cold she is and throw the blankets back. Eve stumbles a step away, her eyes wide.
“What are you doing?” I hiss, sitting on the edge of the bed, gripping the sheets tightly to keep myself from reaching out.
I can’t.
The memories are still too fresh in my mind, and it takes me a moment to realize something’s wrong. I take in her appearance again and worry coils in my stomach.
Her hair is rumpled, her oversized t-shirt is hanging loosely from her thin shoulder. I blink. No, my t-shirt. One from high school with my football number on it. I blink at the relic, wondering why the fuck she’s wearing it, then I shake myself.
It doesn’t matter.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, pushing to my feet.
Cool air greets my bare skin and I suddenly feel too exposed. Shoving past her, I grab the grey sweatpants slung over the back of a chair and slide them up my legs, my back to her. My skin itches and I’m thankful for the darkness shrouding us.
“Someone’s outside,” she breathes, and my entire body freezes before a feral need to protect her overtakes me, washing away my errant thoughts.
I whirl around, my heart in my throat, my fists clenched at my sides. My eyes flick from Eve, to my closed window and back to her. I can’t sit here and wait for shit to hit the fan but the idea of leaving her unprotected and alone. Vulnerable…again.
I shake my head and swallow roughly before pushing past her. I yank my phone from its charger and shove it in her hands, but she doesn’t take it.
“Stay here,” I say, dipping my head to look at her. “If I’m not back in a few minutes, call the police.”
Her eyes aren’t on mine, though. Instead, they’ve traveled down my bare torso, taking in the swirls of black ink and chiseled muscle. Her lips part, a silent breath leaving them as pink stains her freckled cheeks.
“Eve.” I snap my fingers in front of her face, and she blinks, shaking her head like she’s coming out of a spell. I force my phone into her hands, and when she finally wraps her fingers around it, I feel the tremors wracking her body.
Fuck.
Spinning toward the open bedroom door, I stride out, the old worn planks hard and smooth under my bare feet. Her soft footsteps pad behind me, and I let out a low, annoyed growl, looking over my shoulder to find her too close to me.
“Dammit, Eve,” I grumble. “I told you to stay put.” She ignores me, moving closer to my side.
