“Then go get a drink,” Heath told him.
Benny didn’t budge. “Actually, I have a question.”
Of course he had a question.
“What the hell do you want?” Everley groaned.
Benny laughed, and she knew it was because her crackling voice gave her away. He knew she was upset now, and he was going to use it to his advantage. “You were so quick to run back to the man you shattered… I’d ask if it was worth it, but the fact that you’re always crying tells me all I need to know.”
Everley pushed away from Heath and turned around, not even caring that she was a complete mess. She felt him gently take hold of her wrist, and figured he was anticipating another fight.
He was probably right to think she might get violent.
“Don’t hold her back, Heath,” Benny taunted. “She’s not a threat.”
His first statement may have caused her to snap, but this one lit a fire in her. “If you're so satisfied with your new whore, why are you back in town? Seems you have some issues of your own if you’re so hellbent on following me around. Where is she anyway? Not good enough to bring home to Mommy?” She hoped the comment would do some damage. Benny’s mother had walked out when he was young. It was still a sore spot in the Masters family.
He barely flinched. “As a matter of fact, she's in New York. Waiting for me and dad to return so we can have a real wedding.” Benny’s smug grin widened when Heath pulled her back.
“Maybe your father could stay there with you,” Heath suggested. “I'm sure once the town realizes how nice it is without him, they won’t want him back.”
“Oh, I'm sure he'll want to stay,” Benny agreed. “But not because he wants to do you, or this stupid town, any favors. He'll want to be around his grandkids.”
Everley stepped back a bit, Benny’s words like a knife to her heart.
“That's right,” he said coldly. “Jane's giving me everything you never could.”
“I sure hope you know how to run,” Heath warned.
Benny’s eyes snapped towards Heath. “Why's that?”
“Because I can't hold her back forever,” Heath stated. “And believe me when I say that I’m not even going to try.”
“She's not dumb enough to attack me again,” he taunted.
No, but with enough provoking, Heath might, she thought. She turned to Heath, thankful that his attention went to her and not the asshole trying to start a fight. “He's not even worth it,” Everley said, doing her best to remain calm.
“All right,” Heath whispered. “Let's go. Before one of us does something we regret.” They both knew Benny wouldn't throw the first punch, and if the asshole insisted on continuing, one of them would.
“Oh, I wouldn't regret it,” she muttered, “but like I said; he’s not worth it.”
***
Benny didn’t follow them back into the bar, though Heath suspected it wouldn’t take him long to come inside. There was safety in numbers though. With so many people, and their own group being fairly large, he would be a fool to attract so many witnesses.
Heath brought Everley over to the table where their group had settled back down. Brandi, Harper, and Gabriella stood when they saw her.
“I'm fine, I'm fine,” Everley waved them off. She stuck by Heath, allowing him to give her comfort. He counted it as a small win, but a win, nonetheless.
“No,” Brandi said as the three of them surrounded Everley, “you're not. What happened?”
“Benny happened,” Heath said, as Brandi pulled her away and into a hug. He could see Everley’s panic as their friends tried their best to help.
“Ladies-”
“Come on,” Harper said. Whether she was ignoring Heath or just didn’t hear him, he wasn’t sure. “Let's get you all cleaned up.”
“I’m fine,” Everley insisted, her voice sounding a bit on edge. “I just want to sit down.”
“Hey,” Heath tried to get through to the women. “Don't crowd her.”
“Stop,” he heard her say, her voice small and weak. Again, the plea fell on deaf ears.
“Don't crowd her!” he shouted.
“Knock it off!” Gabriella scolded him.
“Leave her alone!” Heath exclaimed. “You’re not helping her by smothering her!”
“Home,” Everley said, “I want to go home.”
“Just sit down,” Harper said. “You’ll be okay in a minute.”
“No,” she stated, her voice firm as she squeezed her way out of the circle.
