I sighed and smiled at her. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
She took a bite of a cheese puff and smiled. “Wait, I thought you two didn’t have sex last night.”
“We didn’t.”
“Ooh, did he go down on you?” she asked.
I blushed. “God, Danni, no.”
“Well, what did he do?”
I don’t know why this was embarrassing to me to talk to Danni about this kind of stuff. She knew the ins and outs of my relationship with Scott, but I was having trouble admitting to her that he’d gotten me off with his hand alone. “He…used his hand,” I said, looking down at my nails.
She squealed. “And? How was it?”
I smiled timidly. “Incredible,” I said, and she bounced up and down excitedly. “I swear it was never like that with…” I trailed off.
“With Scott,” she answered for me. “I know, Ev. You don’t like to talk about it, but I really think you need to.”
“It just hurts too much. I feel like a fool for believing anything he said to me.”
“Well, you were in love. How were you supposed to know he’d flip like that?”
I sighed. “I can’t believe I fell for him. He always seemed so patient and sweet and all of the foreplay…it was good,” I said. “I thought the butterflies I felt were normal. In hindsight it was my body trying to warn me not to take things that far.”
“I’m sorry, Ev.”
“Well, I have no one to blame but myself.”
“Everleigh, you are not to blame for what Scott did! You told him you didn’t feel comfortable sleeping with him again after that first time and that you needed time to figure things out. You did the right thing for you and it’s not your fault he went crazy over it!”
“He texted me Friday night after Ryder’s visit hit the news,” I admitted.
Her eyes went wide. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well, we’ve both been a little busy,” I said, smiling weakly. “Ryder saw the message and flipped out. He wants to know what happened with Scott, but I haven’t been able to tell him yet. This is the most I have talked about Scott in three years.”
“Well, you’re going to have to eventually, especially since Scott is messaging you. If you are going to go into a relationship with Ryder full force, you both need to be on alert. Scott isn’t going to let you go that easily.”
“Well, I’m not his to hold on to anymore. He broke up with me because I didn’t want to sleep together again until I was sure I loved him, so he gets no say in who I choose to date now.”
Danni smiled at me. “Good for you, Ev. Still though, be careful. Remember what happened that night outside the bar last year when that guy asked for phone number?”
I cringed, remembering Scott pressing the guy up against a wall and punching him repeatedly in the stomach. I didn’t understand Scott…we slept together, but afterward I politely asked him if we could wait before we did it again because of all my fears. He flipped out, called me about every name you can think of, and dumped me right then and there.
The next day he sent me a text message threatening that he would make sure no one else would want me because he couldn’t have me. I didn’t understand him at all and it’s taken me a long time to try and get past it. “I remember. I just wish he’d leave me alone.”
“That’s why you should tell Ryder about it. He has the means to keep you safe from him.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll think about it. Right now I want to hear more about Beau and your multiple orgasms,” I said, smiling. Thankfully, she took the bait and our conversation moved to Beau and away from my crazy ex boyfriend. Danni was right…I would have to tell Ryder about all of this eventually, but for now I just wanted to focus on my dad and trying to get through all of the sadness to come. I just hope I didn’t completely fall apart.
Just as Danni was getting really personal and telling me about how big Beau’s junk was, my bedroom door burst open. It was Trish, looking as white as a sheet. My heart immediately sank. “Trish, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Max. You need to come quick.”
I flew up out of bed and took off down the hallway to his room. “What happened?” I asked, frantic.
“I went to check on him and he had blood coming out of his nose and mouth. I’m going to call his doctor but I think you need to be with him right now,” she said, her tone suggesting this might be one of the last times I would have with my dad.
I heard Danni say behind me, “I’m going to call Beau and have him let Ryder know.”
I shook my head. “No, Danni, don’t. He just left and he’s got his own shit to deal with right now. I’ll call him later,” I said.
“Ev, he will want to be here.”
I shook my head. “I can’t let him watch this again, Danni.” She stared at me with a confused look on her face as I took a deep, terrified breath and I put my hand the door knob leading to his room, petrified of what I’d see when I walked in. Selfishly, I thought to myself, Ryder, I need you…
Acknowledgements
Okay, I’m going to try really hard and not get all mushy this time…I’ll keep this short and sweet. Thank you so much to all of my readers!!! I can’t believe how many wonderful people I have met since I first hit that “publish” button four months ago. Some of you have even become friends I’ll have for life…I love you all!
Thank you over and over to my fierce little band of Rebels…Dawn, Sam, Leanne, Tiffanie, and Fiona…thanks for having my back and helping pimp me out to the masses! I love you goddesses!!!
To my Facebook family (most of them talented authors themselves)…Sidda, Melissa, Cassandra, Danielle, Ryter, Chris, Kimberly, Kat, T.H., Terri, Georgie, Julie, and everyone I am forgetting…please forgive me, my brain is mushy! I love you all, you are insanely talented, and I am so happy to know you!
Thank you again to my wonderful salon family…I love you all so much and I am so proud to be on a team as awesome as ours!
Thanks to my family that has supported me. You know who you are.
Thank you to my husband and daughters for your continued support. I love you all!
Last but not least…thank you again to Casey. You will continue to inspire me daily and I will forever miss you. I love you, girl!
I encourage all of you to please donate to a special trust account set up for my late friend Casey Kreb’s children. She was an amazing mother and would have done anything for her children and I want to help them now that she can’t. The information is below…please donate if you can. Do your part to put an end to domestic violence!
