Breathe into Me (29 page)

None of this he could share with Trent, but he had a feeling his friend knew anyway. Everett’s eyes shifted to the piece of paper on the edge of the bed. His parents had sent him an e-mail two days ago saying it was once again “safe” for him to come back to New York City. The Hunt family had accepted a deal that would end the “court nonsense” as they put it.

He wondered sometimes if they realized just how selfish they sounded.

There was a commotion downstairs but Everett didn’t pay it any mind. Feet pounded on the steps leading upstairs, and Everett barely got the chance to stand when the door burst open and Lacey launched herself into his arms. “You can’t go!”

Her momentum sent Everett sailing backward onto the bed, with Lacey’s soft body landing on top of him. Shock stiffened his arms for a moment, stretched out beside the girl in his arms. He could barely believe his own senses, then he grabbed her in a hug all his own. “Lacey?”

She let him go and lifted up, straddling his stomach. “What is
wrong
with you?” she hissed, glaring down at him.

The sudden change in attitude confused him. All he wanted was to keep holding her, not have a conversation, but clearly she had something else in mind. “You lied to me!”

Her annoyed tone got his attention, and he stared up at her. “Your sister told me what happened,” she continued, swatting his shoulder unexpectedly. “What the hell, Everett?”

In no world was this conversation making any sense to him. “Huh?”

Her answer was a kiss, and words flew out of his mind. He pulled Lacey down against him, hands roving over her body as if to be sure it was really her. She moaned against his mouth, and in one smooth motion he rolled her over on the bed so that she was beneath him.

She broke off the kiss and glared up at him. “We’re not done talking.”

“We are for now,” he murmured, lowering his lips to hers. This time she didn’t protest, snaking her arms around his neck as he pushed his hands up inside her shirt.

“I’m, uh, gonna close the door now.”

Everett lifted his head to look at Trent, standing in the doorway. Lacey hid her face in Everett’s shoulder as Everett chuckled, and then gave a small wave. “Thanks.”

Lacey pulled him back down to her and for a long moment there was nothing but her touch, the feel of her soft body beneath him. Everett was hard as a rock, confused still but wanting more. When his hands hit her pants, however, she covered them with one of hers and he stilled.

“Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

Her words and soft expression drained everything out of Everett. He collapsed sideways and Lacey followed, resting her chin on his chest. “Why did you let me believe you’d done those horrible things?” she continued, her eyes tinged with hurt.

He flinched and looked away. “Because I was the one who took those pictures that set everything in motion. Ultimately, it was my fault.”

“Horseshit.”

“It’s the truth, and you know it.”

She stared down at him for a moment, then leaned over and kissed him. Everett cupped her face with his hands, wanting to hold her there permanently. She broke away after several delicious moments, tucking her head under his chin. “Why did you let me believe those horrible things about you?” she repeated, and Everett realized she wasn’t going to let it go.

“Because…” He trailed off, gathering her in his arms, loving the feel of her resting atop him. “If I hadn’t taken those pictures, none of it would’ve happened.”

“Well, why did you take the pictures?”

“Because I was young and stupid, and she was so damned beautiful lying there in bed.” He stroked Lacey’s hair, lost in thought. “I loved her, or at least could have. Those pictures were our first night together, her first time, and…” Pain choked Everett’s words. “She died thinking I’d betrayed her, and I can’t forgive myself for that.”

Lacey tightened her arms around him, tilting her head to kiss his neck. “I’m so sorry, Everett,” she whispered, her voice thick.

He let out a shaky breath and pulled her close. Holding her like this made his life seem a little better, but the memories were still brutal. “My parents sent word yesterday that they’d reached an agreement with Emily’s family for compensation. Nothing will ever be enough to fix this, though, nothing. I have to live with this hanging over my head the rest of my life, and you deserve so much more than that.”

“Don’t you start telling me what I deserve,” Lacey muttered, and Everett hugged her close. “You didn’t do it. I know that, and so does everyone who loves you.” She rolled over to look up at him. “Did you mean what you said when we fought, that you loved me?”

