Page 20 of The Penalty Box

I nibble at her lower lip softly, my teeth scraping over the sensitive skin and getting another one of those sexy sounds out of her. Groaning, I let my grip tighten just a bit, the press of my lips growing harder.

Why didn’t I do this sooner? Why…

“S-Stop,” Evie’s stuttered words get through my hazy mind.

Confused, I pull back just enough so I can see her face. The hand that was holding on to me is now pushing me back.

“Let me go, Liam. We can’t be doing this.”

Evie gets out of my arms, her eyes looking anywhere but at me.

What the fuck?

“Why not?” I ask, the rage I was feeling before returning in full swing. “You liked it just fine only seconds ago.”

Those words get me a reaction just like I knew they would. She turns around, fire blazing the amber depths of her narrowed eyes.

“You’re a jackass, Liam!” she hisses, pushing me away with both hands, but I’m faster. Before she can pull away, my fingers wrap around her wrists and hold her in place.

“Maybe I am, but that never bothered you before.”

“Let me go.” She tries to pull away, but no way am I letting her. Not before we clear whatever the hell is going on between us. Not before this ache that’s been in my heart for days goes away.

“Why? So you can go and be angry at me for whatever reason I’m not aware of? Ignore me for days on end while you smile and flirt with Russell? Fuck that.” Every word that comes out of my mouth is more spiteful than the other. A week’s worth of pent-up tension finally seeing the light of day. “Did you kiss him?”

I’m not sure where the words come from—Liar.—and Evie seems equally surprised by them.

“W-What?” Evie stutters, her cheeks flushing.Fucking flushing.

“Did you?” I persist, although I know the answer. It’s written all over her face.

I want to hear her say it. Ineedto hear her say it.

You’re just a glutton for punishment, that’s what you are.

“T-That’s none of your business.” Her voice trembles, but she lifts her chin a bit higher.

“Com’on, Evie. You said it yourself, we’re friends, and friends share things like that,” I taunt. “Did you kiss him? Did you let him touch you? Did your heart skip a beat? Did you—”

“Stop it!” Evie pulls her hands out of mine forcefully, taking a step back.

Her wide irises look at me like it’s the first time she sees me. Guilt, raw and overwhelming, spreads through me at the realization of what’s just happened. Evie crosses her hands over her chest, rubbing the sting from her wrists. The same wrists I was holding on to just seconds ago.

Fuck.

“Evie, I’m…” I try, but she doesn’t let me. She takes a step back. Away from me.

She’s never walked away from me before. It’s like a truck ran over me.

“I don’t even know who you are anymore.” Her words sting, but I can’t deny she’s right. This isn’t me. The whole situation is messing with my head and bringing out the ugly side I didn’t even know I possessed.

“Evie…” This time I plead, but she doesn’t listen.

“No. No more Evie. You don’t have a say. You’re out of line and out of control. You do whatever the hell you want, but when I do something for myself you’re here judging me. Well, fuck you, Liam. Go to Jeanette Sanders, or whoever you’re messing with and leave me alone so I can do the same.”

Then she opens the door and slides inside, closing it quietly behind her.

Leaning against the wooden surface, my head falls down as I curse softly.

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