Love Me Always (I Hate You...I Think) (9 page)

"So Everlyn, what happened with you and
Oliver anyways? I heard what your friend was
yelling about, but I would like to hear it from you."

"Oh...it's not really that interesting," I
muttered.
"Nonsense, I'd love to hear it," he smiled.

"Ok...well, all I know it what I've been
told," I started unsure. Should I be telling him all
this?

Harper smiled reassuringly.
"Well Oliver was my teacher and I started
to like him but...he-"
"Is in a gang. I know," Harper smiled. I
stared at him a moment. How does he know that?
"Like I said I knew him a long time ago,"
he shrugged.

"Here you are sir," Raul said coming up to
the table with two glasses and a black bottle. He
poured us a glass of the red liquid.

"Have you decided what you would like to
eat?" he asked gesturing to the menus in front of
us. Blushing I realized I hadn't even opened mine
to look at it yet.

"We'll have two of the specials, Raul,"
Harper smirked winking at me. I resisted the urge
to roll my eyes.

"Right away," Raul sauntered off and
Harper took a sip of the wine.

Picking up my glass, I smelled it. It smelled
sweet. I took a sip. It didn't taste sweet. It was like
cough syrup.
"Like it?"

I nodded weakly but sat my glass down.

"So where did we leave off? I believe you
said Oliver was in a gang and you fell in love with
him..."

Taking a deep breath, I told him everything
Kimmy had told me since I woke up. I don't know
why. A part of me knew I shouldn't but it was nice
to talk to someone.

"And, so I left. I told him I needed space.
But, Leon told me today that Oliver isn't doing too
well," I frowned picking at my meal. Raul had
brought it a while ago. It wasn't all that great. For
an expensive restaurant, the food or maybe this
meal wasn't what I thought it would be.

"But, Jason went to jail right?" Harper
questioned looking at me intensely.
I nodded. "Yes."
"Oliver seems to care about you a lot."
"Yeah, he does," I muttered. Blushing I
looked at Harper.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't be talking about him.
I mean we are on a date together."
He smiled, "I think I can handle it."
"Well tell me about you," I told him
changing the subject.
"What would you like to know?"
"You said you go to college. What are you
studying?"
He chuckled, "Business, like my father."
"What is he like?"
"My father?" Harper asked his eyes
darkening.
I nodded.
"Why?" Harper questioned giving me a
hard look.
I frowned, "Well my dad died when I was
little," I shrugged.
Harper stared at me for a long moment,
"He's tough but he loves me," he stated.
I left it alone.
"So your dad died when you were young.
What about your mom?"

"She died a few months ago. I don't
remember," I told him pushing my food around my
plate again.

"So Oliver really is all you have?"
"Yeah, I guess so. He doesn't have family
either from what I was told."
"He doesn't."
I shifted uncomfortably. I wish this date
were over already.
"Hey?" Harper reached across the table
touching my hand. Startled I looked up.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you about my dad.
Just not many people have nice things to say about
him."
"Well I don't know him."

"I know," he nodded.

"Why don't we get out of here? I can see
I've made you uncomfortable. This isn't really your
kind of date is it?" he grinned.

Blushing I looked away how could I tell
him I hated it?

"How about I take you somewhere more
special? Somewhere exciting? I saw the other night
you like excitement and adrenaline. Perhaps you
are not what I thought you were Everlyn Fox."

I stared blankly at him. Had I told him my
full name? How did he know? Maybe through
Oliver?

After he paid the bill, he dropped two
hundred dollars on the table and wrapped his arm
around my waist.

"I'm sorry you wasted so much on me
Harper. I-"
"No, it's ok. Beautiful women deserve the
world."
I didn't know whether to be flattered or
annoyed.
“Do you like racing Ever?” Harper
questioned as we settled into the car.

“What kind of racing?” I questioned. He’s
not going to take me to some ridiculous horse races
or something I hope.

“The illegal kind,” he laughed.
“Like street racing? What Oliver and his
gang do at tournaments?”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t know,” I told him honestly. I don’t
know what I like anymore.
“How would you like to learn?”
I stared at him blankly, “You want to teach
me to race?”
He smirked saying nothing as he pulled out
onto the main road.
“I don’t have a license.”
Harper’s smirk fell away, “You don’t?” he
pulled his eyebrows together, “Why not?”
“My mom never taught me.”
“Did Oliver never show you either?”

