The night before Izzy's wedding with the Holden family is hectic, to say the least.

Elias, Maya, and Ethan flew in earlier today, and they're all sporting bags underneath their eyes from the jet lag. Around the table, Connor is speaking with Mason about a sports game he watched on television last night. Maddie whispers what seems to be sweet nothings into Cameron's ear, and I'm seated between Liam and Everett, feeling awkward as all hell.

It's been torturous not to lean over and grab Everett's hand or squeeze his thigh and whisper those exact words Maddie is telling Cameron. But with Liam seated beside me, it's too much of a risk. Although I'm done caring about what he thinks if we were to be discovered, if he gets pissed, I don't want to ruin Izzy's wedding. Not when she's glowing from across the table—a smile almost as bright as the fire breathers behind her.

I didn't attend the rehearsal since I'm not part of the ceremony. I spent my day sitting by our private pool, reading a book I bought at a gift shop, but the entire time, I couldn't focus on the words. I knew Liam was only a few huts over, and why didn't he seek me out? It seemed like he was avoiding me, but for what purpose, I couldn't be sure. Mason and Everett were busy at rehearsal, so why wouldn't he want to spend time with me?

Guilt gnaws at my insides, festering and taking root deep in my stomach. What if he already found out? What if he's playing nice for the wedding, but as soon as it's over, he won't speak to me again?

Swirling my fork around my plate, Everett nudges me with his knee, gaining my attention. "You've hardly eaten," he says.

"I'm not hungry."

He arches a brow, knowing better than to say disagree. He knows I'm hungry. I'm never not hungry, but I appreciate him keeping the comment to himself. Especially at a table surrounded by his family.

"Oh, Emery." Liam leans back in the tiki chair to fish something out of his pocket, passing it over to me. It's a velvet drawstring bag in navy blue, and as soon as he places it in my hand, he gives me a wink. "I texted you about this, remember?"

Oh.

The bracelet.

I tentatively open the bag, shaking it upside down until the beaded bracelet lands in my palm. It's a sweet gesture, but I don't have time to think about thanking him when I feel Everett's body still beside me. I never told him about the gift, but it doesn't mean anything. It doesn't mean what Everett is assuming, but I can't exactly explain myself with Liam next to us.

"It's beautiful," I tell him. My heart squeezes tightly when Everett drops his hand with the bracelet I made him into his lap, almost seeming to hide it from view. "As I said, it wasn't necessary, but I appreciate it."

He shrugs as if it's nothing. "I wanted to buy it for you. It's our thing, right?"

We've gained the attention of his entire family now. All eyes are on us, and my tongue feels dry, making it difficult to swallow. "I mean, I make them for everyone important to me, you know?"

"Right," he agrees. He picks up his beer and takes a long drag just as Elias pokes his head around to take a peek at the gift. He's got dirty blonde hair, just like his father, and his skin is a deep tan, his eyes a honey-brown that resembles his mother's.

"That's nice," he observes. "Then again, I'm not surprised. You've always seemed to have good taste, Liam."

What the hell is that supposed to mean? I've never even met Elias! Does this entire family know of my history? Do they have a relationship tree with branches of whom I've previously had intercourse with, memorizing them by heart?

Liam's lips form into a tight smile before he picks up his beer again and practically drains it. When he sets it back down, he jerks his head towards the beach, where the other guests are partying and dancing. "Wanna dance?"

No. I don't want to dance with him because it would be leading him on. My skin is crawling and vibrating with the anger Everett is giving off. He's clutching his drink so tightly that I fear it might break at any given second, just like the vase in our hut.

"I don't think..." I start, but Izzy claps her hands and eagerly nods.

"Oh, you must!" She exclaims. "We haven't danced since we've been here! Mason and I will join." Her eyes scan the table, landing directly on Everett. "Unless anyone has a problem with that?"

Connor snickers. "Pull her real close, Liam."

"Connor," Maddie warns. "That's enough."

Suddenly, the table and the dishes rattle from Everett abruptly standing up. I can't bear to look at his face when he throws his napkin down on his plate and stalks off before I have the chance to grab him.

What the fuck am I supposed to do now?

Everett wanted me to wait until after the wedding to tell Liam. If I were to go after him right now, it'd be obvious that something was going on between us. But if I don't go after him, I'm afraid he'll read too much into this situation and the bracelet Liam gifted me.

"I wonder why he's so moody," Connor hums. "Seems his panties are in a twist tonight."

Ethan elbows him in the side. "He's going to beat your ass up one day."

Connor snorts. "I'd like to see him try. Have you seen these?" Lifting one arm, he taps the developed muscle underneath. It's an effort not to roll my eyes. If I wasn't so concerned about Everett's feelings, I may have even laughed.

"Geez." Maya turns to Maddie, arching a brow. "Does he remind you of anyone? Someone we knew in high school, perhaps?"

"Trust me, I'm handling it," Maddie mutters. "Put your arm down, Connor. Nobody cares about your muscles."

Turning my attention toward the docks, where Everett more than likely is, I can't seem to stop thinking about how hurt he must be. This situation isn't easy, and with Liam giving me that bracelet...