“Evie,” Heath took her by the hand and helped her find some space. He earned dirty looks from the three other women. “Just breathe, we'll get you home.”
“She came with us,” Harper answered. She was still scowling at him.
“Jesus Christ,” Ryan swore.
Heath was about to lay into him for making things worse, but noticed he wasn’t paying any attention to Everley’s plight. Owen swore next and Heath looked over to see what the commotion was about. Benny was not only heading into the club, but he was headed straight for their group.
“He’s got balls,” Owen stated, “I'll give him that.”
“Or a death wish,” Heath muttered under his breath.
“So, you just walk away when I'm talking to you?” Benny asked.
“You knew damn well the conversation was over,” Heath laughed. “If you were a smart man, you wouldn't have come in here looking for more trouble.”
“If you were a smart man, you wouldn't be wasting your time on damaged goods,” Benny shot back.
“How about, instead of insulting the lady in an attempt to get a rise out of me, you grow a pair and throw the first punch?” Whatever game Benny was trying to play didn’t matter anymore. Heath was done. The sooner Benny left town, the better.
“Enough!” Ryan stood up. Even off duty, Heath knew he couldn't allow a brawl to break out. Even though he was certain Ryan was just as eager to punch Benny as anyone else. “Benny, you need to leave.”
“You can't make me,” Benny protested.
“I’m a deputy,” Ryan reminded him, “and that means I can. You're here to start trouble and I can't have that. So, you have two choices, you can leave willingly, or I can escort you out. We can even go with a third option, and I can call whoever’s on duty tonight. I’m sure the Sheriff will love that. He already hates this place.”
“What about your buddy?” Benny asked. “He's egging me on! How about being fair and impartial?”
“Relax, Ryan,” Heath said, not wanting to cause any problems for his friend. “I'll leave too.”
Everley looked up at him, “Can I get a lift?”
“Of course,” he nodded. He'd actually hoped one of the girls would take her home. The truce was still fragile between them, but she asked and he couldn't find it in himself to deny her.
He never could deny her anything.
Benny stood still, as if he wasn't about to leave, but when Heath and Everley started making their way to the door, he could hear Ryan making sure Benny was shown the way too.
After he and Everley got into the car, Heath watched his friend keep Benny occupied for a few moments. “He's making sure the bastard doesn't follow us,” Heath informed her when he realized what was happening.
“Doesn’t matter,” Everley mumbled. “He knows where Ryan and Harper live, and I'm sure he's figured out I'm staying there.”
“I won't let him bother you,” he said. “And don't take any of his words to heart. He doesn’t have a clue what he's talking about.”
“Thank you.” She couldn’t shake Benny’s remarks though. Was he hinting that his girlfriend was actually having a baby? Or was it just some more of his usual bluster?
Chapter 9
Everley woke up and realized she had fallen asleep on the couch, Heath beneath her, one of his arms draped around her. The television was on, but almost silent.
“Hey,” she heard him whisper. “It's barely midnight, go back to sleep.”
She
started to relax again as he brushed his fingers up and down her back. The night had been so chaotic, that after they left, she felt like she was in a fog. It took her a few moments to remember he said he wouldn't let Benny bother her again, and a few more after that to remember that she'd asked him to stay until her friends returned home.
The time for avoidance was long over, Everley decided. Though she wasn’t quite sure what exactly that meant now. Heath had said he wanted to be friends, but the way he was holding her said something much different. As right as it felt to be in his arms though, there was still a lot of hurt between them.
“You’re not going back to sleep, are you?” he asked with a light chuckle.
“No,” she admitted. “I don’t think I can.” It wasn’t for lack of trying though. Her eyelids were heavy and she was beyond exhausted, but her mind was headed into overdrive.
Heath would want to talk again. Would he think she was leading him on? Was she leading him on? Maybe he would just want to kiss her again. Knowing Heath, he wouldn’t be satisfied with just kisses. If he was here, finding his way back into her life, she could only guess that he’d want it all at some point.
