Breathe into Me

by Fawkes, Sara

  I bit my tongue against saying anything as Ashley tugged at his arm. “Macon …”

  He rounded on her, shaking her off. “Don’t fucking tell me what to do.”

  Ashley staggered sideways into a magazine rack, spilling several candy bars and tabloids to the floor. She looked stunned by what happened, and I stepped between her and Macon “Hey, leave her alone!”

  The commotion had attracted unwanted attention, but I held my ground, glaring up at Macon. He’d noticed the additional stares from shoppers, and the charm slid over his face like a mask. “She just slipped,” he said reasonably, moving around me to pull Ashley to him. “You had a little too much to drink this morning, haven’t you, baby?”

  She seemed unsure, a bit confused, and my heart went out to her. I remembered a few times when I’d “slipped” or “made a scene” while out in public with Macon. His smile could charm people into not believing their own eyes, that no, he hadn’t pushed her, she’d just tripped. It was never his fault; he was the hero of those situations. You were the clumsy one, the stupid one, he was just trying to make you a better person. From there, it was so easy to fall into the trap that a cuff to the head, bruises on my arm, were for your own good. Such bullshit.

  The sudden knowledge that someone could twist power like that made me sick.

  “He pushed you, Ashley,” I said, staring at her. “It’s not the first time, either, right? It only gets worse the longer you’re with him.”

  He turned Ashley’s face to his, giving her an angelic smile that had no business being on the face of such a devil. “I’d never hurt you like that. It’s all lies, baby.”

  He laid a soft kiss on her lips, and I knew I’d lost when she clung to him. He hugged her close and gave me a triumphant look that only made me sick to my belly. Turning away, I pushed the cart quickly up a nearby aisle, wanting only to get away. This time, they didn’t follow, but the memory of them together stuck with me.

  “God, what an asshole,” Clare muttered beside me.

  “Come on, let’s take this home.” Steering the cart back toward the front of the store, I made a beeline for the register. It shamed me to think I’d once been so stupid to put up with that, and I wanted to be away from them both as quickly as possible.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Everett

  The party was in full swing, but Everett couldn’t take his eyes off the dark-haired girl across the pool.

  Lacey was wearing a bikini and lounging on a chair with her friend Clare. She laughed at something her friend said, leaning over to whisper something, then as if feeling his gaze she looked across the pool. Her smile widened and she raised her hand in a little wave, which he returned.

  “What’s got you so quiet today?” Trent asked from beside him. The blond boy was dripping wet but didn’t care, plopping himself down beside his friend.

  “Yeah, I’m just thinking about what’s coming next when summer’s over.”

  “Yeah,” Trent echoed, then followed Everett’s gaze. “Brother, if you were anyone other than my best friend, I’d be all over that.”

  Everett knew his friend was teasing, but that didn’t stop a stab of jealousy from tearing through his heart. Trent must have seen it as well because he elbowed Everett hard in the ribs. “Seriously, what’s up with you?”

  Sighing, Everett tore his gaze from Lacey and stared up at the sky. Words warred inside him as he tried to figure out what to say. “I’m just nervous?”

  “About what?”

  Everett leaned his head sideways and gave Trent a droll look. Realization dawned on his friend’s face. “Ah,” was all he said, and they sat in silence for a moment.

  “Have you ever been given something you don’t deserve?”

  The feeling behind the question was far more than he normally revealed, but the guilt was eating him alive. More than anyone else there, Trent knew Everett’s story, knew what had happened in his past. If there was anyone he could go to for advice, it was Trent, but right now his normally talkative friend seemed unsure what to say. That only made Everett more uncertain. He cleared his throat. “They say we’re punished by our sins, not for them. Maybe it would be better if …”

  “Goddamn, you’re being all emo and shit today. So my dad’s thinking of asking you to stay on permanently.”

  Everett blinked at the sudden topic change. “Huh?”

  “We talked about it yesterday and my dad thinks you need full-time work. He’s serious about asking you to stay on after summer’s done.”