Screeching my chair back, I rise beside Liam, sending him a sympathetic look. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night. Save me a dance tomorrow, though?" Not waiting for him to respond, I politely say my goodbyes and see myself out.

The wind is whipping through my hair as I wade through the small crowd of people to get to the dock. I'm not sure if he went this way, but if I had to guess, he'd go back to our hut, hoping I'd follow.

Tiki torches light the path, but honestly, the stars could do the job themselves from how bright they're shining. I reach our hut without a problem, but as soon as I push the door open, I know something is severely wrong.

Everett's bracelet is sitting on the entryway table.

"Ev?" I call out.

No response.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I step further into the room, and the sight in front of me breaks my heart. Everett has his suitcase laid open on the bed, throwing all of his clothing into it.

"What are you doing?" I ask, taking another step closer. His back is facing me, and he still won't reply. "Everett," I repeat. "Talk to me."

"What is there to talk about?"

"What isn't there to talk about?" I retort. "What just happened back there wasn't what it looked like. Yes, Liam texted me about the bracelet, but I swear, before he bought it for me, I confirmed that we weren't—"

With a sharp exhale, Everett whirls to face me, and the expression on his face causes me to stagger back a step. His eyes are the brightest blue I've ever seen, but they're only this bright because he's been crying. Puffy red skin surrounds the beautiful color, and automatically, a sharp pain cuts into my chest and takes my breath away. I look down, expecting a dagger to be shoved there, but nothing except my pain overtakes my heart.

"I thought I could do this," he whispers. As the sentence leaves his lips, he seems to reflect on it, laughing in disbelief. "I don't know why I ever thought I'd be able to compare to him."

"There is no comparison. I chose you, Everett. Not him."

"I'll never be able to love you like him." He shakes his head, beginning to zip up the suitcase. "He knows every goddamn detail about you, Emery. Everything. And let's be honest, the bracelet thing was something you shared with him. I wanted one made for me so badly, thinking that if I got one, it meant you'd be mine, but that isn't the case. As you said, you make a bracelet for everyone you care about, and that's not a bad thing, but I had this false perception of what receiving the bracelet meant."

"You didn't have a false perception!" I take another step closer, almost within arms reach now. "I stopped making them after my grandmother passed. You allowed me to make another one, Everett. You helped heal me to—"

"Make you better for him?"

The sentence stings like antiseptic to a fresh wound. I blink, unsure whether or not I heard him correctly. He knows how my relationship was with Liam. He knows how insecure I am because of that relationship. How could Everett ever think I'd use him just to get back with the person who, despite how much I try to deny it, is the root of my insecurities?

"You don't mean that," I manage to get out in a choked whisper.

"Be honest with me, Emery. Was I just a stepping stone for you to get back to him? Was I a pawn this entire time to make him jealous?"

I'm forcing my jaw to be wired shut. If I manage to open it, I know I'm bound to say things I don't mean, just like he is, and that won't get us anywhere. The fact that he'd even remotely consider that possibility is ludicrous.

He scoffs and drags the suitcase off the bed, realizing I haven't said anything. "Right. Well, I'm going to crash with Liam, which is what I probably should have done from the beginning. I guess I'll see you tomorrow. If you'd rather be Liam's date, then by all means—"

Fury takes over, and in seconds, all I see is red.

"Do you hear how fucking ridiculous you sound? Why would I have opened up my entire self to you if all I planned to do was use you? You're letting your insecurities get to you, Everett. You're letting the demons win. We were supposed to fight them. Together. What the hell happened to that?"

His laugh is laced with disappointment and anger as he pushes his touseled curls back with one hand, opening the front door with the other. "I'm not letting my insecurities get to me. I'm being realistic. It's about time you stop daydreaming and face reality, Emery. This was never going to work between us. Not now, not ever." He pauses with his fingers on the handle. "You should get back together with Liam. He cares for you, and out of the two of us, you know he's the better option."

"Everett, don't you dare walk out that fucking—" The door closes before I'm able to finish my words, and I'm so furious, so incredibly infuriated, that I'm tempted to chase him.

But I remain with my feet nailed to the bamboo flooring, refusing to chase after someone who won't fight for me. He let something as simple as a gifted bracelet come between us. I know he's been on edge since Liam arrived, and seeing us together has been difficult for him, but shouldn't he trust me enough to know that I'd never use him to try and seek revenge on Liam or win him back? And if he truly thinks I'm capable of that, then maybe we never truly did escape being enemies. Maybe, in the back of his mind, he's always had this negative perception of me.

Tears stream down my cheeks, my heart completely breaking into two. It's being obliterated, scattering fragments slicing deep into my core when suddenly, knocks sound off on the door.

Did Everett come back?

Is he wanting to apologize?

With a hand over my barely-together heart, I breathe a sigh of relief and walk the three strides to the door, but it's not Everett on the other side. It's Liam, and his eyes soften when they scan my face, which is probably an ugly mess, before he rocks back on his heels, his hands deep in his pockets. He's nervous. I know him well enough to recognize his tendencies.

"Hey..." He trails off awkwardly. "I think we need to talk."

Author's Note:

I'm not okay

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