Page 9 of Duress (Birch Falls #3)

EVERLY

“ I really don’t want to go to this party, Ana.

Can’t we just stay in?” I make prayer hands as I look up at my roommate, pleading to her from under my favorite blanket hoody.

Already tucked into my favorite TV binging spot on the couch.

My outgoing, extroverted, energizer bunny of a roommate flips her sleek black hair and puts her hands on her hips.

“ You said, and I quote, ‘I owe you one, Ana! I prooooomise I’ll go to the next party. But I can’t miss this premier of Grey’s Anatomy ! I have to know what happened to McDreamy!’ Well bitch, it’s time to pay up. I need a wing woman.”

Ana narrows her blue eyes at me, and I know there will be no wiggling my way out of this excursion. Why did I have to wind up being best friends with an extrovert?

“If I remember correctly, you’re the one who wound up bawling your eyes out halfway through the episode.” I quirk a brow at her, making a last-ditch effort to convince her to stay in.

“And that is why you owe me. I need to fuck these feelings out. Now come on; go put something slutty on, and let’s go.”

Two hours later we are shoulder to shoulder in a frat house well beyond fire code capacity.

We’ve been here for forty-five minutes, and I am regretting all of my life choices.

It’s so hot and crowded, I feel on the verge of hyperventilating.

Ana forges ahead, dragging me by the hand through the crowd in search of…

booze? Or dick? I have no idea. It’s too loud to communicate in here.

All I know is that I need to get some air.

Suddenly I see a break in the crowd and an open doorway leading outside.

I lurch toward it, letting go of Ana’s hand in favor of fresh air.

She looks back at me, eyes widened in surprise, as our connection breaks.

We never separate at parties—buddy system in place until we find someone to leave with, that’s always our M.O.

“I need air! Go get the drinks! I’ll be out there!

” I shout over the music, as I point to the inviting front porch.

There is at least fifty percent fewer people out there, and I need space.

Ana looks unsure, not willing to separate just yet, but I flash her a thumbs up, encouraging her to forge on.

I really don’t want my introverted ways to ruin tonight for her.

She’s been there for me so many times when dealing with my heartbreak after my high school sweetheart of four years, Cole, dumped me.

It happened at the beginning of our freshman year at BFU, before I had built a support system of new college friends.

All I had was a roommate who loved the color pink and partying, but when she caught me sobbing under my comforter the night of the breakup, she offered up her stash of candy and put on Legally Blonde .

We went from comically diametrically opposing roommates—nerdy, introverted artist versus extroverted, socialite business major—to best friends bonded over pints of Ben he steps forward, forcing me to back up until I come to a stop against the wall, putting himself between me and my path to escape.

“You’re pretty. Whatsh yer name?” He leans in, his large chest consuming my entire field of vision. He reeks of beer, way too much body spray, and a vague hint of stale sweat. Even in the dark, I can make out a large wet spot on his pink polo shirt. Great, he’s fucking wasted.

“Please get out of my way,” I say through gritted teeth, trying not to look as intimidated as I feel right now.

“Naw, you haven’t told me your name yet. I wanna know yer name, pretty girl.” He hiccups, letting a fresh wave of beer breath wash over me.

“Fuck. Off,” I grit out, as I shove him hard in the shoulder.

I manage to catch him by surprise and knock him off balance enough to slip by him.

Almost. His large, meaty hand grabs me by the upper arm, dragging me back and slamming me hard against the wall.

My head snaps back, hitting the brick, causing stars to burst into my vision.

“That wasn’t nice, pretty girl. I was just trying to talk. No need to be a bitch.” His grip tightens to the point of pain, causing me to let out a whimper. When my vision clears and he comes back into focus, his face his right in front of mine, a dangerous gleam to his eyes.

Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuck. I need to get away from him .

“I said fuck off!” I yell this time, hoping there’s someone not too busy trying to get laid to hear me.

He doesn’t like that. A look crosses his face that tells me he’s seconds away from really hurting me. Suddenly another hand is on his bicep, pushing him away from me.

“Hey, Brody, dude, back off. She’s here with me. I’m gonna need you to step away from my date.”

Brody, the gorilla sized douchebag in front of me, flares his nose as he directs his attention to my rescuer.

His eyes track the newcomer slowly, his drunkenness becoming more apparent.

The new guy moves so he is between me and Brody.

His back is broad and muscular, well-defined under the tight black henley he is wearing, but not nearly as large as Brody.

He has dark hair and smells expensive. That’s all I can tell from this angle.

“Shezyours?”

“Yeah, man, she is. Now fuck off.” My “date” keeps his hand on Brody’s bicep and marches forward, backing Brody up enough that I can finally get away from the wall.

I dash around him and head down the stairs toward the crowd by the fire, desperate to get back into the safety of light and fellow students.

Plopping down on an upturned log, I bend over, tucking my head between my knees, trying to fight away the panic threatening to overwhelm my nervous system.

“Hey, hey, you’re okay. He’s gone.” A warm hand rests on my shoulder as a soft, deep voice murmurs in my ear.

I don’t move right away, my mind still fixated on how close I just was to being assaulted.

My muscles are locked tight in fear. The voice keeps repeating a soft, soothing mantra of “ You’re okay,” while his thumb makes gentle circles on my skin.

Gradually my breathing evens out, and I am able to sit upright and get a good look at my hero.

He’s hot. I don’t know why that’s the first thing my brain decides to notice.

Maybe because it’s still rebooting and not fully back online.

His eyes are a warm brown, framed by thick, dark lashes, and sharp, well-groomed eyebrows.

He looks like he might be a few years older than me.

Grad student, maybe? His dark hair, olive tan skin, and gorgeous brown eyes remind me so much of Ardeth Bay from t he Mummy that I temporarily forget why I’m upset.

“Hey, there she is. Welcome back.” He flashes a smile, revealing unnaturally white teeth.

“Hi—hi. Thank you for that. He caught me by surprise.” I don’t know why I say that. Why am I making excuses for being manhandled by an ape?

“No thanks needed. Brody is notorious for not being able to keep his hands to himself. Not the first time I’ve had to keep him from doing something stupid while shitfaced.” The guy shakes his head in disappointment. “Seriously though, are you okay? Do you want to leave? I can help you get home.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say yes. I really do want to go home, but I don’t feel right abandoning Ana. Especially not if Brody is still at the party. “I can’t; my friend is here. I don’t want to leave her alone.” My new friend takes in my words, his face taking on a calculating look.

“Okay, how about I go find her for you and bring her out here. Then you can go home together.” I nod. I don’t want to ruin Ana’s night, but there is no way I can stay here any longer.

“Who’re you here with?”

“Ana Price. Black hair, blue eyes, she’s wearing a highlighter pink halter top. Looks like Wednesday Adams if she were a Barbie.” His eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles at my description of my best friend.

“Yeah, I think I’ve seen her. Stay here…” He trails off, like he’s waiting for me to fill in the blank. It takes a second for me to realize he wants to know my name.

“Everly. Everly Strauss.”

His smile gets wider when he hears my name.

“Stay here, Everly Strauss.” He stands up to leave, and I grab his hand, not quite ready to let him go.

“What’s your name?”

“Bryce. Bryce Carmichael.”