“I don’t think so. I think Kimmy would
have mentioned it. I mostly walk to where I need to
go.”

“Then no only am I go to teach you to
drive. I’ll teach you to race.”
~Give Me A Sign~
Harper cringed as the car shook violently
and came to a jerking stop.
“I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed hiding my face.
This is the third time I have stalled out the
car in under a minute.
“Just try it again. Ease off clutch and press
gas.”

I did as he said, it jerked but didn’t die. We
were creeping down the road slowly. Harper had
taken me out to an old abandoned airstrip. He said
that it was now used for many of the racing
tournaments for this area.

“Ok now you hear that noise?” he
questioned. The car was groaning, “It’s letting you
know you need to shift. Press down on the clutch
and pull the shifter straight down.”

I did as he said and the car stopped
groaning.

“Good job,” he approved laughing as I did a
mini fist pump letting go of the stirring wheel then
in terror clutched it again.

Harper and I spend a couple of hours
practicing my driving. Once I got the hang of it, it
wasn’t half bad.

“You’re really good at this,” he told me as
we got out and were switching spots.
“Thanks for teaching me,” I told him his
gaze held my eyes and I turned away embarrassed.

Cupping my cheek, he turned my face to
look up at him. Slowly he lowered his mouth to
mine. I quickly turned my face away and he kissed
my cheek. His lips lingered there and I blushed
feverishly. It was wrong, so very wrong. I couldn’t
like Harper. I felt as if I was betraying Oliver by
even letting his lips touch my cheek.

The ride home was quiet and awkward,
even more so that he didn't try to make inane
conversation. I didn't see myself going on another
date with him for the simple fact that he had made
things so awkward with his attempt to kiss me.

He pulled into the parking lot of my
apartment, then got out, and came around opening
my car door for me.

"I'll walk you up to your door."

"Thanks," I mumbled heading to the
elevator with him in tow. He encircled his hand in
mine. I looked down at our interlocked fingers
annoyed, but didn't say anything. A few more
seconds and I wouldn't talk to him ever again.

Once we got to my door, I unlocked it and
turned to him.
"Well...umm thank you for tonight."

"Next time I'll take you somewhere more
interesting. I can tell you’re not the fancy dinner
type. If it’s all the same I’m not into that either," he
chuckled taking a loose strand of my hair and
pushed it behind me ear.

Harper leaned into me suddenly pressing
his lips against mine. I was shocked as a blurry
memory danced in the back of my mind. The
image was fuzzy. Harper took my shock as a good
thing and deepened the kiss. The memory exploded
and played like a movie scene.

~~~

I was at the warehouse in the bathroom.
Opening the door to leave, I found Oliver was
standing there waiting for me. He was swaying a
bit or maybe it was me. I felt drunk and out of it.
Without thinking, I grabbed the collar of his shirt
and shoved him back against the wall. Our lips
found each other’s instantly.

My mind was fuzzy and there was a part of
me saying this wasn't right. Something is wrong.
Grabbing a handful of his hair, I deepened the kiss
sliding my tongue in his mouth. He lifted me and I
wrapped my legs around his waist.

He carried me down the hall not breaking
the kiss. Pushing open a door, he stumbled in a few
steps and we ended up in a heap in the floor. His
hips pushed into my pelvis and I tugged his shirt
over his head. His lips left mine for a moment then
came back and he began kissing my throat and
shoulder. Everywhere he kissed sent tingles
through me. I ran my hands over his perfect abs.
Grabbing my hands he pinned them down on either
side of my head.

~~~

I blinked open my eyes to find that it wasn't
Oliver hovering over me but Harper. He had my
wrists pinned to either side of my head. I lay
against the floor in my apartment with him holding
me down kissing at my neck. His bare chest was
pressed against mine and his body was
unreasonably hot.

Gasping in horror, I tried to throw him off.
"Harper, get off me!"
"What?" he asked confused sitting up.

"Get off," I ordered shoving him
backwards. I scooted back hitting the couch.
Grabbing my shirt, I held it against me.

