To say I was hungover would be an understatement. For some reason, whenever I drink excessively, I always wake up early in the morning and end up crashing later.

I woke up around 7:30 AM and immediately threw myself into the shower, trying to wash off the sweat and any remnants of the night before. I made myself a cup of coffee, hoping it would help shake the fog off.

Everest was still asleep while I was going through this routine, but I knew he was aware of me getting up. He always seems to know everything lately. I suppose when you're in his line of work, staying alert and aware comes with the territory.

The first sip of coffee hit me like a shock to the system, and the smell of it filled my senses. It felt like the only thing keeping me tethered to Earth. It was Saturday, so I decided it would be a good day to just take it easy and work through the hangover.

I quickly made a piece of toast, taking small bites and watching cartoons on TV while I tried to stomach something. I knew I needed to get food in my system if I was going to function at all today.

After a while, I managed to finish my toast and coffee. By the time I returned to the bedroom, I noticed Everest was no longer in bed, and the sound of the shower running confirmed he was getting ready.

It was only around 8 AM, so I figured I'd go back to sleep for a couple more hours to recharge. I didn't know what Everest had planned, but I figured I'd need some rest to be able to keep up.

I was surprised at how much I managed to get out of him last night. It felt good to have those moments of teasing him and watching his reactions. I chuckled at the memory, even though I was still half-dazed and drifting in and out of sleep.

I stayed in that half-conscious state, aware of the sounds around me. I heard Everest finish in the shower, moving about the room before feeling his presence hovering over me.

I cracked open one eye, laying flat on my stomach, and looked up at him. He was dressed—leather jacket, boots, the whole look.

"I gotta go into town for a bit. You'll be okay here by yourself?" he asked, though it sounded more like a statement.

"You're going all the way back to Locus?" I asked, assuming that was where he was headed.

"No, just into town," he replied, and I turned away from him, snuggling deeper into the bed.

"Okay," I mumbled into the pillows, hearing the sound of him walking away and the front door closing behind him.

I must have slept for another two or three hours, and when I woke up, Everest was still gone. That's when I decided to throw on my bikini and head outside to lay out on the beach.

••••••••••••••••••••

EVEREST'S POV:

I sat across from Ghost at the local dive bar that Avery and I had been at the night before.

"What did they say?" I asked, my impatience starting to show.

A chuckle escaped his lips as he took a swig of his beer and waved over the bartender. "Two shots of Crown, will ya, darlin'?" The bartender, a redhead with a sly grin, grabbed the large bottle of Crown and poured two shots in front of us.

I could feel the tension rising in me. I'd been wearing myself thin with Ghost lately, acting out and disobeying his orders. He'd already reminded me of that before I left to come here.

"All good news, Sin," Ghost assured me, nodding at the shot glasses. We both picked them up, throwing them back. I slammed the glass onto the table, taking a long swig of my beer.

"Meaning?" I asked, my expression deadpan, my tone all business, while Ghost seemed completely laid-back and relaxed.

"Loosen up. That's why you came here, to relax," Ghost said, leaning back in his chair. "I can't even remember the last time I was in Clearwater, or had a vacation for that matter."

"This isn't a vacation," I replied, finishing my beer and placing it at the end of the bar, signaling for another.

"The mafia aren't like us, Sin," Ghost continued. "This kid, the one you're having trouble with, he's just another person on their list. He happens to be high on it, but he's still just another mark. They already know where he is and what his plans are." He paused, signaling the bartender to get us another round.

"I told them who Avery was to us," he went on. "As long as we assist them in bringing the pest to them, they'll take care of everything. They even offered us payment for our trouble, but that slipped from under their grasp."

I could feel a weight lift off my chest at that. I didn't let it show, but inside, I felt more at ease—though the fact that this guy was still after Avery gnawed at me. I had no idea what the mob's plan was, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this guy still thought he could get away with it.

Resting both elbows on the bar, I stared at the TV in front of me, trying to distract myself. "We're just going to hand him over? After all this, you want me to just give him up on a silver platter?" I looked over at Ghost, sliding his beer toward him.

He grabbed it, still chuckling. "We've got bigger problems than dealing with this guy and his devil's blood. They're causing more trouble than just following orders from some shady character. This guy isn't even paying the Bloods. He just flashes a lot of cash but doesn't hand any over. That club is just stupid enough to fall for it."