He stroked her beautiful cheek, the skin soft under his thumb. “With all my heart.”

She swallowed hard, biting her lip and staring at him with wide eyes, and then tapped his nose with her fingertip before snuggling down beside him again. “Good.”

Good?
When she didn’t say anything else, Everett’s eyebrows rose. “So you’re going to leave a guy hanging?” he said, a slow smile creeping across his face.

“What, you said it first. You love me, I totally get it.”

Everett chuckled, the action making Lacey bob atop his chest. “I do,” he murmured, stroking her arms. “I really do.” They lay there for a minute, just cuddling, before she spoke up again.

“Are you still leaving for New York?”

There was reluctance in her voice, as if she was afraid of his answer. “I don’t know,” he replied, picking up her hand and twining their fingers together. “Trent’s dad offered me a full-time job instead of just the summer position, so there’s that. I think I have a good reason to stay here anyway, right?”

Lacey relaxed against him, breathing a small sigh of relief against his neck. “Good, I was worried I’d have to buy a ticket to New York.”

Everett laughed at that, then wrapped his arms and rolled over so she was under him once more. “I love you,” he said again, not sure if he could ever say it enough.

“Well, I like you a whole lot, too.”

“Tease.”

“Drama queen.”

He didn’t bother to deny the last accusation, stroking her arm contentedly. A thought that had been in the back of his mind since she’d arrived nagged at him, and Everett frowned. “You said Skye told you all this?”

“She found me about an hour ago and told me everything.”

His frown deepened. “What’s she doing here?”

“I figured she was going to accompany you home.” Lacey looked up at him. “Are you going to forgive her?”

Everett tried for the right words but nothing came. “I’m not sure if I should,” he said finally, the words making his heart hurt. “There was a time when she was my only family, but now when I look at her all I see is the pain she caused.”

Lacey sighed. “If it’s any consolation, I don’t think she’ll forgive herself, either. It’ll follow her around for the rest of her life, which may not be much longer because of the cancer.” She paused for a moment, and then said in a quieter voice, “She could probably use her big brother.”

Everett’s chest squeezed painfully. Even now, the thought of losing his sister tugged at his soul. “We talked a little bit before, back at the house,” he said slowly. “Things still aren’t good between us, but they’re better.” He stroked Lacey’s hair, still finding it hard to believe she was in his arms. “Maybe even better, now.” His sister had given him back Lacey; maybe he could try one more time to repair things.

“So, what should we do now?”

Her leg shifted up his, knee pressing softly against his cock. It stirred, along with his libido, and Everett smirked when Lacey rose up to straddle his hips. “Well,” he drawled, moving his hands up her sides, “Trent did shut the door for us. He must have thought we’d be getting up to all sorts of naughty things.”

“Shall we prove him right?” Lacey said, bending down and pressing a feather-light kiss on Everett’s lips. With a growl, he rolled them over until she was beneath him again, still straddling his hips. He rocked himself against her, and grinned when she gave a small sigh.

“God, yes.”

“So you got the new job?”

“Yes!” Clare beamed at me. “I’ll be working alongside Allen, the club’s main photographer, at the wedding this weekend.”

“Sweet, I’m playing for them, too!”

The towel beneath me kept the hot beach sand off my skin, but the blazing sun made the water look so appetizing. “Where are the guys anyway?” I wondered aloud, scanning the highway and parking area behind us.

“Andrew said they’d be here by now. Where could they have gone?”

“Oh, I’m sure they’re on their way,” I said, grinning. Clare’s boyfriend was like a fish out of water with the rowdy group of construction workers, but they were determined to make a “real” Southern boy out of him. “Oh, hey, I have a favor to ask.”

“What’s up?”

“Cole is trying to get his band an online presence and he was wondering if you could take some pictures of them in action at an upcoming rock concert?”

“That wouldn’t be a problem. Where’s he playing?”

