Ready or not!

skin

Coltons POV:

I just stood there holding Everleigh while she cried in my chest. I rubbed her back and tried my best to calm her down, as well as myself. My heart was damn near beating out of my chest. Partly because she was hurting, and I was pissed that her mom brought it up in front of everyone. At the dinner table for heaven's sake! Everleigh began to sink deeper into me, meaning she was calmer than when I came in here just five minutes ago. I kept my chin right on the top of her head, afraid to move. Afraid that this moment was going to end. I missed holding her. I missed it all, but we can’t go back. Not now.

“E? Are you feeling better?” She nodded under me and started to pull away.

“Omg I’m so sorry.” It was like a bomb went off between us. She shot back so fast.

“Hey, you do not have to apologize. I promised you I’d always be here for you”. Her body tensed at my words.

“You shouldn’t be in here! We shouldn’t be here. People are gonna think that-“

“Everleigh, quit. They are not going to think anything but I just came in here to check on you.” I put my hands on her shoulder and felt her melt under my touch.

“Right. Still I’m sorry.” She pointed at my shirt, and looked down to see the tear stains.

“It’s no big deal.” I knew I needed to ask her. “So, they have him?” She stepped away from my touch and tears flooded her eyes again.

“We don’t have to talk about it, E” I said quickly, trying not to make things worse. She waited what seemed like forever before she spoke up.

“Yes. My mom called me today and said that they found him and he is in custody.” She looked up at me and the horror that hid beneath those beautiful eyes broke my heart.

“And they want you to go to trial?”

“Yes.” Her body started to shake and I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to me. I was happy that she came willingly.

“We don’t have to talk about this anymore.” I tried my best to stop the shaking, but I was doing no good.

“Why don’t I give you a minute, and you can come out when you're ready, ok?” She just nodded and looked away. So I took that as my queue and left the bathroom. I heard her lock the door behind me, and the water turned on. I stood there, right outside the door listening, yet I heard nothing but the water streaming out of the faucet. I turned and walked down the hall and back into the kitchen where everyone was still sitting. Her mom stood the moment she saw me.

“Is she okay? Maybe I should go check on her too?” She started to head towards where Everleigh hid in the bathroom but I stopped her before she could even get past me.

“I think it’s best if you just give her a second. I promise she will come out when she is ready.”

She looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

“She told you, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, she told me.” I looked over at Daphne and she just hung her head, tears pooling in her eyes. If dad was here he would know what to say. I knew Daphne and Aiden were thinking the same thing.

I turned and looked at everyone else.

“I think it’s safe to say, we all need to be supportive of whatever decision she makes. We are a family. We stick together.” I took Darla’s hand in mine and gave it a squeeze. She sniffled beside me with her back turned. Dad, I wish you were here.

****

We were all sitting on the couch after dinner, playing a game of cars. Darla had decided to go home, and someone would bring Everleigh to her house later. She still hadn't come down yet, and somewhere between the time she went to the bathroom, and Darla went home, she managed to sneak up into my old room. I went up there from time to time to check on her, and see if she wanted to come down and hang out with the rest of us. But she refused to come down, and I could see why.

“Maybe I should go check on her this time.” Daphne started to get up from where she was seated next to me.

“No, it's okay. I got it.” I got up too and started upstairs. When I got up to my room, I knocked on the door and opened it a little bit.

“E, are you ready to-” I stopped dead in my tracks to see her peacefully sleeping in the middle of my bed curled up in a ball. I just stood there staring at her. She looked so little and angelic. My mind wouldn't allow my body to move over to her and wake her. I used to lay awake at night and just listen to her. I would watch her chest rise and fall. Some nights were worse than others. She would thrash and wake up screaming, and it took me hours to get her to calm down enough to go back to sleep. I wondered if it would still be like that. I wondered if her dreams still kept her up at night. I slowly walked over to her and sat down on the bed.

“E? Hey, let's wake up.” I managed to say in a whisper. I put my hand on her shoulder, and shook her back and forth. She rolled over and slowly started to wake up.

“Huh? Did I fall asleep? What time is it?” She said, sitting up.

“It’s about eight o’clock. It’s been about an hour since I last came up here. Your mom left right after I came down an hour ago from checking on you.”

She looked at me like I wasn’t talking straight.

“And who is going to take me home? I’m not going to stay here, Colton.”

“I can’t take you home if you like? I’m sure Daphne could but it’s kinda out of her way, plus she has to get Sophie home. She is asleep downstairs on the couch right now. I wouldnt be surprised if they are going to leave soon.” I looked at her and she laughed at me. What in the hell could be so funny?

“Are you trying to guilt trip me into taking me home because you don’t want your sister to?”

“Well, if you put it that way. I guess so.” A smile spread across her face but disappeared as fast as it came.

“This is so embarrassing, I’m sure everyone is talking about me down there.” She threw her body back down on the bed, and the hem of her shirt came up to her belly button. My eyes were drawn to her silky skin. A place where I would run my lips all across her stomach, all the way to her most intimate places. My lips twitched and my pants started to get a little too tight for my liking. I slowly took my eyes back up Everlieghs body. Her chest was rising and falling faster at this point. Her eyes were locked on mine. She caught me staring. Her lips parted and I ever so slightly heard her suck in a breath. I reached over and moved a piece of hair that had fallen on her face. She shut her eyes, only to open them back up.

“Colton.” It came out as a whisper. My hand still laid on her cheek. “We shouldn’t, I mean, you shouldn’t.” But she couldn’t get the rest out. I reached down to we’re my head was inches from hers.

“Shouldn't what E?” Her lips parted, and she closed her eyes. I didn’t move. I waited for her. For her to make the move, but it never came. She opened her eyes and looked away as fast as she could.

“We should really get going if you are going to take me home.” I could tell the moment was over, and wanted to get up. I held my promises from ages ago and moved. I tried not to let the hurt and want show through my voice.

“Okay, let’s go. If you want, I’ll go ahead and go down. I’ll give you a minute to use the bathroom and then we will head out.” I headed towards the door and turned to look back at her. She was sitting up now, brushing her hair out of her face and fixing her shirt.

“Okay, thank you. I’ll be down in a second.”

And with that I opened the door and went back down the stairs. Even if my body told me not to.