Because of You Read online

  “I’d really like to. It’s the least I can do to make up for having to deal with us all night.”

  He smiled again, his mouth raising slightly higher on the right side and I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my own face.

  “How did you want to make it up to me?”

  “Dinner tomorrow night?”

  “I have to work tomorrow night.”

  “Is that an excuse?”

  “No. I really do have to work.”

  “What about the next night?” he asked.

  “You’re persistent, aren’t you?”

  “Let’s just say I’m used to getting what I want.”

  “And you want to take me out?”

  “I do. Very much,” he said, reaching over and touching my arm. The feel of his skin on mine was warm and I nodded.

  “Okay. I’m free Sunday night.”

  “Sunday night it is. I’m Tyler Reeves, by the way.”

  “Sam Everly,” I said, smiling at him as we shook hands.

  That had been six months ago and that first date had led to where we found ourselves now. Him gripping my hand tightly and his jaw clenched in jealously.

  He pulled up to my apartment just then and he released my hand, shutting off the engine. I got out of the car and saw him doing the same.

  “Mind if I walk you up?” he asked and I nodded.

  We were quiet as we walked up the stairs to the third floor. I took out my key, unlocking the door and we walked into the empty apartment. I reached into my bag for my phone and started texting Rachel.

  “What are you doing? Texting one of the guys you met tonight?” He snatched the phone from my hand and looked down at it.

  “Don’t be an ass, Tyler. I’m texting my sister to tell her I got home alright,” I griped, grabbing it back from him, finishing my message and then setting the phone down.

  “Why don’t you tell your sister to lighten up? She’s not your damn mother.”

  It was apparent that while Rachel didn’t care for Tyler, his feelings about her were mutual.

  “Please don’t go there,” I warned him. While I hadn’t told him everything, he knew enough about mine and Rachel’s past not to say something like that. “And I wish you’d stop with the snarky remarks about my job and me texting other guys. I don’t think it’s funny.”

  “I’m sorry, babe,” he said, sliding his hands around my waist and pulling me to him. “I just love you so much I can’t stand to think of anyone else’s hands on you.”

  As if on cue, he was pushing his hand under my shirt, cupping my breast as he pushed me against the wall. His mouth was on mine a second later, thrusting his tongue inside, kissing me hungrily.

  “You feel so good,” he moaned into my ear when his lips left mine. He took my hand, sliding it into his jeans. “I love it when you touch me.”

  “Tyler,” I said, pulling my hand from his jeans. “I can’t do this tonight.”

  He pulled back quickly, his face curled up in confusion.

  “Why not? I’ve been waiting all night to see you.”

  I was still pinned against the wall, his mouth hovering only inches from mine.

  “It’s after midnight and I still have some editing to do on my paper that’s due in the morning. I’m tired.”

  He sighed and then I felt his hand slam against the wall and he pushed away, pacing around the living room.

  “I haven’t seen you all day and you’re too damn tired to have sex. Ya know what, Sam? I don’t need this shit. You don’t know how good you have it with me. I’ve seen past your trailer trash past. I’ve given you so much and you can’t even give me yourself for an hour? I don’t need this,” he repeated and I could feel tears stinging my eyes. I hated when he got like this. I hated the cruel things he said to me. I wanted to tell him to leave me alone and get the hell out, but the thought of him leaving crushed me. I loved Tyler and he wasn’t always like this.

  He put his hand on the doorknob and I knew as he started twisting it to leave, I had to make this right.

  “Wait, Tyler,” I said, pushing myself off the wall and going to him, pulling his arm away so he no longer gripped the door. “I’m sorry. I can edit later.”

  I blinked and a tear fell quietly down my cheek and his face softened, reaching up and brushing it away.

  “I hate to see you cry, Sam. I don’t mean to say those things, but you make me so damn frustrated sometimes. I wish you wouldn’t do this shit.” He took both of my cheeks in his hands, staring into my eyes. “You have no idea how crazy you make me. I love you, Sam, and all I want tonight is to feel you next to me.”

  “I love you too,” I said softly and then he kissed me, gentler this time, sweeter than before.

  He was right. I could spare a little time for him. He needed me and I wanted to give him what he wanted. My paper would get done, but it could wait.

  He led me down the hall and into my room, laying me down on the bed as he began stripping me of my clothes. His were gone a moment later too and then he was crawling on top of me, the weight of him nearly crushing me.

  “You feel so good,” he moaned as he slid into me and I knew he was lost after that. I closed my eyes, trying not to cry and told myself I loved him. I was lucky to have him. I was lucky someone like him could ever love someone like me.

