Chapter Seventeen
Evie
I’d had three mimosas that were way more champagne than they were orange juice. I was starting to shake a little. The expensive Waterford flute in my hand was in a precarious situation. I’d eaten. I didn’t normally eat at functions like this, but today I seemed to have Nicky’s voice in my ear. He thought I was too thin, and he wasn’t wrong. I mostly lived off protein bars and glowing green smoothies. Who had time to sit down and eat? Plus, the Adderall kept my hunger away for the most part.
I put another bite-sized quiche in my mouth, chewing and swallowing without even really tasting it. I was eating to stay alive, to keep myself from getting sick when the pills wore off. Although, I was already spending the day with Collin; it wouldn’t take much for me to get more Vicodin out of him.
“There you are, darling, come meet Mr. and Mrs. Prescott. They’ve been our neighbors for ages.” Collin’s mom, Marcia Metcalf, put her thin arm around my even thinner shoulders. “This is Collin’s girl, Evie James.”
Mr. Prescott held out his hand. “So you’re his little rock and roll princess we’ve been hearing so much about.” He was older than the Metcalfs by a couple decades at least. He looked closer to my grandpa’s age, and his smile warm and kind. At least he didn’t seem like a philandering asshole. I’d already met about seven of those.
I returned his smile, hoping it didn’t look as fake as it felt. This was my life; this was what I was good at. Playing my part, portraying the persona I’d perfect over the last two years. But suddenly, thanks to Nicky, I could barely stomach the feel of Collin’s hand on my back. “Guilty.” I laughed lightly, trying harder to pull myself together. “Although, I’m not sure how much of the rock and roll is true.”
I tended to downplay the rock-star roots when I was with Collin’s parents. I could tell they liked it better that way. “Well the princess part is definitely accurate.” My boyfriend was faker than my friends. He put his arm around my waist, placing a chaste kiss on my temple. “She’s my princess anyway.”
All the “Aw”s from the impeccably dressed adults made my stomach turn.
I’d caught on quick that was the way of these people. Make it seem, outwardly, that you treated your wife like royalty, when the reality was you rarely saw her, cheated on her incessantly and thought she was nothing more than a gorgeous accessory. I swallowed past the bile rising in my throat and politely downed the rest of my drink.
“You need another?” Collin reached for my flute, a sexy smirk on his face. Did he think if he got me drunk enough I’d fuck him? It was probably about that time, and I did need those pain pills. But I certainly didn’t want to.
I placed my hand on his arm, and a peck on his clean-shaven cheek. “I’ll get it, hon.” I turned a beaming smile on the rest of the plastic people standing around us. “Can I get anyone else anything?” When everyone politely said no thank you, I took the out and walked away.
I pulled my phone from my clutch while I was standing in line, more out of habit that any real desire to connect with anyone.
Nicky the tattooed god: I woke up this morning with the strangest sense of déjà vu…and then I realized, I was once again ghosted by Evie fucking James.
I giggled despite myself and my abysmal surroundings. Nicky must have programmed his number into my phone while I was sleeping. Little did he know that in my head I’d legit called him a tattooed god on more than one occasion.
Evie: New number, who dis?
Nicky the tattooed god: You’re hilarious after a good detox.
I bit at my bottom lip. I’d been away from him for three and a half hours and I’d already, uh, retoxed. I felt guilty, I felt like I’d let him down somehow, even if he didn’t know it. I sighed as I moved up two places in line. Nicky shouldn’t have to deal with my crap. I refused to let my ugliness touch my family, and I wouldn’t let it taint his life either. I wasn’t his problem. It was something we both needed to keep in mind.
Evie: I can’t talk right now. I’m at a party. Sorry I left, but you were sleeping…I know you had a long night taking care of me, and I didn’t want to wake you.
Nicky the tattooed god: You didn’t want me to make you stay. You didn’t want to see the truth reflecting back at you in my eyes. You’re sick Evie and you need help.
He was right. I shouldn’t have yelled at him at his shop the other night, but what I’d said was true. I was fine before I saw him again. I was the life of the party. I was the girl everyone wanted to be. Or wanted to know. Or inadvertently hated.
