Page 11 of Wild About You
“Yeah.” I nod to her, and she buries her nose back in her phone and disappears into the game room.
“I should go.” I sit forward, elbows on my knees. “Thanks for letting us crash for a bit. I can’t think at my place with all the piles of stuff.”
“You need a bigger place,” Ash says.
“All the two-bedroom apartments are rented. They’ve got me on a list.”
“Stay here.” Ash lifts one shoulder in a shrug.
“Thank you for the offer, but we’ll be fine. I don’t know how much longer she’s going to be here anyway.”
“You’d send her back?” Leo asks quietly.
“No. He won’t. No way,” Ash answers for me.
I hate that she did the one thing I asked her not to do—get in trouble at school, but he’s right, I won’t send her back. Not after seeing her there today. It was only a brief moment that I saw the insecurity and remorse at what she’d done, but it was there. And besides, I haven’t given her a fair shake. I’ve been resenting her every second she’s been here when what she needs is me to support her. I don’t know how I’m going to do that yet, but it’s time to stop being selfish and figure it out.
“Something has to change.”
“Well, the offer stands.” Ash waves a hand in the air toward upstairs. “I have the space. The master is down here. I barely even go upstairs.”
“Ty!” Everly whines from the other room.
I stand and suppress a groan. It’s truly amazing how quickly she can make me want to pull my hair out.
“I’ll see you guys in the morning.”
With a salute, I head out. Everly is already sitting in my car waiting for me.
I drive home in silence, and that silence continues as we take the elevator up to my apartment on the fourth floor. I don’t know what to say. My mind is a mess.
River is leaning against the wall next to our door. Ev takes off down the hallway at a jog toward him. He pushes off the wall and catches her, spins her around, then places her on the ground.
I walk past them, unlock the door, and start inside.
“Are you ready?” he asks her. Neither of them come inside.
I turn around and face Ev. “Where are you going?”
“Just out with friends.”
“We need to talk, Ev.”
“I know,” she says, tone annoyed.
“I’m serious. The shit that went down today was not cool.”
“I knooow. Gosh.” She huffs.
My patience obliterates at my feet. “Home by nine.”
“It’s Friday night!”
I cock my head to the side as if to say,try me.
“Whatever.” She turns on her heel and slams the door behind her.
I blow out a long breath and head to the kitchen. Pulling open the fridge, I stare inside without finding anything. The silence is nice, but I can’t even appreciate it because I’m hungry, there’s no food, my place is a disaster, and I need to talk to Ev.