PrimeTrust Financial Account #980224
3700 W. Bethel Ave.
Muncie, IN 47304
Phone Number: (765) 281-6003
www.primetrustcu.com
I love, love, LOVE to hear from and interact with readers and other authors, so look me up! I am on Facebook (Mellie George), I have an author page for you to “like” (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Mellie-George/329475417182667?bookmark_t=page), I’m on Twitter (@AuthorMellieG), and I am also on Instagram and Pinterest! Come and stalk me, you know you want to, lol! See you all again soon!
Also available from Mellie George:
Say Yes (Glenbrook Girls Series) Book 1
Back To Life
Coming Soon from Mellie George (in NO particular order):
Rouge (Bad Blooded Rebel Series #2)
Renegade (Bad Blooded Rebel Series #3)
Redeemed (Bad Blooded Rebel Series #4)
Come Back Home (Glenbrook Girls Series) Book 2- coming in 2014
Fighting For Us (Sequel to Back To Life)-coming in 2014
Ryder’s Playlist
1. Don’t Cry- Guns ‘N Roses
2. Mystify- Saving Abel
3. Bad Blooded- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
4. Over and Under- Egypt Central
5. Anywhere But Here- Five Finger Death Punch
6. Miles Away- Memphis May Fire feat. Ke
llin Quinn (I’ll be honest…this was playing when I wrote Ryder and Everleigh’s goodbye at her door steps, can you tell?)
7. Adrenaline- Shinedown
8. The Hangman’s Body Count-Volbeat
9. I Will Be Heard- HateBreed
10. Off With Her Head- Ghost Town
11. Can’t Forget You- My Darkest Days
12. Next To You- Buckcherry
13. Young- Hollywood Undead
Everleigh’s Playlist
1. Sparks Fly- Taylor Swift
2. Downtown- Lady Antebellum
3. Between The Raindrops- Lifehouse featuring Natasha Beddingfield
4. 93 Million Miles- Jason Mraz
5. Tennessee- The Wreckers
6. Who Are You- Carrie Underwood
7. When You’re Gone- Avril Lavigne
8. Watch Over Me- Hanson
9. Don’t You Wanna Stay- Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson
10. Brave- Sara Bareilles
11. Begin Again- Taylor Swift
12. Drunk On You- Luke Bryan
13. Ready- Kelly Clarkson
Excerpt from Rogue: Bad Blooded Rebel Series #2…Coming in December 2013!
I rolled my eyes. “Why does everyone think I can’t handle this? My dad’s gone and nothing is going to change that.”
“We know, but we also know how bad you slid off the rails when he died. You were even worse when your mom passed on too. You fucked anything that moved and nearly drank yourself to death. We are just worried that watching her dad die will send you into a tailspin again,” Jude said, and for the first time in a while he looked genuinely worried about me.
“Are you really going to sit there and judge me for sleeping with too many women, Jude? Really?” I growled, and he huffed. “Look, you guys, I’m fine. I’m not some punk ass kid anymore, so don’t think I will break down when Max passes away. I’ve been through this and I know what to expect. However, Everleigh hasn’t and she’s going to need someone there who lo…uh, cares about her,” I said, catching myself before I said I loved her. I know that Kris, Steve, and Jude all picked up on my slip but they thankfully had enough sense to keep it to themselves.
Before anyone else could say anything, Beau came walking into the recording booth, his face full of concern. My heart jumped. “Beau? What’s up man?” Kris asked.
“I just got off the phone with Danni,” he said, looking straight at me.
“Just spit it out, man,” I said, my palms starting to sweat.
He blew out a breath and said, “It’s Everleigh’s dad. I guess the nurse found him bleeding from his mouth and nose and they don’t think he’s gonna hang on much longer.”
Panic shot through me. “Fuck! I’m leaving. Now,” I said, looking around for my jacket and the keys to my Escalade.
“Ryder, you can’t drive back to Indiana alone like this. I’ll go with you,” Beau said.
“We’ll all go. Fuck those two shitheads,” Jude chimed in. “We can have a couple of guys load our shit up and bring it to Indiana and we can record there.”
“That sounds like a plan. I’ll take care of everything guys. You all go,” Steve said, clapping me hard on the back and handing me my jacket.
“Why didn’t Everleigh call me?” I asked Beau.
“Well, she’s a little preoccupied right now, Ryder,” he said.
“I understand that, but Danni could have at least called my phone and let me know what was going on.” He looked like there was something he didn’t want to tell me and I was starting to panic. “Beau, what is it? Did he already die?” I asked, a lump forming in my throat.
He shook his head. “No, not yet. It’s just…aw, fuck. Everleigh told her not to tell you.”
“She did what?” I asked, feeling as if I’d punched in the gut. “How could she not want me there?”
“I don’t know man. She’s a pretty selfless girl, Ryder. Maybe she just wanted to grieve alone, or maybe she didn’t want to burden you with her problems when you have problems of your own.”
“Well, my problems don’t mean shit right now. Putting out a rushed album to please a couple of rich pricks doesn’t concern me at all when Everleigh is going through something like this. Where the fuck are my keys?” I shouted, looking around the room frantically.
“Calm down, man. Here,” Jude said, tossing me my jacket. “Keys are in your pocket.”
“All right, I’m leaving,” I said, sliding into my jacket and heading for the door.
“Wait, Ryder. Let one of us ride with you,” Beau said. “You shouldn’t drive alone on an icy highway when you’re panicked like this.”
“I’ll go,” Kris offered. “The rest of you guys can go in the SUV with John.”
Everyone nodded, and I said, “Whatever. Let’s go,” I said, and Kris followed behind me as I opened the door and heard Steve call out a goodbye.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Acknowledgements
Rebel (Bad Blooded Rebel Series) Page 11
