The Punk and the Plaything (When Rivals Play #3) - B.B. Reid Page 0,127

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.