Read Online Everly After by Rebecca Paula - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rebecca Paula
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doesn’t hesitate when I step away. She twists around me, jumping down, and then sprints out of the bathroom.
I don’t stop her. I’m not one to offer help, and I’ve helped her more than anyone in my life. I flick off the bathroom light and grip the counter, listening to her search for her shoes and purse in the living room.
The door shuts, and as if nothing happened, I’m left alone. But that’s not true now.
I’m alone in my flat, but my entire life just changed.
Everly
It’s three in the afternoon, and I’m still in bed, wrapped up tight in Beckett’s quilt. It smells like him and his apartment, and I can’t let it go. I’ve tossed it out of my bed every night this week, and yet every morning I wake up with it tucked tight around me. I haven’t heard from him, haven’t seen him, but I have his quilt. I think it’s what has kept me together this week.
The night I was supposed to go to the opera with Hudson never comes back to me. I can’t remember, and maybe that’s for the best. If I wasn’t so used to spending my life this way—living without remembering—I think I’d be more upset or ashamed. Regretful, maybe. But it’s been like this since my brother Nathan died when I was in prep school. The company I keep is terrible, so I get into trouble.
Case in point? Hudson.
I knew better than to let him back into my life. I had actually been behaving myself until he kissed me here in Paris. Now I can’t remember how I’ve spent my days and nights with him, but he’s seen that the rest of world does.
There are pictures of me undressing in the bathtub of his hotel suite. Very NSFW photos I never realized he was taking. And because he’s a heartless bastard, Hudson decided not to keep them for himself, but to break the little quiet I had in this world and announce to the Internet that I’m in Paris.
I die a little more thinking about Beckett and how he knows the truth. I’m guessing he’s seen the pictures. I bet Nadine even showed him since they’re so close. If he’s seen them, then maybe he’s Googled me and seen the others. It’s not the first time I’ve graced the gossip blogs. I’m their favorite disaster. It’s easy to judge when they’re only looking at a picture.
I sniff back my disgust and the stupid tears on my cheeks. Crying won’t change it now. Nothing can. I could call my dad and get a lawyer, but I’m sure my parents wouldn’t be looking forward to hearing from me after I’ve embarrassed the family again. I’m just a slutty fuckup to them.
What I need is to get out of Paris—if I can ever get out of this bed. I can’t keep myself locked away forever. I’ve never been one to cower because of someone like Hudson. It’s not a new thing for people to take advantage of me.
What I wouldn’t give to take that night back. I wonder if that’s why Beckett didn’t kiss me. I bet he hates me. I hate me, so I can understand if he does, too. But to be able to hear his voice wouldn’t be a bad thing right now, even if he is mad at me again. I don’t care. I just want him around for some reason.
My phone buzzes beside me on the mattress. I hug the quilt tight and open up Hudson’s message.
I miss you.
I wait, not sure how to answer. Earlier this week, my answers were angrier. Now I’m just sad and defeated, and I miss someone else entirely.
Are you at your place? Let me see you , he texts.
I stare at my phone, waiting for my bed sheets to swallow me up.
You can’t hide away forever, Ev.
I furrow my brows, scratching my head. I should probably take a shower. I don’t like who I’ve become this past week.
I can , I text back. From you, especially .
I didn’t mean anything by it .
This is the closest he’s come to admitting he’s responsible for leaking those photos. He tried claiming someone else at the party found his phone. I know it was him. I may act stupid, but I’m not. I graduated from Columbia a semester early. Last summer I even won an
I don’t stop her. I’m not one to offer help, and I’ve helped her more than anyone in my life. I flick off the bathroom light and grip the counter, listening to her search for her shoes and purse in the living room.
The door shuts, and as if nothing happened, I’m left alone. But that’s not true now.
I’m alone in my flat, but my entire life just changed.
Everly
It’s three in the afternoon, and I’m still in bed, wrapped up tight in Beckett’s quilt. It smells like him and his apartment, and I can’t let it go. I’ve tossed it out of my bed every night this week, and yet every morning I wake up with it tucked tight around me. I haven’t heard from him, haven’t seen him, but I have his quilt. I think it’s what has kept me together this week.
The night I was supposed to go to the opera with Hudson never comes back to me. I can’t remember, and maybe that’s for the best. If I wasn’t so used to spending my life this way—living without remembering—I think I’d be more upset or ashamed. Regretful, maybe. But it’s been like this since my brother Nathan died when I was in prep school. The company I keep is terrible, so I get into trouble.
Case in point? Hudson.
I knew better than to let him back into my life. I had actually been behaving myself until he kissed me here in Paris. Now I can’t remember how I’ve spent my days and nights with him, but he’s seen that the rest of world does.
There are pictures of me undressing in the bathtub of his hotel suite. Very NSFW photos I never realized he was taking. And because he’s a heartless bastard, Hudson decided not to keep them for himself, but to break the little quiet I had in this world and announce to the Internet that I’m in Paris.
I die a little more thinking about Beckett and how he knows the truth. I’m guessing he’s seen the pictures. I bet Nadine even showed him since they’re so close. If he’s seen them, then maybe he’s Googled me and seen the others. It’s not the first time I’ve graced the gossip blogs. I’m their favorite disaster. It’s easy to judge when they’re only looking at a picture.
I sniff back my disgust and the stupid tears on my cheeks. Crying won’t change it now. Nothing can. I could call my dad and get a lawyer, but I’m sure my parents wouldn’t be looking forward to hearing from me after I’ve embarrassed the family again. I’m just a slutty fuckup to them.
What I need is to get out of Paris—if I can ever get out of this bed. I can’t keep myself locked away forever. I’ve never been one to cower because of someone like Hudson. It’s not a new thing for people to take advantage of me.
What I wouldn’t give to take that night back. I wonder if that’s why Beckett didn’t kiss me. I bet he hates me. I hate me, so I can understand if he does, too. But to be able to hear his voice wouldn’t be a bad thing right now, even if he is mad at me again. I don’t care. I just want him around for some reason.
My phone buzzes beside me on the mattress. I hug the quilt tight and open up Hudson’s message.
I miss you.
I wait, not sure how to answer. Earlier this week, my answers were angrier. Now I’m just sad and defeated, and I miss someone else entirely.
Are you at your place? Let me see you , he texts.
I stare at my phone, waiting for my bed sheets to swallow me up.
You can’t hide away forever, Ev.
I furrow my brows, scratching my head. I should probably take a shower. I don’t like who I’ve become this past week.
I can , I text back. From you, especially .
I didn’t mean anything by it .
This is the closest he’s come to admitting he’s responsible for leaking those photos. He tried claiming someone else at the party found his phone. I know it was him. I may act stupid, but I’m not. I graduated from Columbia a semester early. Last summer I even won an
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