The kitchen is as bad as the living room. The entire bar is lined with empty glass bottles and red cups.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry about that. I was pretty drunk last night.” His gaze moves to my legs.
The shorts I’m wearing aren’t that short, but I feel naked with the way he’s looking at me. His gaze slowly moves up to my hips and then lingers on the gap between my shorts and shirt. Oh my God, stop it! I mentally shout. His heated stare is making me want to pull him down to my lips and beg for a kiss.
He finally looks away to gather ingredients: butter, eggs, bacon, and bread.
“You know how to cook?”
“A bit. I can make eggs.” I move from the edge of the bar to stand next to him. “Want some help?” His lips look extra puffy, and his hair is tousled in a way that it looks windblown. Even hungover, he’s gorgeous. I quickly look away before he can see me ogling him.
We get into a rhythm without tripping over each other too much. In twenty minutes, we’re sitting down together to eat.
I’m trying to think of something to talk about, but nothing sounds good enough. “No work today?” I ask when I can’t think of anything else.
“No, but I have to be at the middle school later. I’m the assistant football coach.”
“That’s awesome. Do you like it?”
“To be honest, I didn’t want to take the position. Coach begged me.”
“You must be good at football.”
He shrugs. “It started as a way to release anger. Arden put us all in a sport and slapped us with a shrink.” Sully chugs his orange juice. “I feel like shit. I drank way too much last night.”
“When Arden said you guys were adopted, I assumed it was when you were babies, but it doesn’t sound like that’s the case.” Finishing the last of the eggs, I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand.
“He didn’t even have Ryan when he was a baby.”
“He didn’t?”
“No, but Ryan never talks about it. He adopted me when I was eleven, but I moved in when I was seven because Arden hired my aunt to work as Ryan’s nanny.”
“Why didn’t you live with your parents?”
“They died in a boating accident. My aunt became my guardian.” He rolls his eyes and then mumbles, “She shouldn’t have been guarding anyone.”
Arden telling me they didn’t have an easy life makes more sense now. I watch as Sully pulls his phone from his pocket.
“Ryan and Brent left school early; they’re headed to Nick’s.” He looks up at me. “It’s the local hangout spot. There are pool tables, an arcade, and depending on who’s working, alcohol. Wanna go?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I bring my plate to the sink. “You should go, though.”
Sully follows me, his arm brushing against mine. “I’ll talk to Ryan; he’s in his head right now.”
I look up at him and frown. “I doubt anything you say will help. He hates me.”
“He’s protective of his family. Like I said, we don’t trust easily. Let me handle Ryan.” He runs a hand through his messy hair. “I’m gonna chill downstairs. Wanna watch movies or something?”
“Sure,” I say, but hesitate to move. “If Ryan—”
“Ryan will be at Nick’s all day, and I’ll talk to him.”
I let out a breath and bite my lip. “Okay,” I say slowly.
“As long as you’re not lying to me, everything will be okay.”
“Arden’s helping me, that’s all.”
“Come on, then,” Sully says.
I follow him to the theater, where we drop down on the couch closest to the TV. Our legs are inches apart, almost touching, and it’s causing me to sweat. Why do I have to sweat when I’m nervous? Sully doesn’t seem fazed by our proximity.
“Why would Ryan think his dad would... Arden doesn’t seem like the type to mess around with teenagers.”
“He’s not. My dad is definitely not that type of person.” He sighs. “When you have money, you can’t trust people’s intentions. Ryan’s being cautious. Arden and Ryan have known me and Brent since we were kids.” Sully tilts his head to the side, his eyes narrowing. “We’ve never heard about you or his friend in Ohio. Plus, our dad is acting sketchy when we ask about you. Things aren’t adding up.”
I should tell him there is no friend in Ohio. I wouldn’t have to tell him the whole story. My heart begins to beat faster. Sully’s waiting for me to say something. If I tell him there is no friend, will he be mad at Arden for lying? Que the sweat, and lots of it. “There isn’t a friend in Ohio.”
