Ham’s door was open just slightly, his room being just a few from the stairs.
My breathing was heavy, but I tried to even it out as I walked forward. My sketch pad hung at my side. I lifted my hand and pushed open the door to his dark room. The light from the hallway illuminated part of his bed, and as it did, I lost my breath. My sketch pad hitting the floor with a thud, causing Jess to stop grinding her hips and turn to look over her naked shoulder.
She wasn’t alone.
She wasn’t the only one naked.
Her mouth fell open. “Meyah!” she murmured in horror, the look of pure guilt on her face telling me everything I needed to know.
Jess climbed off him, but I was already making a run for the top of the stairs, tears streaming down my face, staining the pastel pink top I was wearing with each drop that fell from my chin.
“Meyah?” I heard Ham’s voice call, but I refused to turn around. I couldn’t look at him, I couldn’t face him right now.
I stumbled at the bottom of the stairs, almost running into Skylar as she carried two beers out to the patio. “Whoa, pretty girl!” Skylar laughed, leaping back but managing not to spill. She looked even impressed with herself until she looked up and saw my face. “Oh God, what happened? Leo!”
“Girl, why’d you rush off like that?” Uncle Leo asked as he came over, his eyes narrowing as he took in the way I was struggling to breathe, and the obvious distraught tears. “What the hell happened?”
“Meyah.”
He was right behind me.
I couldn’t face him.
I didn’t want to face anyone right now, I felt like a fool.
“Stay away from me,” I asserted, trying not to let my voice crack.
He grabbed my hip, his touch burning my skin, but no longer in a way that I craved, in a way that just made me feel dirty.
That hand has just been touching her.
He tugged, trying to force me to turn. I did, using the power of my spin and putting it all into my right hook. Unfortunately, Ham was practiced and saw it coming, ducking back and grabbing my wrist. His eyes blazed with heat as he stared me down.
“Get your hands off me,” I demanded, tugging away, not expecting him to let go so easily. I stumbled back, Skylar catching me before I hit one of the tables.
“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here?” Uncle Leo roared, looking between the two of us.
Ham’s shirt was off, his belt undone and jeans unzipped.
I’d had enough. “You’re disgusting, stay the hell away from me.”
Then I ran, ignoring every person who called after me.
And taking note of the one person who didn’t.