Page 85 of Boots & Scars

My vision narrowed to a pinprick. Not because someone called me a rapist—that's easy enough to refute—but because Everly's worst moment was now out in the open, all thanks to Ashley.

Really… because of me.

I should have just paid her.

Now Everly's life was ruined… if I hadn't ruined it already with what I told her earlier.

"Fuck," I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples as if that could erase the chaos in my mind.

Walker looked at me, waiting for something more than just curses and anger. "What now?"

I clenched my fists tighter, the sting of my earlier outburst against the mirror still fresh. "I need to fix this," I finally said.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" Walker asked, skepticism lacing his tone.

"I don't know yet," I admitted. "But I'll figure it out."

"You better," Walker said flatly. "For Everly's sake."

25

Everly

Ididn't know how to use a bus.

The thought settled uncomfortably in my mind as I stared at my phone, trying to make sense of the public transportation app. Mom's house wasn't far, but it might as well have been across the country without a car.

I needed to talk to her.

Urgently.

But every search for routes and schedules ended in frustration. Southern Michigan seemed to have given up on the idea of buses entirely.

I tried calling Mr. Walker, but he hadn’t answered. Which was to be expected. He must be busy.

I scrolled through endless pages, trying to piece together a coherent route, but nothing fit. It felt like trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. Eventually, I accepted defeat and turned my attention to the Uber app.

"How hard can this be?" I muttered, opening it for the first time.

Navigating the app proved more challenging than I'd expected. The interface felt like an alien language—too many buttons, too many options. I tapped onSet Pickup Locationand watched a tiny car icon spin aimlessly on the map.

After several minutes of fiddling and cursing under my breath, I managed to input Mom's address and request a ride. My phone buzzed almost immediately with a notification:Your driver is on their way.

I stepped outside, clutching my bag tightly. A chill breeze ruffled my hair as I waited by the curb, eyes scanning for the approaching vehicle. Minutes ticked by slowly until a grey sedan pulled up in front of me.

"Everly?" The driver leaned out the window, his face illuminated by the glow of his phone screen.

I nodded, opening the back door and sliding in.

"Hi," I said, fastening my seatbelt and settling into the worn leather seat.

He gave me a quick nod through the rearview mirror before pulling away from the curb. I watched familiar streets blur past, my mind racing with questions for Mom.

As we navigated through traffic, I tried to calm my nerves. It felt surreal, relying on a stranger to get me where I needed to go. But necessity outweighed discomfort today.

The car hummed quietly as we moved through the city streets. I watched the familiar landmarks pass by, my anxiety slowly ebbing away. But then, we approached an intersection where the driver should have turned left. Instead, he drove straight ahead.

"Excuse me," I said politely, leaning forward a bit. "I think you missed the turn."

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