Page 92 of Such A Bad Girl
“That’s not true, and you know it. Avett is responsible for all of this,” Everleigh said, her voice loud and clear. I stared over at her, amazed at how levelheaded she was being about all of this. We’d both carried the burden of this secret for years and finding out we’d had it all wrong was infuriating. I wanted to rip Harlan’s head off. Another part of me felt so fucking sorry for the dude that I almost wanted to hug him.
Seeing him slumped on the floor, knowing she was right, he looked like a broken man.
“He was a fucking prick,” he said. “I wish I could do it all over again.”
“Dude,” I muttered, shaking my head. “What the fuck? This shit is crazy.”
I looked over at West and the others, my head spinning.
“Yeah, what the fuck, indeed.” Harlan sighed, hanging his head in shame.
Chapter Sixty-Five
EVERLEIGH
Theo pulled me into his arms, holding me close as relief flooded over both of us as we clung to each other in my bedroom. Finally alone.
“I thought we’d never get back here,” I whispered, my words muffled by his chest.
“Everleigh,” he whispered, gently stroking my hair. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to leave your side again.”
“I think that danger has passed. I just can’t believe all that shit happened.”
“Me, neither,” he admitted. “All these years and we didn’t know the whole story.”
“I’m so glad we do now,” I said, the relief in my heart palpable. We weren’t murderers, after all.
“Me, too,” he sighed. “I hope Harlan can find some peace.”
“I think he will. Now. Maybe.”
We’d stayed in that room for another hour after hearing the whole story. We’d talked through everything until we found a solution that worked for everyone.
We were all going to work together to make sure Harlan and his sister were taken care of.
Our secrets, now completely revealed to each other and forever tangled up, would never leave that room.
I felt bad for Harlan. I knew what it felt like to not be able to live life on your own terms. The people who knew who I really was were few and far between. I longed to just walk into a grocery store and grab snacks or go alone to see a movie. Instead, I had to don disguises and pretend to be someone completely different.
Sure, Harlan’s situation was way worse, and that’s what made me feel like I needed to do what I could to help him. If all that took was money, then so be it. I was happy to contribute.
Especially if it kept my own secret buried right where it needed to be — in the past.
My heart soared with joy when I realized that one good thing had come out of all of this, and he stood right in front of me with his strong, safe arms wrapped tightly around me.
When Theo bent his head to kiss me, all the tension left my body.
At long last, I was right where I needed to be. His kiss lingered on my lips, warm, gentle and tender.
He pushed me back towards the bed and we tumbled on it together, our limbs tangling in a dance we’d been desperate to return to. His hands were everywhere at once, lifting my clothes away, his skin sliding against mine.
My fingers brushed against the soft hair on his tight chest, pressing against his heart as I looked up into his eyes. He gazed down at me, love pouring from him.
“I love you, Ev. Everything happened so fast and we didn’t get to talk much. But I do love you. I want you in my life now, the way I’ve always wanted you. I just needed to be able to do it without letting go of my friendship with West.”
“I know, Theo, I know,” I said. “He’s my brother, I get it. I love him, too. I don’t know why everything happened the way it did, but I’m glad we’re here now.” I reached up, touching his handsome face and kissing him gently. “We get to be together now. With nothing in the way. Just us. Being happy. Being in love.”
“Yes, Ev,” he whispered, his voice thick with love and desire. “I love you. I love you. I love you. Forever, baby.”