“What?” Sully’s brows dip.
I look down at my lap, my fingers twisting together. “I didn’t want anyone… I don’t… There are things I don’t want to talk about. I’m sorry I made Arden lie.” Sully’s watching me but not saying anything, so I continue. “I was in a bad situation. I couldn’t go home, and Arden was there, offering me a room.”
“Ryan said you were a prostitute. Was that your bad situation?”
“No,” I say in disbelief that anyone would think I could be a prostitute. “I’ve never… No.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe he thinks that. That’s crazy.”
“I had to ask.” He relaxes back against the couch. “And you didn’t make our dad lie. That was a choice he made. If he couldn’t tell us details, he should have said that, not make up some bullshit. Why couldn’t you go home?”
“It wasn’t an option.”
“Will going home be an option for you in the future?”
My brows knit together. “I don’t think so.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I want to go back. Even if I could, things wouldn’t be the same.” I blow out a breath. “And now I’m stuck because of the drug thing. I should have just gone through with—” I clamp my mouth shut. I was about to say I should have gone through with whatever Jeff wanted me to do. Seems like things would have been easier if I had.
“At least Jerry was able to clear the charges.”
“Ryan planted that coke. It wasn't mine.”
“Dad thinks one of Ryan’s friends left it in the car.”
“You don’t think Ryan would do it? I wasn’t even speeding when I got pulled over.”
Sully sighs. “I don’t know… Listen, I’ll talk to him. I believe you. Just no more lying. If there’s something you don’t want to talk about, just say so, okay?”
“Okay,” I agree.
Holding the remote up, Sully turns to face the TV. “Any particular movie?”
“You pick. And, Sully, I hope you believe me. I’m not here for any other purpose than needing a safe place to stay.”
“Then I’m glad my dad found you,” Sully says with a seriousness that makes me feel like crying.
“Thanks,” I say softly.
He scrolls through the free movies. “What’s your favorite genre?”
“I like comedy best, but I’m down for anything besides zombie movies.”
He laughs. “You afraid of a zombie apocalypse?”
“Not afraid, terrified,” I say, completely serious.
“Terrified, huh?” He smiles down at me, and I feel breathless.
How can he make me feel so many emotions with just that smile? I see why my friends were always looking for the next relationship after a breakup or how they could tolerate so much drama. This feeling alone is enough to make me want to do crazy things. Can he feel this between us, or am I insane?
Sully licks his lips. “Emma—”
“What the fuck’s going on? What are you doing, Sully?” Ryan storms into the room.
Chapter 10.5
RYAN
Sully jumps up ’cause he knows I’m about to lose my shit. I saw how close they were sitting. This bitch doesn’t learn. Sully’s up in my face, telling me to calm down, but my eyes are trained on her.
I push Sully back hard enough that he stumbles. “She’s getting in your head, dumbass!” I grab Emma by her upper arm, yanking her to her f
eet. I want to strangle her. This whore drives me fucking crazy. I wrap my free hand around her throat. She’s so weak. It would be nothing for me to crush her.
She whimpers something, but I’m too fucking mad to hear, and I don’t want to hear anything she has to say. I flex my hand, cutting off her ability to breathe. Her blue eyes widen in panic as she claws at my wrist, trying to pull free, but I’m so much stronger.
I don’t care that Sully’s bigger than me or that he’s brushed up next to me. If he’s willing to beat my ass over her, then she’s the ultimate manipulator.
“Ryan, let her go,” Sully growls, moving to grab the whore from me. “You’re hurting her.”
I push Emma toward the door. “Get the fuck outta here.” Tears stream down her face as she runs from the room, from me. My brainwashed brother tries to go after her, but I cut him off at the exit.
“You need to chill the fuck out,” Sully barks, getting up in my face.
“She’s in your head, man. You’re not thinking clearly.”
Sully grinds his jaw, and I think he might actually hit me. “I said to back the fuck off. I talked to her today. She isn’t who you think she is.”
