Page 44 of From Me to You
“What’s going on?” I questioned.
“Okay, don’t tell him I said anything, but Emmie canceled the show because you got hurt,” Katy blurted out.
My eyes widened. “W-w-hat?”
“Yeah, he didn’t want to leave you alone. Honestly, the band agreed, so no one is really bothered by it. They will have a lot of other opportunities, Evy, so you don’t have to worry. Emmie asked not to tell you anything because he knew you wouldn’t let him stay,” she admitted.
“My brother loves you very much, Evy. You are very important to him,” Lily said, placing her hand on mine.
I understood why he did it. But it hurt to think he lied to me. I felt ambushed by him and the whole gang.
The girls changed the conversation from there. I mostly nodded along as I closed myself off. My heart pounded as I realized how much power Jay had over me. How much he could hurt me. I hated that he lied to me. I hated when people lied to me, especially the people that I loved the most. I didn’t really care about the others—all I cared about was that he lied to me. It hurt. It hurt so bad that I panicked internally. What if Jay decided to leave me one day? Will I even survive?
The guys soon came to pick us up as we headed to the bowling arena in the mall. Mikey was driving the truck while I sat in the backseat with Jay. Matt, Lan, and Lily took Katy’s car.
Jay put his arms around me and pulled me in. “I am asking you again, sweetheart. What’s wrong? Is it your ankle?” he asked, noticing the sullen look on my face. A question he had asked a few times since he picked me up from Lola’s.
“Nothing. My ankle is fine,” I mumbled as I looked out the window.
I could feel Jay getting frustrated beside me. But I didn’t look at him. I was worlds away as dark thoughts crept into my mind. What if he left me one day? Was I stupid to allow myself to make him my entire universe, like he was my sun and me a lowly planet revolving around him? I sighed to myself. The thought that he could hurt me so easily—the thought that he could lie to me so easily—hurt. It hurt so bad.
“Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise?” Mikey joked, peering through the rearview mirror.
“Not now, Mikey,” Jay commented as he exhaled a loud breath.
Mikey nodded.
Soon we arrived at the mall and Jay helped me out of the car. I gripped my crutches. “I will be fine,” I said, refusing his help.
“Evelyn, stop being irrational. You need my help,” he said, waving his hands in frustration.
“I don’t need your help. I have to learn to walk on my own. I can’t depend on you forever,” I said as I took small steps toward the mall. Honestly, I was fine—I was attending regular physio sessions, and soon I will be able to walk without the crutch.
Jay clenched his fist so hard that his knuckles turned white.
We finally made it to the bowling center. I realized I didn’t really feel like bowling. My mood was already depleted, so I was content not to participate. I actually just wanted to go home. I took a seat in the booth by the girl’s side.
“Evy, I am sorry we made you mad. I hate seeing you like this. Please tell me you forgive us,” Katy said with a hopeful smile on her face.
“Yeah, we are sorry we hid it from you.” Lily nodded.
“I am not mad at you guys. You don’t need to apologize to me. I am just not in the mood.”
“Okay, we understand. We love you.” Katy hugged me from the side while Lily leaned her head against my shoulder.
“I love you guys too,” I mumbled.
Jay watched us. His eyes narrowed as he bore his gaze into mine from the opposite booth. I didn’t have the heart to look at those blue eyes that I loved so much. So, I averted my gaze.
Jay parked the truck in my driveway later that night. Lily mumbled a quick goodbye as she shot off to her house from the backseat like she couldn’t wait to get out.
The air around us thickened. It was just us. Him and me. The others have taken Katy’s car because they all lived close by.
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong now?” Jay asked softly.
Suddenly, I was mad. I was seething mad. “You lied to me,” I yelled, turning toward him.
His brows furrowed in confusion.