But either way, I knew where I stood. I knew how to manage my schedule and meet people’s expectations. But after one evening with Nicky, I was shaken. Down was up and up was down. I was a mess and my life seemed revolting. It was revolting.
Nicky saw me, and he made me take a good hard look at myself.
But I couldn’t talk about all of that. Certainly not right now when I was surrounded by my boyfriend and his parents. And I was high on two different forms of speed and half a bottle of champagne in.
Evie: The truth reflecting back? That’s a little deep for a text conversation.
Nicky the tattooed god: Well, either way, I was prepared this time. I took your driver’s license. You want it back? Come and get it.
Evie: I can just go get another one printed.
Nicky the tattooed god: Oooo…not your real one little bird. I took your hella impressive fake. Good luck getting served in whatever bar you plan on passing out in tonight. You look like you’re sixteen, and they’re cracking down on MIPs around these parts.
Evie: Around these parts? What are you? The sheriff? I’ll just go get another fake. It takes two hours. Tops.
Nicky the tattooed god: Yeah, that’s not going to work either. I’m assuming, since you have the cash and the connections, you got yours from Maisy? She’s an old friend, and she’s not giving you a new one.
Evie: You suck so hard.
Nicky the tattooed god: See you soon J
Evie: No. You won’t.
I shoved my phone in my purse and ordered another drink. I downed it then got one I could gracefully sip on for the rest of this garden party on crack. We didn’t usually stay at Collin’s parents’ house too long. He tended to get bored and restless. He needed to be seen at more than one brunch on a gorgeous summer Sunday. And for the past few months I’d been on his arm at every single one. I knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth, no matter how badly I wanted to punch it in the face.
“Last one, princess. We’ve got to get out of here.” Collin’s grip on my arm was punishing, his tone irritated, but his smile flawless. “I have a round of golf with Thad and Britton.”
Good. Then I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of the afternoon playing nice to get what I needed.
“After golf you’ll need to meet us for drinks at the club.”
Well, shitballs. I put a loving look in my eyes. “No, thank you.”
His grip tightened, his fingers digging into my bare arm. “You play your part, or I’ll stop playing mine. Is that understood, princess?”
Logically I knew that I should knee him in the balls and walk away. But my need for the pills wasn’t logical. It was…essential to my survival. I’d never had a problem playing along with Collin before. Our relationship had felt like a game, and we were both in a constant struggle to win the upper hand. After seeing Nicky, though, things had changed. I didn’t want to play anymore.
I kept my sweet smile on my face. “You do know that you aren’t the only person in Dallas that has extra pills lying around, right?”
“I’m the only person in Dallas who knows exactly how desperate you can become when you’re out.” He moved his lips to my ear. “And I’m the only person who knows exactly how gutted you would be if your daddy found out about your little problem.” He placed a soft kiss on my neck and I clenched my teeth to keep from gagging.
I pulled away, meeting his steely gaze. “I don’t think my daddy would be the only one disappointed to learn about their golden child’s extracurricular activities.” I glanced past him, sending his parents a small wave. Checkmate, asshole.
“Fine.” I refused to wince when his short nails dug into the flesh on my arm. I would never give him the satisfaction. “You come and be on your best rock princess behavior for drinks at the club, and I’ll give you the Vicodin.”
“I go home alone after the club? And I don’t have to come anywhere near your dick?” I wanted to make sure we were on the same page. I’d learned my lesson when it came to Collin Metcalf.
“Yes, princess.” He wrapped both arms around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard-on. “I’ll give you the pills, and I’ll get the help to take care of this before we leave.”
“Deal.” Drinks at the club wasn’t such a bad time. His friends were the worst, but in a completely reality TV sort of way. They made me laugh, and they worshipped the ground I walked on. I could use an ego boost after Nicky had pretty much told me I was no longer attractive to him.
Collin took my hand, leading me back over to his parents. “Would you guys mind keeping my girl company for me? I need to go return a call from the dean.” I busied myself with my mimosa so I could hide my eye roll in my glass. The dean? How fucking pretentious could one college student be?
“Of course, dear.” Mrs. Metcalf took my hand from Collin, looping it around her own. “You take your time—I want to introduce Evie to the ladies on the hospital board.”
Fucking fantastic.