“Bullshit.” This manipulative bitch is not going to fuck with my brother. Pulling out my phone, I scroll to the picture I’m looking for and then hold up the phone for him to see. “She’s messed up, man. I warned you.”
Sully snatches my phone, clutching it in his hand. “When?”
I guess it’s a good thing I changed my mind about showing Dad. This works out better. Dad would have ended up blaming me, saying I pressured her or some shit. I grab my phone back, shoving it into my pocket. “A couple days ago. She was all over me. Brent walked in and took the picture.” I shrug.
“Fuck.” He cracks his knuckles. “Dad lied. She isn’t from Ohio and there is no friend there,” Sully says, and then he storms from the room.
The whore’s going to wish she never tried to fuck with my family.
Chapter 11
Sitting in bed, I hug my knees to my chest. The way Ryan acted downstairs was terrifying and brings back so many memories.
I wake up to shouting. Corey’s blanket and pillow are on the floor, but he’s gone. The whole trailer shakes, and the sound of shattering glass comes from the other side of the door.
Corey rushes into the bedroom, his brown eyes wild. “Emma, we gotta go.” He moves to the window, but it won’t open.
I slip my shoes on. “What’s going on?” I ask, and then flinch as the sound of something big hits the floor in the living room.
“Paul’s fucked up. He brought back some guy from the bar, and he’s beating the shit outta him.” He pulls me into the hall to go out the back door, but a heavy wooden cabinet has been tipped over and blocks the way out. “Shit, we’re gonna have to go out the front. Close your eyes.”
I do as he says, keeping my eyes closed as he leads me by the hand. I can feel and hear the glass crunching under my shoes.
My eyes fly open as I’m yanked forward. The first thing I see is blood. Paul’s standing in front of me with a sinister smile on his face, and his bare chest and hands are covered in blood. The living room is wrecked; all the furniture has been upturned.
Corey pulls me to the side, and that’s when I see the guy on the floor. His body is contorted in a way that can’t be natural, his face… his face is covered in blood, and his eyes are purple and swollen. The poor man gurgles something, and Paul spins around, swinging his booted foot toward the man’s face . I cover my mouth to stop—
“Hello, whore. You’re persistent,” Ryan says, breaking me out of the flashback.
Ryan’s standing at the foot of my bed, my bedroom door wide open. I lean to the side and vomit.
Ryan steps back. “Did you really just do that?”
Wiping my mouth on the back of my hand, I lean against the headboard and squeeze my eyes shut. “Go away, Ryan.”
“What the fuck are you doing with Sully? I saw you two getting comfortable.”
The smell wafting from the floor makes me want to hurl again. “Nothing, Ryan. Get out.”
“Whatever. You’re just a whore. Nobody can believe anything you say, whore.” Ryan grins. “It only took two seconds for Sully to realize you’re full of shit, whore. You can’t get in his head anymore, whore.”
He’s going to do everything he can to make my life miserable. He tried to send me to jail. My anger rises all over again at the thought of being sent to jail for something I didn’t do. I hop off the bed, careful to avoid the vomit. “Stop fucking messing with me!” I ball my hands into fists.
Ryan smirks. “Make me, whore.” He steps closer, putting us chest to chest.
He wants me to make him, but I don’t know how. “Just go.”
Ryan clenches his jaw. “You’re a manipulative bitch. Leave my family alone. There are plenty of men out there for you to fuck with. How about I bring some over for you this weekend at the party?”
“What party?” My mind replays what Ryan had said about letting guys into my room.
“My dad messaged me. He’ll be home tomorrow morning, but then he’s leaving again Friday. I’ll bring a few options for you. Are you excited?” Placing his hands on my shoulders, he leans in, our faces inches apart. I think he’s going to kiss me, but then I’m falling backward.
I land on my ass right in the pile of puke. The disgusting smell fills my nose, and the liquid seeps through my pants.