I couldn't help but laugh this time. We fell into a back-and-forth, spending hours at the bar, chatting with some locals.

Eventually, I pulled out my phone and sent Avery a text saying I'd be home soon. I then grabbed a pool stick and started another round with Ghost.

"You guys been arguing at all?" he asked, taking a shot at the stripes ball and sinking it in the corner pocket. I chalked up my stick, lining up my next shots. Flashbacks of last night filled my mind—Avery trying so hard just to make one shot. I smiled and grabbed us another beer, which the bartender had already set out for us.

"Nah, we've been good," I replied, lighting a cigarette and checking my phone again. Avery still hadn't responded. She had gone back to bed this morning, but she never slept this long, especially during the day. It was already past 2:30 PM.

After a few more rounds of pool, Ghost and I left the bar and rode off on our bikes in separate directions. I couldn't shake the anxious feeling in my gut as I made my way back to the house, eager to make sure everything was okay, especially Avery.

I parked the bike in front of the house and kicked off my boots as I walked inside. I had stopped by a local shop that Avery and I had visited the night before. I placed the small gift on the bed, then stepped out through the sliding door. There she was, lying on her back, sunbathing.

I stood there for a moment, arms crossed, just admiring her beauty. She was the one person I thought about every second I was in that hellhole. The second I found out I was getting out early because I made a deal, I did it all for her. She was the only reason I kept pushing forward.

I threw my jacket off and kicked off my socks before walking over to her, standing above her, taking in the sight of her relaxed form.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

AVERY'S POV:

The sun suddenly vanished, casting a shadow over me. I waved my hand over my eyes, trying to see what had happened, only to find Everest standing over me. His broad, towering frame completely blocked out the light.

"You're blocking my sun," I said, squinting up at him. I had no idea how long I'd been lying out here, but I could feel my skin crisp from the heat.

"Start getting ready in a little while. We're going out to dinner tonight," he stated before turning to walk back inside.

Before I could respond, he moved, and the sun immediately flooded my vision, burning my bright blue eyes. I sat up, rubbing them, then glanced over my shoulder to watch him disappear into the house.

Dinner? That caught me off guard. Everest planning something was unexpected. Why did he want to take me to dinner? We kept telling each other that we weren't together, that we didn't want to be together, that there was no us—so then, what was this?

Because whatever this was, it felt exactly like something two people in love would do.

I grabbed my phone, noticing that he had texted me an hour ago, but I never responded. Instead of replying, I clicked out of it and scrolled through the rest of my messages. I had a few from my aunt, my grandparents, and Brooke.

From the way they were texting, I could tell Everest must have told them something—that he had taken me away, or that I was on some kind of vacation. I hadn't told them anything myself, mainly because I didn't even know I was coming here in the first place.

I shook off my towel, getting rid of the sand before hanging it over the banister, then walked inside. The rush of cool air hit me instantly, sending a small chill down my spine despite the lingering heat on my skin.

Everest had already showered. In the ten minutes I was outside, he had managed to wash up, and his dark hair was still damp. He wore a black button-up shirt, made of some light, breathable fabric that gave off a beachy vibe, paired with jeans and—of all things—nice boots. I didn't even know Everest owned boots that weren't scuffed up or jeans without rips and stains.

Still, even in a more relaxed shirt, the color black dominated his wardrobe.

"Where are you going?" I asked, standing in front of him as I let my hair out of its clip, shaking it loose.

His eyes stayed fixed on the TV. "You'll see."

I crossed my arms. "Well, I have nothing to wear." I raised a brow at him, waiting for a response. He flicked his gaze toward me briefly before looking back at the screen.

He didn't look irritated or angry—just indifferent, unbothered, like he didn't feel like engaging.

Curiosity gnawed at me. When I woke up earlier, I remembered him saying he had gone into town. But why? Did he meet someone? Did he secretly drive back to Locus without saying a word and just lie about it?

A million different scenarios flooded my mind as I stood there in my bikini, staring at him.

"Bedroom," he said casually.

I blinked, caught off guard. My eyes darted toward the bedroom door, then back at him, my mouth slightly open in shock.

