Page 103 of Boots & Scars

"You heard her," I growled, cutting him off. My eyes bore into Walker's, daring him to challenge us.

Walker clenched his teeth, glaring back at me with barely contained frustration. "You have a shitstorm you need to take care of," he snapped.

"What else is new?" I replied sarcastically, refusing to let him see how much this was getting under my skin.

"This isn't just about you anymore," Walker pointed out sharply. "Like I said, those pictures involve her too. And your cunt of a fiancée?—"

"Ex-fiancée," I corrected coldly.

"Yeah, well, she's saying you're taking advantage of some poor girl who doesn't know any better," Walker continued without missing a beat.

"What?" Everly gasped, her eyes widening in shock and hurt.

I felt a fresh wave of anger wash over me at Ashley's accusation. It was one thing for her to come after me; I could handle that. But dragging Everly into this messagainwas unforgivable.

"We'll handle it," I said through gritted teeth, pulling her even closer as if that could shield her from the ugliness of the situation.

"You better hope so," Walker replied grimly. "Because this isn't going away on its own."

I glanced down at Everly, seeing the worry etched across her face. Her father’s sudden interest and Ashley’s venomous lies were like twin daggers aimed straight at her heart. But we would face it together—every step of the way.

I looked down at Everly, her face pale but determined. "Tell my father I'll meet with him Thursday," she said, her voice steady. "After my class."

Walker nodded once, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "You sure you're good?" he asked, a flicker of concern in his eyes.

"Mr. Walker, I know you mean well," Everly replied, standing a little taller, "but Cooper's my boyfriend and that's not going to change because people don't understand it."

Boyfriend?

The label was laughable. There was nothing about me that was boyish. And yet, hearing it from her…

Fuck, I'd be anything she wanted me to be.

"Boyfriend, huh?" Walker repeated, raising an eyebrow as he gave me a long look. "I don't have to tell you what happens to you if you hurt her. Again, I mean."

"It won't be worse than what I do to myself," I said quietly but firmly.

Walker seemed to weigh my words for a moment before giving a curt nod. He turned on his heel and left without another word. I closed the door behind him, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders.

I took Everly's hand, her fingers cold but steady in mine. We walked to the living room in silence and collapsed onto the couch. I grabbed the remote and flipped on the news, needing to see what Walker meant by scandal and pictures.

Images of us together flashed across the screen—grainy photos taken from a distance but clear enough to recognize our faces. Me on my knees, Everly's fingers in my hair outside the hospital after she was discharged. Our kiss. The news anchor droned on about ourscandalousrelationship, each word like a punch to the gut.

"This isn't true," Everly said, her voice quivering with frustration. "You didn't take advantage of me!" She looked at me, her eyes searching mine for some kind of reaction. "Why aren't you more upset?"

"I'm used to this," I replied, my tone resigned.

"Cooper," she said, a fire igniting in her eyes. "This isn't right."

She stood up, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her back so she was straddling my lap. Her warmth was immediate and grounding. I leaned in, brushing my lips against her neck.

"I'd like to take advantage of you right now," I murmured.

"Don't distract me," she protested, though a shiver ran through her as my lips lingered on her skin. "I'm not going to accept they're talking about you this way."

"There's my killer," I whispered, sliding off the shirt she was wearing—my shirt—and palming her breasts with a possessive grip.

"Cooper," she moaned softly, the sound sending a jolt of electricity through me.

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