Thanks to those two and their “bright ideas,” I now knew how Four looked naked, how she liked to be fucked, and the sounds she made when she came. Of course, that meant Ever now knew the same about Bee.
I started to knock his teeth down his throat on general principle when the sound of a car approaching stole our attention. I sighed when a silver BMW came into view. The windows were tinted, but I already knew who was inside.
“Before we go, there’s one more thing I need you to do for me.”
Ever didn’t respond as he watched the car door open, and the driver stepped out. “What the hell is Portland doing here?” Ever snapped.
Jason was watching us warily as he slowly made his way over. He had every right to be cautious, especially with the way Ever was tracking his every move.
“He’s here to talk.”
“Talk? Talk about what? You do know he’s the one who told Elliot where Bee was on graduation day?”
I clapped his shoulder. “Then I won’t have to explain the split lip.”
Jason stood in front of us now with his shoulders hunched forward and his hands shoved in his jeans.
“’Sup, Jason? How’s the lip?”
His gaze flickered my way before resettling on Ever. “Can we talk?”
“What. The fuck. For?”
“For my sister,” Jason responded, nostrils flaring. “The one you slept with and then ignored.”
Any second now, this thing was going to go south. I could already hear the Jeep’s doors opening behind me and footsteps closing in.
“He’s also the reason she’s still alive,” I pointed out. Four came to stand at Ever’s side, and I could feel Bee standing at mine. Warmth flooded my chest when she slipped her soft fingers through mine.
“If he hadn’t—”
“Jason,” Ever interrupted. He stepped forward, and I braced myself to play the referee until I realized the anger was gone from his eyes. My friends and I, as well as Jason, seemed to be experiencing the same amount of shock. Ever could be cold, callous, and cruel even when he was dead wrong. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have slept with her. You were my friend, and I didn’t think about who she was. I was too selfish and messed up to care that she was your sister. I know it won’t change a damn thing, but I’m truly sorry.”
“Sorry?” Jason spat. “How can I believe that when you won’t even say her name!”
Jason’s hands slammed into Ever’s chest, shoving him back. Four hugged herself as her worried gaze bounced between Jason and Ever. Any other time, Vaughn and I would have wasted no time pouncing on him but not today. Ever didn’t seem inclined to defend himself either as he stared at the ground in shame. Never had I seen my cousin so humbled before. I realized then that this was the first time they actually talked about Olivia and probably the first time Ever bothered to apologize. The few interactions they’ve had since Jason blew back into town usually ended in blows.
“Olivia,” Ever croaked when he finally found what was left of his voice. His gaze glazed over, and I knew he was probably picturing the face that haunted him every day since she slit her wrists in front him. “Her name is Olivia, and I am sorry. So fucking sorry.”
Jason dropped his head, but not before we saw the tear that fell. He seemed defeated, and I was sure not one of us felt triumphant about that. “Was.”
Ever’s head shot up, his face a mix of confusion and disbelief while my entire body went cold.
No.
That’s not what he told me. He’d said—
Suddenly, I remembered the grief in his eyes when he told me she was better now, and I realized what he’d meant.
I was distantly aware of Bee’s hand slipping from mine in shock. “What?”
“Her name was Olivia.” Sniffling, Jason finally lifted his head. “You weren’t there to save her the second time. No one was.” Before anyone could find the words to say, Jason continued. “I’ll never forget what you did,” he said as he backed away from us, “and I’m not sure I have it in me to forgive you, but my sister wouldn’t want me to waste another second on you. You’re not even worth it.”
He turned, and no one stopped him when he got in his car and sped away.
Four’s first pro-am race hadn’t gone quite as expected. Out of eighteen riders, fifth place wasn’t bad, but for Four, who for years had been undefeated, it was a massive disappointment. She now had thirteen of the sixty points she needed for her license, but her small victory did nothing to erase the scowl from her lips.
After that bomb Jason had dropped, I could understand why Four’s heart hadn’t been in the race. A cloud had followed us all the way from Blackwood Keep, and Ever had barely spoken two words since.
Olivia had killed herself.
And even though my gut told me Ever wasn’t the reason, nothing would stop him from feeling guilty. I almost wished I hadn’t forced him into talking to Jason, but the truth would have come out eventually. At least they both were able to speak their piece. I knew Ever had wanted to apologize, but his ego wouldn’t allow him after Jason made it a point to be a massive pain in the ass. He’d even gone so far as to target Four last Halloween, which had temporarily pushed aside all Ever’s guilt.
“So should we head home?” Vaughn asked, breaking the silence as I drove us back to NaMara. We’d left our stuff at the hotel after we decided to celebrate Four’s win tonight. Who knew?
“We should celebrate,” Bee announced. She then turned in her seat next to me, briefly stealing my attention from the road. “I know it might not seem like much,” she told Four, “but I think you kicked ass out there and took thirteen riders’ names today. I hope I can call you my friend because nothing would give me more pride.”
I looked in the rearview mirror in time to see Four, after only a moment of hesitation, smile and nod.
Bee then turned her attention to Ever. “I know you’re determined to blame yourself for Olivia, but you didn’t break her. Maybe her family will never know what did, but until they stop wallowing in hatred, they’ll never get the closure they need.”
Ever’s only response was to lean his head back as he closed his eyes tight. Bee was right, even if my cousin wasn’t ready to admit it. Ever shouldn’t have slept with his friend’s sister—a girl he never bothered to look at twice—but that didn’t make him a murderer. The Portlands were too busy pointing in one direction to see the many reasons Olivia couldn’t bear this world anymore, and until they opened their eyes, they’d never see.
“And you,” Bee said, addressing Vaughn. “You need to find a way to get us some more beers since you drank them all.”
Vaughn responded with a lazy grin. Yesterday and this morning, he’d chosen to drown his sorrows in an entire case of beer.
When Bee’s gaze fell on me, I flashed her my most flirtatious smile. “I love it when you take charge, kitten. If we were alone, I’d pull over right now.”
“Don’t let me stop you,” Vaughn drunkenly slurred. “I already know Four and Ever got to see you do it.”
Unintentionally, my foot slammed on the brakes. How the hell did he know?