"What are you doing?" he questioned
annoyed.
"This is wrong. I'm sorry please just leave,"
I told him. My body was shaking uncontrollably.
"But, you were into it?" he said leaning in
to kiss me again. I turned my head away.
"It was a mistake-"
He grabbed my chin and captured my
mouth again.
Instantly another memory came to the
forefront of my mind.
~~~

Oliver was standing in the doorway of my
kitchen and nodded at me to go to my bedroom.
Blushing I lead him in. Once we were inside, he
closed the door. In one quick motion, he turned and
wrapped his arms around me pulling me into his
chest. His lips found mine; it was lustful but also
gentle. He held me to him his fingers curling in my
hair; his other hand was on my waist.

~~~
I shoved Harper away.

"Dammit," he cursed. Shoving off the
ground, he headed for the door. Jerking it open, he
stormed out slamming it behind him. My legs were
shaking as I stood up. Stumbling to the door, I
locked it then slid back to the floor. Jerking out my
cell phone, I called Jake.

"Yellow," he greeted.
"Jake," I breathed.
"Ever? What's wrong?" he demanded all
playfulness gone.
"Can you come get me? I want Oliver," I
hiccupped.
"Where are you?"
"Home," I muttered wiping my face.
"I'll be right over."

It wasn't long before Jake was knocking on
my door. I had yet to move from my spot, my
phone still clutched in my hands.

Getting to my feet, I smoothed out my shirt
and opened the door to find Jake standing there
alone.

He engulfed me in a hug. "You got a
memory?"
"How did you know?" I whispered against
his shoulder.

"You are all breathless when that happens,"
he chuckled. "That or you got hit in the chest with
a brick."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You're so weird,
Jake."
"Just so you know Oliver is sick," he
replied seriously.
"I know."

Pulling back, I ran my fingers through my
hair, at some point it had come out of the ponytail
and was a mess.

"You look nice. Did you go out
somewhere?" Jake questioned with his eyebrow
raised.

"It's not important. I just want Oliver."
Smiling softly he grabbed my hand and we
headed down stairs.

For the rest of the ride I was in a daze. Jake
kept glancing at me with a worried expression but I
was too busy thinking about Oliver and the
memories I had got back.

Both times Harper kissed me the memories
had come back in full force. What if for some
insane reason he was somehow the key to this all? I
didn't like Harper. Especially after tonight, I
couldn't stand him, but what if he was what I
needed to remember. Would he talk to me again
after I rejected him? I had to try. If it meant me
getting back what I have lost, I have too.

All the lights were on in the house when we
pulled up. Taylor met us at the door and tackled
me.

"Ever!" she exclaimed.

"At least let her get in the house people,"
Jet called out as Logan bounded into the hall lifting
me up and squeezing me tightly.

Finally, I was passed down the line of
massive hugs and found myself in front of Jet
wrapping my arms around him I kissed his cheek. I
had not realized how much I truly missed them.
My family.

"Where is Oliver?" I asked.

"Upstairs in his room, Tyler is up there
watching him. We've been taking shifts," Jake told
me his arms wrapped around Taylor's waist. I
smiled at them. She was glowing with him holding
her.

"Ever?" Kimmy questioned.

I turned around to find her standing in the
doorway of the living room. Without saying a
word, I threw my arms around her and hugged her.
She was right about Harper but I couldn't tell her
that. Not if I needed to keep seeing him. I couldn't
tell any of them that I was going to use him to get
my memories back. They would only scold me.

"I love you," she told me.
"I love you too sis," I told her pulling back.
Her little belly was starting to show.
I rubbed it and she scrunched up her face.
"So cute," I told her in a baby voice.
"Ever," she huffed. I grinned at her
knowing I was annoying her.
"Hey?"
Looking up I seen Tyler at the top of the
stairs.
"You’re supposed to be watching Oliver,"
Alex shook his head.

"Well I heard my baby sister was here,"
Tyler rolled his eyes coming down the stairs. He
hugged me but wouldn't let go.

"Tyler?"
"Stop leaving so much. I don't like it. Oliver
goes crazy and I don't get to see you," he muttered.
"Aww, Ty."
He finally let me go with a small smile. He
looked tired.
"Well, I'm taking care of him now. You go
get some sleep," I shooed him upstairs.
"Yes, mom," he laughed.
"So you're staying here tonight?" Logan
asked wide-eyed.