***
After a shower and vomit cleanup, I sit in bed, contemplating my next move. I’ve spent my whole life running or hiding from my problems, which I don’t think was the wrong thing to do. When your situation isn’t safe, you should find a way out. But I’m stuck here. My only option is to face it.
I head downstairs to an empty but clean house. You’d never know there was a party here last night. I grab a soda from the fridge and pause. I still can’t get over how full Arden’s fridge is. There’s lunch meat, fruit, vegetables, salad mix, biscuits, several types of juice, cheese, yogurt, eggs, and bacon. It’s amazing. I’m tempted to open the freezer and stare at it, but I did that yesterday. I’m sure it looks the same.
I crack open the can, needing the caffeine to relieve me of my headache.
“The sodas aren’t for you,” Brent says, coming in from the garage. “They’re for the party. If Ryan catches you…”
He’s worried what Ryan will do? Trying to boost my confidence, I square my shoulders. “Brent, can I talk to you?”
He crosses his arms. “About what?”
At least he didn’t say no. “I…” I let out a breath, unsure of how to explain my innocence. “Do you think I’m trying to manipulate Arden into giving me money?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think it’s possible I’m not here to do that?”
“Anything’s possible.”
“How can I get you guys to understand that I only came here because I had no other choice?” I know I probably sound desperate. I am. I hate that I’m being accused of lying when I’m not.
“There’s always another choice,” Ryan says from behind, and I whirl around to face him. “Caught in the act,” he says. “You just don’t give up.”
“Trying to clear my name. Yeah, I’m not going to stop doing that,” I say, crossing my arms. You’re a badass, I tell myself. You’re brave and strong. If you keep backing down, he’ll never stop.
“Did you take acting classes, or have you had that much practice at manipulation and deceit?” Pointing a screwdriver at me, Ryan steps closer. His mouth’s a twisted snarl, and I’m gone.
“Back off, Paul.”
Pushing Corey to the side, Paul runs his hand down my face, leaving a trail of wetness, and I know it’s blood; the scent fills my nose.
Corey pushes Paul back. “Fuck off, Paul.”
I go to move toward Corey, but Paul screams, swinging widely. I take a hit to the shoulder, and then my legs are kicked out from under me. I land on
the floor, my tailbone screaming in protest.
“Go, Emma!” Corey shouts, taking a blow to the jaw.
Paul launches himself in my direction. I grab the closest thing to me, a screwdriver. The metal sinks into Paul’s torso without much resistance. Paul’s eyes widen before he shrieks.
He rolls away, clutching his side, cursing like crazy. I hear sirens in the distance as Corey helps me to my feet, and then we both run out the door. He makes a left toward his brother’s house, and I make a right, taking a shortcut through the woods and not stopping until I’m at the tin can my dad rents.
I blink my eyes, clearing away the memory, but the feeling I have now and I had that night are the same: fear. My chest feels tight, like the time I had pneumonia. I can’t breathe right. Ryan’s so close to me that I can feel his body heat. He’s backed me up against the fridge. I’m trapped.
“Ry, I found batteries! Where’d you put the light and the screwdriver? I thought—” Sully pauses in his tracks, taking in the situation, but instead of helping me like I thought he might, he steps next to Ryan, crossing his arms and glaring at me.
Brent’s a few steps back from his brothers, but he’s glaring too. I want to push past them, but I can’t get my legs to work.
“I'm not stupid, whore,” Ryan growls, grabbing my chin and angling it up so I’m looking right at him. “I know what you're playing, and it's a game you won't win.”
“Come on, Ry. Don't mark her up,” Brent says, but Ryan doesn’t move; he doesn’t even blink.
“Wouldn't want her running to Dad, crying about us beating on her,” Sully says, gripping Ryan’s shoulder and tugging him back a few inches.
It’s just enough breathing room to clear the fear from my head and allow my survival instincts to kick in. I bring my hands to Ryan’s chest, pushing with everything I have. With Sully still tugging his shoulder, Ryan stumbles back, allowing me enough room to slip away and run to my room.
Bullies Love and Lies Page 8