“Actually, they’ve been chosen as one of the local opening bands for the Blue Jokers. They’re going to be playing in Biloxi next month.” I shielded my eyes and scanned the nearby parking lot, looking for the familiar signs of my Bronco, which I’d let the boys borrow.
They’d better not put any more scratches on my baby!

“Is that Wade Jax’s band?”

“Sure is. According to Cole, getting Twisted Melody into the concert was a serious coup and could help them break out into mainstream.”

When Clare didn’t answer me, I looked over to see her staring out at the water, expression inscrutable. “Earth to Clare,” I said, waving my hand in her face. “You in there?”

She turned her head sharply toward me as if I’d surprised her, and then a rueful smile crossed her face. “Sorry, got lost in thought for a minute. They’re really opening for Jax?”

“I know you’ve heard of them. I saw his poster in your room that night I brought you home.”

“Yeah,” she said slowly, “you could say I’ve been a fan of his for a while.”

The dull roar of an old Ford reached my ears, and I grinned. “They’re here.” Bounding onto my feet, I hurried across the pale sand toward the parked Bronco. Boys piled out of every opening, but I only had eyes for one. I knew the minute that Everett saw me because a smile spread over his face, and I hurried my pace. “Took you guys long enough,” I said, moving into his arms.

He gave me a light kiss. “Miss me?”

“Hell no.” I gave my truck a few pats. “I was worried that you’d damage my baby.”

That got a laugh out of him, and beside me even Cole grinned. “If you ever want to dump this loser,” the rocker said, sticking his thumb out toward Everett, “I’ll take a girl like you any day.”

“Sorry,” I murmured, twining my arms around Everett’s neck, “I’m officially off the market.”

“You’d better be,” Everett growled against my lips before taking me up into a searing kiss, and I sighed into his mouth. I loved his kisses, the feeling of his body against mine. From the little poke in my belly, I could tell he felt the same way.

“My parents texted me while we were out about Skye.”

I squinted up at him, confused. “Your
parents
?”

“They’ve been calling me more often lately, although a text message is unusual for either of them.” He lifted a shoulder. “I usually let it roll over to voice mail, but they’ve kept me updated on her condition.”

I contemplated that for a while. “Maybe you should try talking to them,” I said softly. “At least yours are trying.”

His arms tightened around me as my thoughts turned melancholy. I hadn’t heard a single peep from my mother since she’d visited me, and that hurt more than I’d thought. She had my number and knew my address, it wouldn’t take much for her to reach out, but it was radio silence. On the other hand, I was in almost daily contact with my Oregon family, and talked with Davy any chance I could.

My aunt Jeanine had suggested I move over there and live with her and my brother, but I’d turned her down. It was an offer that, only a couple short months prior, I would have been leaping to take, but things had changed so much for me in a short time. I still rented the trailer from Cherise, and Everett was still in his parents’ house. Despite the fact that I spent more nights in that grand mansion than the little trailer, I was enjoying my freedom too much to give it up just yet.

“They wanted to let me know that my sister’s trying a new experimental treatment, and actually seems to be responding this time. It’s too early to know anything for sure, but they’re hopeful.”

“Have you tried calling her yet?”

He nodded his head but didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t press any further. I knew if someone asked me to call my grandmother Diana, I’d tell them to fuck off. I tried not to push him on it, but was glad he’d made some contact. “Well, summer’s been officially over for a few weeks, but it’s still hotter than Hades around here,” I said, and twined my arm through his. “Should we go enjoy this beach?”

Down on the sand the guys were setting up a volleyball net, and the cooler Andrew and Cole had carried down was already wide open. Several more people were walking down the beach toward them, and something told me this would be a much larger beach party than I’d thought.

“You sure you don’t want to head home for a little while?” Everett murmured in my ear. “You know, before we get sand into unmentionable places.”

The idea was tempting, but I leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I’ll make up for it later,” I whispered, then tugged at his hand as we headed down toward our friends.

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