Page 39 of Ever's Last
Chapter Twenty-Six
Memphis
Cheyenne is good. I’m dodging hooks and uppercuts, trying to get my in. He sends a right hook, I catch it, and I return an uppercut to his chin. As he goes down, I pounce, laying punch after punch to his face and stomach. He tries to roll out from under me, but I’m too strong for him. I don’t hear the buzzer, I’m so wrapped up in knocking him out.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Memphis has done it. Knock out.” I’m breathing hard, elated and tired all at the same time. I look out into the crowd and find her. My heart. Ever is in the front row, smiling at me. She blows me a kiss and I’m on top of the world.
They help Cheyenne up and onto a stretcher. I’ll check on him later. He did this as a favor. He’ll get more sponsors after tonight, I’ll make sure of it.
I don’t even hear the announcer or Sal as I make my way out of the cage. I only want to see Ever. I know the cameras are running and I have to make my rounds with the girls, but later I will be holding her.
I’m down to the last step when I see Skye approach Ever, and my breath leaves my body when I see all the color drain from Ever’s face.
Shit.
I rush over to hopefully salvage whatever Skye is saying.
“I was driving the car that night.” Not what I expected to hear her say.
“What?”
“The night of the fair, when you told Memphis you loved him. I wanted to confront you some more. I followed in my car, Memphis was in the passenger seat. I didn’t want to hurt you. When we got closer, he thought I was going to hit you and he jerked the wheel. We didn’t stay to see if you were okay. We did call 911 when we got farther up the road.”
“Is this why you’ve been a bitch to me? Did you suddenly grow a conscious?” I can feel the bitterness dripping from Ever’s lips.
Skye chuckles. “I was always jealous of you. You and Memphis shared a special bond that I had no part of.”
“So now this is your way of apologizing? You treated me like shit most of my life. I get now why you did. But I died on that road that night. I had to be revived two times. And for what? Because you were jealous? I spent a lot of time in the hospital and in rehabilitation while you got to go to ritzy parties and shop till your heart’s content.”
Skye is silent.
“Ever.” I start toward her.
“Don’t. You lived your dream. You made enough money that you could have paid for my bills. Instead, my dad had to take a catering job and let cameras on our homestead just to break even. If you had been my friend, you would have helped. I don’t think you ever cared. And I’m pretty sure you taking my virginity was something for you to be able to brag about back at your gym.”
Oh, fuck.
“Skye, you were hateful and mean. You weren’t always that way, not all the time. You could have just talked to me. You made my life miserable, and it all came rushing back with the way you’ve been treating me. I hope someday you figure out that I was never the enemy. And I hope you find your way back.”
And she leaves. I try to rush after her, but Brick steps in front of me. “Let her go.”
“Fuck! You couldn’t just let me tell her?” I hiss at Skye. All of a sudden, she wants to do the right thing.
“She had to know.”
“I’m curious as to when you actually started to care. You never have.”
“As Ever said, I lost my way. I wanted the things that you could give me, and then I wanted more. And we should have gone to the cops that night. You were the one who said not to.”
Well, fuck, she’s right. What have I done?
“Memphis, go get changed. We have a lot to discuss,” Sal says as the girls are ushered away. I slink off to the dressing room, defeated.
“Tough break,” Cheyenne says from the corner.
“What?”
“How the mighty have fallen.”