  “I…” Everett didn’t know what to say. “I didn’t realize that was an option.”

  “Well, it’s not glamorous work, but you’ve already got two years of a business degree under your belt. Might get you off the work sites quicker than most, and since he likes you, he figures he’d give you an option besides college.” He shrugged. “He wants to help you out.”

  “My family hasn’t lived here in a long time.”

  “Never doubt the good ol’ boy system; it can span generations. They used to be good friends way back when, so now it might work out for you. No need to make any decision now, just throwing it out there.”

  It was as though a huge weight had been lifted from Everett’s shoulders. Until that moment, he hadn’t quite realize how desperately he wanted to stay in Oyster Cove. This summer, this free and unencumbered summer, was the first taste of true normalcy he’d had in what felt like forever, maybe for the first time ever. His life here though—the happiness—was fragile, and easily broken. He felt at home here, like maybe he could start his life anew, but he wasn’t sure he deserved any of it.

  He didn’t say anything to Trent, just drank his beer and watched Lacey. The small white bikini showed off her curves, but she was no more risqué than any of the other girls milling around the pool. Even though there were some pretty girls at the party, none of them captured his attention like Lacey. Her friend left and she laid back on the chair, enjoying the sunshine. A couple local boys walked past, craning their necks to admire the view, and Everett’s fingertips dug into the concrete beneath him.

  A hand cuffed him upside the head, enough to knock him off balance. “Snap out of it. You’re young, you’ve got a kickass girlfriend, and summer’s not over yet.” Before Everett could answer, Trent plucked the bottle from his hands. “And I’m cutting you off before you get any more annoying,” he added, guzzling the last of Everett’s beer.

  “Hey!”

  Trent smirked, and then nudged Everett with his shoulder. “You gonna stay over here like a lovesick asshat, or go talk to the girl before she falls asleep?”

  As he asked the question, Lacey stood up and made her way back toward the guesthouse. Everett rose as well. “See you in a bit,” he said, snagging his friend’s full beer and grinning at Trent’s squawk. Lacey disappeared inside and Everett quickened his pace.

  Most of the food and drink was just outside the main house beside the barbecue, but they’d left the guesthouse open to hold the extra food. Few people stood around it, most milling about the pool, and Everett moved in quietly, looking around for Lacey. Just as he’d expected, she was over in the small kitchen, pulling items out of the refrigerator. From behind, she looked positively delicious, and Everett felt his cock stir. He snuck up behind her, listening as she hummed the same tune that’d been blaring outside a moment ago, then put his hand on her waist and leaned down to kiss her neck. “Hey, beautiful.”

  If he’d been looking to surprise her, he obviously hadn’t been sneaking well enough. Lacey turned in his arms, grinning up at him. “I was wondering when you’d deign to talk to me,” she said, twining her arms around his neck.

  He dipped his head for a kiss, running his hands over her backside and the thin material of her swimsuit. “You seemed to be having fun,” he murmured against her lips.

  Her smile widened. “Jealous?”

  “Maybe.” He pulled her against him, loving the feel of her silky skin beneath his fingertips. Glancing at the door,
he pulled her sideways into a darker corner of the room, mindful of visitors. “Is it terrible if I want you all to myself?”

  She gave a contented sigh. “Not at all,” she whispered, lifting her lips to his, then stopped when there was a whisper of movement behind them. They both froze, then exchanged looks of surprise when they heard it again. Pulling apart slightly, Everett stepped sideways and peeked around the corner. “Someone’s in there,” he mouthed to Lacey, who covered her mouth with one hand when there was another bump.

  A glance at the dark-haired girl in his arms told Everett that they were thinking the same thing. Creeping sideways, Everett moved around to the closet beside them and wrapped his hand around the doorknob. He waited for another bump, and then jerked it wide open.

  Clare gave a small shriek and pushed away from Andrew, in the process hitting her head against the wall. Lacey peeked around the door, and then smothered a laugh as her friend struggled to fix her clothing. “This isn’t what you think,” she said, then went red as she heard her own words.