As terrifying as it seemed, she’d be lying if she said that a part of her didn’t want it too.
Right now though, she didn’t want to discuss the future of their truce, nor did she want to discuss all the ‘what ifs’ and possibilities. She just wanted to be in the moment. Where she felt safe, wanted, and maybe even loved. There was no need to complicate things further right now.
“Do you have any plans on Friday?” he asked, cutting through the silence that had fallen between them.
“No...” she said quietly, wondering if he even remembered what was coming up that next week. “Are you… asking me out on a date on...” She didn't want to finish the thought, because he couldn't be that insensitive, could he?
“On our daughter's birthday?” he finished for her. “Of course not. It's just… I usually do a little something every year for her. I thought… since you're here, we could do it together.”
“I usually get a cupcake and a candle,” Everley said.
“Me too,” he said, barely above a whisper, like he couldn't believe they'd been doing the same thing all these years without even knowing it. “Look, I've got class and practice, but our game is on Saturday, so we don’t run as long the night before. Why don't we go out during my lunch and pick up some cupcakes, and then I'll come get you after school?”
“I'd like that,” she said.
***
“Someone's in a good mood this morning,” Harper eyed Everley, who was already at the table, eating breakfast.
“I'm probably the only one who isn't hung over,” she grinned while avoiding Harper’s insinuation. After casting a glance at the clock, she laughed. “How are you even up this early?”
“What happened?” Harper ignored her question and went straight for the jugular.
Everley expected that her friend might be suspicious. Especially since Heath left and she’d gone straight up to bed as soon as Harper and Ryan returned home. Now she was up before noon on her day off and in an uncharacteristically good mood before coffee.
“Nothing happened,” Everley shrugged. “I'm eating breakfast.”
“I meant last night,” Harper insisted.
“You know what happened last night, you were there.” Everley rolled her eyes, not wanting to remember their encounter with Benny. However, she wanted to talk about everything that transpired between her and Heath even less.
“Here!” Harper was visibly frustrated now. “Geez Everley, you just love messing with me don't you?”
She laughed, knowing very well what Harper was getting at. “Come out and say it,” she teased.
“Did you...” Her friend sighed, blushing furiously. Harper’s shyness never failed to amuse. She could be so inappropriate when out with their friends, but on her own, she sometimes acted like a teenager who’d just discovered bad words. “You know… did you...” she made an obscene gesture to convey her point.
“Have sex?” Everley raised an eyebrow. “You’re twenty-two, Harper. You can say it. I’m pretty sure you’re doing it too.” She shuddered at the thought. What her cousin and his wife got up to was something she really didn’t want to think about. “Anyway, you're not going to get your mouth washed out with soap over it. Did we? I guess technically we fell asleep on the same couch. But in the way you're implying? No. He just hung out until you guys got back.”
“So you guys are, what... friends?”
“I don't know,” Everley said, “maybe. Can we keep all interrogations to a minimum, please?”
Harper frowned, her disapproval apparent. “Friends are supposed to talk about stuff like this,” she said.
“We just talked,” Everley sighed, “you asked if anything happened, I said no, and that's that.”
Harper grumbled something, but dropped it after that.
***
“Morning, sunshine!” Brandi greeted Everley on Monday. “How was the remainder of your weekend?”
“Nothing major,” Everley said as she sat down. “Just the usual today. Ryan needs his coffee.”
“Someone came by a little earlier,” she said with a mile wide grin. Everley didn’t have to guess who. “He made sure to put an extra coffee and bagel on his tab.”
“Okay?” Everley wasn’t sure what Brandi was getting at. Why would she care what Heath had ordered?
“For you, silly.” Brandi grabbed a bagel and popped it in the toaster before getting the coffee started.
“Really?” She wasn’t sure why he’d leave breakfast for her.
They hadn’t spoken all weekend. It wasn’t that she was avoiding him this time around. It seemed the second she stopped disliking the idea of running into him, he was nowhere to be found.
