Page 83 of From You to Me

In a swoop, he shoved her aside. Lily cried out as she went flying from the force and landed on the floor, hitting her head.

Katy immediately rushed to her side and tried to help her up while she screamed obscenities at T.

My eyes hollowed as the blood started to leave my head, and my hands went limp at my side. “It’s your final fucking warning you bitch,” he jeered out and dropped me on the floor.

I went down on a thud as he stormed off. I brought my fingers along the burn around my neck. I knew there was an angry mark forming already.

“Evy, are you alright?” Katy frowned. I peered ahead to see Lily standing beside her, holding a hand to her head.

A swarm of guilt swam up my gut. Strawberry was immediately at my side, nuzzling her face on my lap as she gazed at me with her sad brown eyes. My hands ran through her soft fur while my eyes checked to see if she had any injuries. Butthankfully, she was fine. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to her.

Katy slowly helped me to my feet, and we trudged to my apartment. The tears that were already gathered in my eyes flowed freely when I saw the state it was in.

The couches were torn apart, the books were flung everywhere, and the kitchen was a scattered mess.

“The fuck,” Katy breathed, her eyes wide as she led Lily to the couch.

I sniffled as I trotted to my bedroom, a protective Strawberry following me.

Everything was destroyed.

My laptop. My bed. My clothes.

My eyes flew to the lone large pink box that was rummaged. It was my “Jay” box. I hurried over and dropped to the floor, my shaky fingers lifted the diaries, the pressed flowers, and his T-shirts and carefully placed them back inside as I closed the lid.

I dragged out the other boxes I kept from under my bed. A sigh of relief escaped me when I saw that they were intact. They contained some of the most precious items that I owned. Memories and trinkets I had of Grandma and Auntie M.

After a minute of lost thoughts, my wobbly feet took me back to the living room. Katy held a pack of frozen peas on Lily’s head while she furiously texted on her phone.

“I’m…” My voice cracked, and I swallowed, clearing the dryness in my throat. “Lily, I’m sorry I put you in danger like that. You should probably leave.”

Lily’s soft eyes met mine. “It’s not your fault, Evy.” At the same time, Katy spun around, frowning. “Who was that man, Evy? What the fuck was he talking about?”

I sighed. “It’s just someone I owe money to, Katy. I’m sorry to put you guys through all this. You both should leave.”

The frown marring Katy’s delicate face deepened. “Evy, don’t be stupid…”

Her words were cut off by a thunderous voice. “What the fuck happened here?”

Shivers ran through my body. I would recognize that voice from a million miles away.

CHAPTER 19

My eyes widened as I took in Jay and Mikey, followed by Tyler towering over my doorframe. What the fuck were they doing here?

One single glance at Lily and Mikey glided to her side, taking the ice pack from Katy and pressing it on a shocked Lily instead.

Jay’s eyes flowed through the room until they landed on me, the glint in his eyes hardened when it lowered down to my neck. I flushed as my hand immediately crept over the marks on my neck.

“What happened here?” he repeated, and his voice held a cold undertone this time.

Katy shook her head. “We came back from the restaurant, and a guy was waiting for Evy and started arguing with her about some money. Lily and I tried to stop him, but he shoved Evy, choking her against the wall, and pushed off Lily when she tried to grab him off her, and she fell, hitting her head. But thankfully, he fucking left. And when we finally came inside, the apartment was completely thrashed.”

Jay’s jaw clenched as he strode toward me in two quick steps. “Who the fuck is he, Evelyn?”

I swallowed as I met his furious eyes. “It’s some guy I owe money to,” a scratchy whisper left my lips.

The tick in his jaw only intensified. “If the guy you owe money to knew you this well to visit your home, then you fucking risked my sister’s life by bringing her here. You put my sister’s life in danger, Evelyn.”