  “Fancy meeting you at a place like this,” Lacey said drolly, grinning when Clare stuck out her tongue. Both of them had their clothes on so whatever they’d been planning hadn’t gone too far. Andrew had the same placid expression on his face, but Everett recognized the possessive look the other man gave the blushing girl beside him. He stepped out of the way and let them exit, and heard another smothered giggle from Lacey behind him.

  “Everett, this is Andrew, my boss.” Lacey’s smirk encompassed him as well, but her eyes positively danced when she looked at Clare. “He must be really nice.”

  “I’ll see you outside,” Clare said to Lacey with as much dignity as she could apparently muster, then walked away, pulling the taller boy behind her. Lacey bit her lip until they stepped outside, and then met Everett’s eyes.

  They burst out laughing.

  “Oh my God, did you see her face?” She giggled uncontrollably.

  “They should have been a little more quiet,” Everett pointed out, enjoying the smile on Lacey’s face and her uninhibited glee.

  “Come on, that space is tiny. Anyone would be all elbows in a space like that, it’d be hard not to make noise.”

  Everett waggled his eyebrows. “Care to make a wager on that?”

  The look she gave him sent Everett’s pulse racing, but nothing like the small smile that curled her lips. Grabbing the band of his shorts, Lacey pulled him into the closet, and Everett made sure it closed securely behind him.

  * * *

  “You can wipe that silly grin off your face.”

  Lacey was leaning heavily against Everett, but looked up at him and grinned. “I totally won that wager.”

  “I suppose so if moaning loud enough to be heard through walls counts.”

  “But I still won.”

  She didn’t seem embarrassed in the slightest, almost smug instead, which only made Everett’s grin widen. He pulled her to the couch and let her sit on the arm, then leaned down and kissed her softly. Her lips were swollen by his kisses and she looked thoroughly pleased with herself. A dark red spot stood out on her collarbone, Everett’s handiwork. It awakened something fierce inside of him to see his mark on her, and he wanted to drag her back inside that closet for an encore performance.

  Sighing, and obviously reluctant to leave, Lacey stood back up and went over to the far table where Everett had seen her before. “I need to take this out and head inside to freshen up a bit. Could you check on the drinks?”

  “Yes, ma’am!”

  She gave him a droll look before sauntering outside. Everett watched her leave, eyes fixed on her swaying hips and backside, then, with a grin, followed her out.

  The drinks were on the far side of the pool, right beside Cole and Vance. Cole was leaning up against the wall with two girls under each arm. He leaned his head down to whisper in one girl’s ear and she giggled. The other girl, disliking being ignored, slid her hands along Cole’s belly and a bit lower, teasing the edge of his already low-slung swim trunks. A smug smile slid across his face and he gave her a kiss, egging her on. “You came just in time,” he said as Everett walked in. “The last of the ice just melted. Grab one now if you want it cold.”

  “Apparently I’m in charge of drinks.”

  “Then hop to it.” Cole leaned forward. “You all done in the guesthouse?”

  So much for privacy, Everett thought, shaking his head. “It’s all yours, unless someone else is already inside.”

  “Best get a move on then, the ice is inside the house.” Cole stood up straight, pushing the two girls ahead of him, who tittered but seemed as eager as he was.

  Heading into the kitchen, Everett made a beeline for the kitchen. The large icebox below the refrigerator had two more bags of ice, which would hopefully last them through the afternoon. He pulled them out, dropping each a few times against the tile floor to break it up, then turned around and stopped in his tracks.

  “Hi, Everett.”

  He stared at his sister, hands fisting around the plastic ice bag. “I said you weren’t welcome here,” he growled.

  “I invited her.”

  Everett swung a stunned look over to Lacey, standing off to the side. She stepped toward him uncertainly. “I’d like for you to hear her out,” she said haltingly, her eyes not leaving Everett’s. “Please.”

  “You don’t know what happened between us.”

  “No, I don’t, and I’ve never asked. But Everett, I’m asking you to just hear her out. I don’t know her at all, but I think she’s being sincere.”