“Yeah,” Brandi grinned, “guess Friday wasn't so bad after all.”
“Not you too,” Everley groaned, “nothing happened.”
“I know, I know,” she rolled her eyes, “he gave me the same story. But, he was still making sure you got your breakfast this morning, right?”
Everley blushed as Brandi set the food in front of her, wondering what the heck had gotten into Heath. “Hey…” she mused, “what time does school get out these days?”
“Two thirty. They opted for some early hours a couple years ago,” Brandi said, continuing to put together Ryan's breakfast and coffee, “but baseball practice usually finishes about four.”
“I didn't ask about that,” Everley said.
“No, but I read between the lines,” Brandi winked.
“Whatever,” Everley laughed.
The bells jingled, signaling another customer, and Everley could tell by Brandi's expression, that it wasn't a pleasant one.
“Brandi,” Benny said, “Everley.”
“Benny,” Brandi nodded in his general direction. Everley didn't acknowledge him at all.
He sat down next to Everley, who still refused to pay any attention to him. Whatever his game was today, she wasn't playing.
“Did you need something?” Brandi asked, “Or are you just here to cause problems?”
“Just needed a couple coffees to go,” he said. Brandi went to refill the coffee pot, but kept her eyes on the man. “Hey, Everley?” he asked. “Can we talk?”
“Nope.” Everley didn't even bother to look at him, and she did her best to keep a straight face, but was unable to completely stop the smirk at the idea that he was suddenly trying to play nice with her.
“I'm sorry,” he started, “I shouldn't have said all those horrible things-”
“I said no,” Everley reminded him. “Whatever you have to say, I don't want to hear it, and I don't really care if you mean it or not.” She glanced at Brandi, who looked as if she was sending a mental high-five her way. The brunette returned with Everley's order, giving Benny a dirty look as she placed the bag down. “Ryan said he'd be in later to cover it,” Everley told her
as she finished the last of her bagel and collected Ryan's breakfast.
“Sounds good,” Brandi stated. She looked over at Benny again, “New pot is brewing, it'll be a few minutes.” The simple phrase sounded as if it were a death threat coming from her harsh tone. Everley wasn't looking, but out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw the man wince.
“See you around, Brandi,” she said as she got up and made her way towards the door.
“Jane dumped me,” Benny blurted out.
Oh. So it was just bluster.
Everley didn't even turn around, “I'd like to say I'm sorry, but I really can't find it in me to feel bad for you,” she said as she left the shop. To say she felt like a million bucks would be an understatement. For a Monday, things were looking pretty good. She walked the short distance to the Sheriff's station, and once there, she gave Ryan his breakfast. He seemed eternally grateful for the coffee.
“Brandi is going to kill me with all this delicious food,” he said, “but I can't resist.”
“Thought you had to be in relatively good shape to be a cop,” Everley teased.
Ryan shrugged. “You know me. I have the unnatural ability to eat whatever I want without gaining an ounce.” He laughed when she rolled her eyes at him, then seemed to notice her lack of food.“Didn't you get anything this morning? Usually you've got half a bagel in your mouth and a coffee ready to go.”
“I ate at the shop while Brandi fixed your stuff up,” she said, “ran into Benny too.”
“Oh really?” Ryan frowned, knowing that was the last thing anyone wanted.
“I guess his girlfriend dumped him,” she said, a big smile on her face. “And get this, the idiot tried to apologize to me.”
“Tried?”
“I told him I didn't want to hear it,” she shrugged, “he's only apologizing because he's desperate.”
Ryan looked at her for a moment, and she figured it was probably because he was trying to decide if she had been crying or not. “And you're all right?”
“I'm fine,” she assured him. “After Friday, I decided it was stupid to let him get to me. Besides, it seems to really bug him when I pretend he doesn't exist. I'd be lying if I said that didn't make me happy.”
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