Page 66 of The Rowdy Ones

I dig around through his shit until I find some sweats and a T-shirt, then text him.

Me: where are you man you’re dad’s making me go to gym with evan fuck at least i did the right you’re this time dickhead

Wild: Your. No you didn’t. And I’ll meet you there. Went to see my uncle. I’ll tell you about it later.

As promised, five minutes later, we’re on the way to the gym. The thought of seeing Evan again has my stomach twisting into a tight knot. The only saving grace is Wild will meet me there. Maybe he’ll punch Evan again. Last time didn’t leave any bruising, unfortunately.

My phone buzzes as we roll through the heart of the small downtown area.

evan knox dont answer him: We’re lifting weights. Alex left badges for you and Uncle Atticus up front. See you soon, Row.

I’m regretting not letting Destiny block his number. I fumble around on the phone, searching for how to do that, but accidentally end up FaceTiming him instead. With a curse, I mash the end button as soon as he answers.

“Trouble with your phone?” Uncle Atticus asks, chuckling.

More like trouble with his nephew…

Sometimes I just want to blurt out all the things Evan did. But something always holds me back. Evan loves his uncle and his uncle loves him. Despite everything that man inflicted on me, I can’t be the one to ruin his relationship with his uncle. Wild has always hated his cousin, so knowing just gives him reason to hate him more.

I can’t do it to Uncle Atticus.

“Our badges are up at the front desk,” I say with a grunt. “Wild is meeting us up here.”

“Good,” Uncle Atticus says. “I know school starts back up soon. We won’t see him as much after that.”

I’m guessing Wild hasn’t told his dad yet he wants to quit.

The gym is in a small building. There won’t be any avoiding Evan here. Nowhere to run. I follow Uncle Atticus into the building and take the badge from him after he grabs them. Someone whistles at us and then I see Evan sauntering our way. He gives his uncle a bear hug and then he hugs me next.

His scent, familiar and something I once loved, makes my nostrils burn. Everywhere he touches hurts. It’s as if his skin is made of acid and it’s seeping its way to my veins in a desperate attempt to my heart.

I can’t move to shake him off and I certainly don’t reciprocate. All I do is stand there, frozen like a deer in headlights as this man rubs his palms up and down my back.

Flashes of being fucked up on heroin and him pushing inside me despite my pleas not to assault my brain. Bile creeps up my throat. My eyes burn like tears want to form, but I refuse to let them. I bite into my tongue so hard I taste metal from the blood I draw.

Finally, Evan releases me. My skin is cold and I can’t keep from trembling. Alex shakes Uncle Atticus’s hand and then he offers his hand to me.

I want to grab it and ask, “Does he rape you too?”

Instead, I quickly shake Alex’s hand, eager to let go as soon as possible.

“What happened to your arm?” Uncle Atticus asks, gesturing at the gauze on Alex’s arm.

I’m instantly on guard. Is he hiding something? Track marks? Did Evan lie about being clean? Reluctantly, I drag my gaze over to Evan, who’s staring at me. His eyes are clear and intense. Not hazy and drugged. Alex too is alert.

“Snagged it on a nail,” Alex grumbles. “Evan thinks I need a tetanus shot.”

A stupid nail?

Alex jumps into trainer mode and shows us around the gym, explaining some of the complicated machines. Evan stays glued to my side, flashing me secret smiles that used to unravel me.

If I thought I was going to obsess over Destiny all day, I was wrong.

Evan truly is the only person in the world who has this control over my mind. I’m a hostage to him every damn time.

“Hey, fuckface,” a voice barks out from behind me. “Still ugly, I see.”

Wild comes out of nowhere and not-so-playfully punches Evan in the gut. Evan’s eyes flash with anger, but he quickly schools them, jerking his cousin in for a hug. They end up on the gym floor, wrestling. While Alex and Uncle Atticus look on with amusement, I know better. The two men are each seconds from tearing each other’s throats out. Finally, Uncle Atticus steps in and yanks them apart.