Chapter Twelve
Evie
Four drinks and two hours later, I was still couldn’t shake my irritated, cranky mood. Maykin had disappeared to fuck knows where and Collin was all over me. I knew he was mere seconds away from demanding some attention. I hated sleeping with him. It was duty, not love, hell, not even like, and it made me feel like vomiting. To top it all off, he was shit in bed. Selfish and incredibly uncoordinated.
“Would you stop slobbering on my neck?” I shrugged away from him, not caring one little bit about the anger lighting in his eyes. I could handle him; his bark was always so much worse than his bite.
“What’s with you tonight? You’re being more of a bitch than usual, princess.”
His words were whispered harshly against my ear. Anyone watching us would think he was being flirty, being a guy who wanted his girl. “I’m not in the mood for your shit.” I turned to look at him, putting my hand on his cheek to keep up the constant charade. “Not tonight, dear.” I said it sadly, like a bored housewife. “I have a headache.”
His nostrils flared—that was his tell. The one outward sign that he was losing his cool. Not that I could really blame him. I was his girlfriend, and I was being a bitch. But he didn’t love me any more than I loved him. He was simply more caught up in the lie than I was. “If you aren’t spending the night, I’m finding someone else to take care of this.” He pointed down to his dick and I barely stifled a laugh.
“Have fun.” I raised an eyebrow, a sassy smile on my face. “Wear a condom, and keep it quiet.” I couldn’t have people think that anyone would dare to replace me.
“Fine,” he grit out. “Call you in the morning.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on my cheek, all the while his hand was squeezing my wrist hard enough to leave a bruise. “We have brunch with my parents on Sunday. Wear something that hides all your tattoos, princess.”
“Of course, dear.” I rolled my eyes and got to my feet. I’d play my part. I’d channel a little bit of the old Evie. I’d be polite, kind, and pleasing. I’d dazzle them with my charm and my brain, all the while I’d make sure I resembled a fiancée that would look good in the wedding photos.
I headed toward the front door, nearly drooling at the thought of stepping alone into the warm, dark night. “Where’re you going, Evie?” I was almost there too.
I hung my head for a brief second with my hand still on the doorknob. “Home, Chasity.” I turned around, eyebrow raised as if to say What the fuck do you want?
She crossed her arms over her large chest, fake and a full D, her hip jutted out slightly. “And leaving your poor boyfriend alone here with all the underclassman circling like sharks?”
I schooled my facial expression into one of contempt and annoyance. “Did you need something?” Or are you simply in the mood to get yelled at? I was starting to come down from the Adderall, and I could already feel how bad this crash was going to be. I’d taken too much today, ignored my stomach for too long before eating. Plus, I couldn’t really recall the last time I’d had any water to drink. Only vodka.
“Nope. Wanted to make sure everything was okay between you and Collin. You guys seemed intense back there.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, an entirely fake yet concerned smile on her face.
“We’re fine, Chasity.” We’re as fine as we’ve ever been, anyway. “I don’t feel well, I’m going to go lie down.” And pop two Vicodin and chug the largest bottle of Smartwater known to man.
“Do you need me to drive you back to the house? I can’t believe Collin didn’t offer.” Her eyes were searching, looking desperately for a chink in my armor. For a flaw in my outwardly flawless life. Chasity was the worst kind of fake friend: nice to your face and on her knees praying for your demise behind your back. She wanted my life, but little did she know that was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
“No, thank you though.” I sent her a fake smile to rival her own and then left the party before she could say another word. I walked with my head held high down the front walk, winking at a few people on my way out.
Always leave them guessing, always leave them wondering where you’re going. For all they knew I was headed to another party, a better one. And I can garun-damn-tee you that they’d give their left nut to come with me. Once I was out of eyesight I dug in my bag, pulling out my pill bottle. I stopped under a street lamp and poured the contents into my hand, riffling around, looking for the oblong white ones I knew I so desperately needed.
No. No, no, no. That couldn’t be right. I’d had two more left this afternoon. Hadn’t I? I took one before the tattoo parlor…but I could have sworn that I’d had more in the bottle. I never let myself run out, never. My hands started to shake as I put the pills away. Tears pricked the back of my eyes. What the hell was I supposed to do now?
I couldn’t go back in there and ask Collin for something to help the crash. I’d have to stay. Which meant, I’d have to stay the night with him. My stomach rolled at the thought. No. That wasn’t an option, not now. The tattoo, seeing Nicky, it’d done something to me. I couldn’t be part of my fake life right now. I couldn’t handle it. Nicky had made me weak, he’d flayed me open and now all my nerves were exposed and I couldn’t seem to function.
He did this to me.
And he was the one who was going to have to deal with the fallout.
You reap what you sow, believe me.