My head whipped over to Everett and I watched his tired eyes widen.
“I’m sorry, Andrea. I really am. I swear to you, none of this was intentional.”
“You promised me, Jessica,” I said as tears welled in my eyes.
Everett scrambled off my bed and ran around trying to find his clothes.
“Please don’t be upset.”
“Don’t be upset? Are you insane? First, you can’t keep a lid on shit with your so-called best friend because you want to stay in good spirits with some dude you’ve known for two months, then you fucking tell him where I live!? Did you give him my credit card number, too!?”
“Please don’t be mad,” she said.
“I’m way past mad, Jessica. I’m livid. I’m infuriated. I’m…”
I looked behind me as I curled the sheet over my naked body, watching Everett toss on his clothes. I’d never seen a man move that quickly in all my life. It made me feel disgusting. Ashamed. Like some secret that had to be kept.
I didn’t like it.
And I wanted this nightmare over with.
“I feel betrayed, Jessica.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll do anything, Andrea. Just please, tell me what I need to do to make this better.”
And just as her request hit my ear, a stern knock came at my apartment door. My eyes panned over to Everett and he held out his hand, then slowly crept out of my room. I slid from my bed and padded over to my dresser, then pulled out the first thing I could put my hands on. My nightgown.
How fucking appropriate.
“Your boy toy’s here. Gotta go,” I said flatly.
“No, Andrea. Put him on the phone. Please, I’m sorry. Please don’t hang—”
I cut the call and tossed my phone onto my mangled bed. Stains could be seen in the sunlight that streamed through the window. Stains that denoted a beautiful night between Everett and I, and it was about to be destroyed. The stern knocking came down onto my door again as I pulled my nightgown over my head. I hoisted my breasts into the pockets of the built-in bra before I reached for my robe, then padded into my bathroom to throw my hair up into a bun. This wasn’t going to go well. I knew it.
“Andrea?”
Everett’s voice hit my ears as I came out of the bathroom.
“Aren’t you going to answer the door?” I asked.
“I want you to know that I don’t blame you for what’s about to happen.”
“What is about to happen, Everett? I’m really worried right now.”
He drew me into his arms and kissed the top of my head as a voice sounded behind the door.
“Everett, I know you’re in there. It’s Lucas. Open up.”
“I’m going to get him out of your place, and then we’re going to have to go talk. I’ll have to tell them what happened in Vegas,” he said.
“I know. It’s okay. I’m so sorry. I really thought Jessica would keep her mouth shut.”
“It’s fine. Trust me, I know Lucas. And when he sets his mind on something, he’ll bug the shit out of anyone around in order to get his way.”
“I’m sorry,” I said breathlessly.
I felt him place another long, warm kiss to the top of my head and it made my heart ache. Why did it feel as if this would be the last time I’d experience him like this? And why did the idea of that finality hurt so much?