Page 64 of Extraction Play

“It’s not her fault,” Eva said, even though those weren’t the right words. They were both consenting adults, and they’d both chosen this.

Micah pointed at her. “And you.”

Eva swallowed down the spike of fear. She couldn’t lose him. He was the only family she had left.

“I was stupid enough to believe we were getting closer. That you were staying here because you wanted to spend more time with me. Clearly, I was mistaken.” He balled his hand into a fist and thumped it against the doorframe. “Fuck. I need to get out of here.”

With that, he stepped out of sight, and his footsteps thundered in the opposite direction.

Shit, shit, shit.

Eva slid from the bed even though she could barely feel her feet hit the floor. Her chest spasmed, but she forced her breath to even. She’d piled her clothes by the end of the bed, but right now, she needed something simple. “Can I borrow some clothes?” she asked, shocked her tone remained steady.

The creak and click from the front door echoed through the condo.

Micah had left.

Her stomach dropped as she rooted through Pixie’s dresser. She found a pair of yoga pants and a stretchy blue tee. When she pulled on the clothes, her arms were fucking shaking.

“What just happened?” Parker appeared in the doorway and glanced between the two of them. “Well, I should’ve seen that coming.”

“We hadn’t expected it.” Pixie sat on the bed with the sheet curled around her, haphazardly draping her. “But Micah—”

“He caught us in here,” Eva said, her voice coming out sharp with the anxiety churning through her. “And if I’m not mistaken, he just left.”

“Oh, fuck,” Parker swore, squeezing the doorframe. “Did he say where he was going?” Parker looked like he would bolt in the same direction Micah had, which was what Eva wanted to do. Maybe they could catch up with him, get him to stop and talk so they could sort out this whole mess. Eva’s body vibrated, the need to run after him thump, thump, thumping through her.

Fuck, she’d hurt Micah so badly.

The look of betrayal on his face carved through her chest. She’d failed him so much growing up when all he’d ever been was kind. All he’d ever been was supportive, yet he’d had to bear the brunt of Mom and Dad’s casual homophobia by his lonesome.

And when they’d cast her out, he’d welcomed her in with open arms.

This was how she’d repaid him. Bile rose in her throat, and she leaned against the dresser, her breaths coming in a little ragged.

“I wouldn’t go rushing after him.” Pixie’s calmness was a stark surprise, given her best friend had caught them.

“He’s my boyfriend, Pix,” Parker said, a raw edge to his voice. “Of course I’m going after him.”

She sliced the air. “Not like that. I’m not heartless. I have the feeling I know where Micah ran off to.” Pixie let the sheet drop and rose from the bed, stark naked, and went to the dresser next to Eva. Not like Pixie needed to worry about modesty around Parker, since they’d scened together plenty in the past. She tugged out a pair of stretchy red pantsand a black tank top and pulled them on. “Back in college when he needed an escape, he always went to Anarchy Records.”

“Then that’s where I’m heading,” Parker said. “He’s taken me there a few times.”

“I need to go with you,” Eva said. “There are some conversations he and I have been avoiding, and that tactic hasn’t helped either of us.”

Parker folded his arms over his chest, looking massive and intimidating, but Eva knew what a softie he was. “I don’t disagree. And I’m not referring to you and Pixie either. You’re both grown-ass adults and can make your own choices. But Micah finding out you were bi through your folks hurt.”

Eva’s throat squeezed tight. And that was the truth, unvarnished. Micah had deserved more of an effort from her for a long time now. She’d been so consumed by running from her hometown and her parents that she’d left him behind inadvertently. “I know. So now I need to make it up to him.”

Silence settled between them, loaded and intense, the sort that dwelled before imminent action.

Pixie’s phone ringing sliced through the quiet.

She snagged it from the tabletop and accepted the call. “Hello?”

Eva didn’t know who was on the other end, but Pixie’s eyes widened, and she gripped the phone tighter. The call hadn’t been good news.

“Thank you for contacting me,” Pixie whispered.