  “That’s just it, you don’t know her.” If it had been anyone other than Lacey, he would have gone off about them meddling with his life. As it was, he was barely managing to restrain himself. Just looking at his sister brought up all the old anger, all the old fear. “She’s a good manipulator,” he ground out, not caring whether his sister heard. “Whatever she’s told you is probably a lie.”

  To his consternation, Lacey shook her head. “I don’t think this is a manipulation,” she said, laying her hand on his arm. “Please, Everett, just talk to her.”

  It pissed him off more than anything that Lacey had been taken in by Skye, but those pleading eyes softened something inside his heart. He wanted to talk to his sister like he wanted a hole in the head, but … “I’ll give her one minute,” he muttered, “but nothing more. Then I want her gone.” Lacey looked ready to argue, but he cut her off. “Please. There’s a reason I cut her out of my life.”

  Lacey laid a hand on Everett’s cheek, and he automatically leaned into her touch, needing the comfort. She reached up and kissed his stiff lips, and he saw the understanding in her eyes. “I’ll be outside,” she said, kissing his cheek before stepping aside and disappearing outside, closing the door behind her.

  Silence fell, neither of them wanting to speak first. Everett stared sideways out the window, emotions warring inside him. He needed her gone, away from their family’s house as soon as possible. The happiness, it never lasts does it? “Say what you need and leave, Skye,” he gritted out.

  “Everett, look at me.”

  “Just tell me what you want and—” he roared, but the words turned to ashes in his throat when he finally looked at her. At first, he couldn’t quite comprehend the sight before him: the pale dome atop his sister’s head, the dark hair dangling limply from her fingers. He blinked several times, unable to figure out her angle this time. “What the fuck?”

  “I didn’t want to tell you like this, but now I see that there’s no other way.” Even from their distance apart, he could see the way her jaw trembled as she said, “It’s terminal.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Even as the words came out of his mouth, Everett could tell they lacked any conviction, but Skye’s eyes still widened. “You think I shaved my head and lost thirty pounds to lie to you?” she said in a breathy voice.

  Uncertainty nagged at Everett, but he shook his head, not wanting to listen. “You w
ere always skinny,” he said, swallowing back his doubts. “And if you thought it would get you what you wanted, I wouldn’t put it past you to—”

  “I’m dying, Everett!” Skye’s cry echoed around the large open space, off the wood and tile floors, and through Everett’s head. “I’ve already been through four rounds of chemo, but it wasn’t enough. I didn’t go to the doctor when I started feeling sick, and it was already so advanced.”

  “If you’re sick,” Everett challenged, “why didn’t anyone tell me? Why wouldn’t Mom and Dad say anything?”

  “Because I asked them not to say anything to you.” She swallowed. “I couldn’t bear your rejection at the same time as treatment, having you tell me you’ll be happy I’m gone …”

  A lump formed in Everett’s throat as Skye broke down in tears, leaning against the large dining table. His head was a muddied mess of emotions, but when he looked at the frail girl in front of him, he couldn’t feel anything but a deep sadness. Once upon a time, each of them had been the only family they had. Time and bad decisions had warped them, and apparently Everett wasn’t the only one trying to move past that.

  “There’s got to be more they can do,” Everett said, and his heart squeezed at the stunned surprise in Skye’s gaze. “Other treatments, anything.”

  “There are, but I may have put off going in for too long.” She looked away, her knuckles going white where she held the table. “I thought I deserved to be miserable, to be sick, but I never imagined it would be this bad.” She turned bright eyes up to look at Everett. “You’re not the only one who suffered when Emily died.”

  The sound of her name made Everett tense. “She didn’t die,” he bit out, “she was killed, as surely as if someone had put a gun to her head.” He drew in a shuddering breath, emotions draining away into some black hole. The emptiness was so much easier to cling to, allowing him the chance to breathe. “Emily Hunt’s death was my fault, and I’ll have to live with it the rest of my life.”