14. Everett

Everett (Come Back... Be Here by Taylor Swift)

She's transferring.

Transferring.

I swear, this woman is going to be the death of me.

It's been two days since she told me about her plan, and I still haven't been able to get it out of my head.

I'm seated at the dining table, nursing a cup of hot coffee, while Hart is sprawled across the couch in the living room, laughing hysterically at something Cole just said.

Like a hyena.

Wicked witch.

I down the rest of my coffee in one gulp, ignoring the burn as it trails down my throat and settles somewhere in my stomach.

Then I rise.

I walk over and stop behind the couch. "Hart. Practice. Now."

Her brows pull together as she shoots upright, immediately glancing at the wall clock.

"Practice isn't until three. It's barely ten, Everett."

"We're practicing now." I fold my arms. "So get your little ass up."

Her mouth falls open, a short gasp escaping her before she glares at me.

She mutters something under her breath and stomps upstairs.

A few minutes later, she returns wearing a fitted tank top, black athletic shorts, and running shoes, her hair pulled into a messy ponytail.

One more thing she's wearing? A scowl.

She's pissed.

Good.

Without saying another word, I turn toward the back of the house, ignoring Cole and Harper's amused, watchful gazes.

Spencer is out. He left early this morning to deal with some personal business.

The back door is just past the kitchen, opening directly onto the backyard.

I hold it open for Hart when we reach it. Instead, she shoves my hand away, then slams the door in my face.

I stare at it.

A second later, it opens again and she steps outside, closing it behind her.

I blink. "..." Okay.

The backyard is probably my favorite part of this house.

The entire space is fenced in, with a proper volleyball court taking up most of the lawn. I had it built back when I first moved in, complete with a regulation-height net, court markings, and enough space around it to actually train without worrying about breaking a window.

I walk over to the ball cart, grab a volleyball, and toss it to Hart.

"Stay there. I'll take the other side."

Before I can even take a step, she ducks under the net and marches to the opposite side. Then she plants her feet firmly on the ground and folds her arms.

I raise a brow, a small smile pulling at my mouth.

Oh.

"Ready, Hart?"

She glares at me.

Okay.

"Hit me with your best shot."

She tosses the ball into the air and serves.

Slam. I dig it and send it back.

"Why are you angry?"

She digs and spikes. "You know why."

Fair. Telling her she wasn't a volleyball player wasn't my finest moment. Neither was going silent in that truck.

We keep at it, the ball snapping back and forth between us. After a while, I say it.

"I'm sorry."

She serves the ball and I catch it. I duck under the net to her side.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that..." I move in closer until our breaths mingle, both a little uneven.

I cup her cheek with my free hand and rub it gently with my thumb. "I'm sorry, my Heart."

"Your ass," she fires.

And my gaze, ever the traitor, abandons her face and drops straight to her behind. "...It's not little."

It really isn't. She has the finest ass. I mean, not that Hart's ass is big, but it's not small either. Her curves are to die for.

When I look back at her face, she's wearing that smug little smile.

Caught.

"What?" I smile.

"Nothing." She pauses, studying me for a moment. "But why have you been so... on the edge lately?"

My smile disappears.

I let the ball drop and bounce away.

"Because I'm sad, Hart."

Her expression softens.

I step closer and pull her into my arms. "Can you not leave me?"

Too much. That was too much.

I hold her tighter before I can think better of it. "The scholarship... can't you stay at Gladdis? I need you here."

I search her eyes.

"I..." Just as she opens her mouth to speak, the door swings open.

"Ev! You have a guest," Harper calls out.

I frown and turn back to face Amelia.

"Go on." I nudge her. "We'll talk later. Go attend to your guest." She smiles.

I'm quiet for a while. "Okay." I kiss her hand.

With that, I lead the way inside.

And the moment I see who's waiting in the living room, I stop dead.

"Hello, Everett." Rachel Lancaster flashes me a smile.

Excuse me?