"I'd start getting ready now—we're leaving in an hour," he added, amusement flickering in his expression as he took in my reaction.

"Ugh!" I huffed, stomping toward the bedroom and slamming the door behind me. I heard his quiet chuckle from the other side.

On the bed, a shopping bag sat waiting for me. The logo looked familiar, but I didn't stand there long trying to figure it out. Instead, I quickly jumped into the shower, opting for a quick rinse without washing my hair—after all, I had already taken three showers between yesterday and this morning.

When I glanced in the mirror, I noticed my face was slightly sunburned, as were my chest and shoulders. Still, I liked how my skin looked—freckled, tanned, sun-kissed.

Rummaging through my bag, I found that Brooke, thankfully, had packed my curling iron. I quickly touched up my hair, adding a few soft curls, and applied light makeup—nothing too heavy, considering the heat. I didn't want to sweat it off before we even got to dinner.

Then, finally, I turned to the shopping bag, slipping off my robe before pulling out the fabric inside.

Shock washed over me.

Or maybe it was something else—the sheer awe of seeing the beautiful dress I had admired for five minutes straight in that shop last night.

He noticed.

They always say to watch out for the quiet ones. They're the ones who surprise you when you least expect it.



The dress was a light yellow satin, almost sheer—but not quite. It was delicate, flowing, and incredibly comfortable, though it required going without a bra or underwear. That didn't bother me. The moment I saw it, I had been drawn to it—not just because yellow was my favorite color, but because it reminded me of that dress from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, one of my favorite movies.

I had always loved old rom-coms. Pretty Woman was, by far, my favorite.

I didn't hesitate to slip the dress on, smoothing the fabric over my sun-kissed skin before turning back to the mirror for one last look. A small smile formed on my lips as I took in my reflection—my nose and cheeks, still tinged red from the sun, made me look as though I were blushing. My long white hair curled softly down my back, framing my face in loose waves.

I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before opening the door to reveal myself to him. I expected to still find Everest on the couch, feet propped up, lazily drinking a beer. But as I stepped into the living room, I was met with silence.

The house was empty.

The beer bottle still sat on the coffee table, but Everest was nowhere to be seen. I picked it up, tossing it into the trash, then stepped outside—where I found him, shining up the bike.

A mixture of confusion and amusement flickered across my face as I closed the door behind me and walked toward him, my heels clicking lightly against the concrete.

He didn't notice me at first, too focused on whatever he was doing. Smirking to myself, I tilted my head, waiting—knowing that the second he looked up, he would see me.

And then he did.

He stood, wiping his hands off on a rag before finally meeting my gaze. I straightened up, smiling at him. His expression was unreadable for a moment before something flashed across his face—shock, maybe even admiration. A small wave of satisfaction rolled through me at the realization that I had finally caught him off guard.

It was the look I had expected to see the first time he laid eyes on me at my grandparents' house. But that day, all I had been met with was an angry Everest.

"Hey," I broke the comfortable silence between us, my voice soft.

He continued to look at me, as if taking in every detail. And for a moment, I did the same, admiring him just as much as he was admiring me. It was rare to see him in a state like this—calm, unguarded.

"You look..." He trailed off as he walked toward me, placing both hands on my waist and leaning in slightly. Our faces were inches apart, his eyes still locked onto mine. "Beautiful."

He placed a small, lingering kiss on my nose, a quiet smile tugging at his lips.

Thank God I was sunburned—otherwise, my blush would have been far too obvious.

As he straddled the bike, I scratched the back of my neck, suddenly realizing an issue. "How exactly am I supposed to ride in this dress?"

"It'll be fine," he assured me, patting the back seat.

I hesitated for a second before gathering up the extra fabric of my dress, balling it in my hands, and climbing on behind him.

As soon as I settled behind him, Everest reached back, gripping my thigh to pull me closer. "Hold on," he murmured, his voice warm against the night air.

The engine rumbled beneath us as he kicked the bike into motion, the wind rushing past and making my dress flutter despite my grip on the fabric. I tightened my arms around his waist, resting my cheek against his back, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath.

With the warm night air surrounding us and the hum of the bike beneath me, I let myself relax. For once, I wasn't thinking about the past or worrying about the future.

Right now, it was just us, the open road, and the promise of a good night ahead.