  Three

  Somehow, I’d gotten the paper done. Tyler had left around one o’clock and I spent the next hour putting the finishing touches on it before submitting it to my professor and getting a few hours of sleep before my alarm went off and I had to get ready for class. It was a busy day for me. Fridays always were. I had classes right until four o’clock, but at least I was free from work for the night. I thought a night in would be nice, but that wouldn’t be happening. Tyler’s fraternity was having an early Halloween party. I didn’t particularly want to go, but he did and so I’d begrudgingly agreed to wear the red flapper costume he’d found online. He was going as a 1920s gangster and as I stared at myself in the mirror, draping the black boa around my shoulders, I thought I looked more like Al Capone’s whore than anything else. The fish net stockings looked cheap and the dress was too short and showed too much of my cleavage. Tyler would love it though and so I put on the fire engine red lipstick I’d picked up at the drugstore and headed out to the living room where Rachel was puttering around. She looked up when I walked in, eyeing me curiously.

  “It’s almost November. Aren’t you going to be a little cold in that?” she asked.

  “I’ll wear a coat. Problem solved.”

  “Who picked out the costume?” she asked skeptically.

  “Tyler.”

  “Figures,” she mumbled, but I chose not to respond to her snarky comment.

  “I don’t know when I’ll be home,” I said, picking up my purse and then slid on my coat.

  “Tanya and I may go out to a movie, but I’ll be here when you get home,” she said, referring to her best friend. Rachel had the night off too and if it wasn’t for Tyler’s party, we’d probably be staying in and watching movies together. Unfortunately, that wasn’t happening though.

  “Okay. Have fun,” I said, walking over and kissing her on the cheek.

  “I love you, Sam,” she said and I could hear the despondency in her voice. I knew she’d rather I stay home with her than go out with Tyler, but she wasn’t going to come right out and say it.

  “Love you too, Rache,” I said, smiling over to her and then heading out.

  Tyler attended Boston College and I wasn’t going to bother even trying to navigate my car all the way through Friday night city traffic. Instead, I made the short walk to the T station, hopped on and listened to music on my phone until it was time to get off.

  It didn’t take me long to get to Tyler’s fraternity house. The music was already pumping out of it and I looked at my phone to make sure I wasn’t late. He’d told me to come over at eight. It was only five after, but obviously the party had started without me.

&nbs
p; I opened the door and was greeted by a mass of costumed people. The music was too loud and I shut the door, looking around for any sign of Tyler. I finally spotted him a few minutes later, standing in his sleek black suit and matching fedora, looking straight out of an old gangster movie, talking to a girl dressed as a slutty nurse. I shouldn’t judge though. I looked just as cheap as she did.

  I sidled up beside him and cleared my throat. His head turned quickly to meet my eyes, smiling when he saw me.

  “Sam!” he exclaimed, wrapping his arm me, pulling me close and kissing me deeply before letting go.

  “Sorry I’m late,” I said and then my gaze drifted to the girl who was eyeing me curiously. “Hi,” I said, smiling territorially at her. “I’m Sam. Tyler’s girlfriend.”

  “Trish,” she answered curtly. “Catch you later, Tyler.”

  She turned and walked away and I could’ve sworn I saw his eyes watch her as she left.

  “Should I leave?” I asked him.

  “What’re you talking about?”

  “Trish. You looked pretty engaged in your conversation.”

  “She’s been after me for a while now. We hooked up one time and she can’t let it go.”

  “You slept with that girl?” I exclaimed.

  “C’mon, Sam. Don’t look at me like that.” He slid his arms around my waist, pulling me to him as he started nuzzling my neck, planting warm, slow kisses on my skin. “It was the past. We all have pasts. What I’m concerned with is right now.”

  I knew Tyler had a past. He hadn’t hidden it from me. I knew he’d had his share of women. I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I knew he wasn’t easily tamed, but somehow I had domesticated him a little. As far as I knew, he was loyal to me and I had no reason to believe that wasn’t true.

  “You look hot as hell in this,” he whispered into my ear, reaching down and running his hand over the fishnet stockings, pushing my skirt up. “I can’t wait to get you out of it.”

  “Well, you’re not getting me out of it here in the middle of the party, so I suggest you calm yourself,” I whispered back, taking his hand and inching it back out from under my dress. I heard him laugh quietly and when he pulled back, his eyes told me he planned to pick up with this later.

  “You’re my kryptonite, Samantha Everly. You’ll be the death of me someday.”

  He was tracing my cheek with his fingertips and looking at me so adoringly. It was times like these that made me love Tyler, when he was sweet and kind.

  “You know I love you, right?”

  “Of course, I do,” I answered softly and he leaned in, brushing his lips gently against mine before pulling back and lacing his hands in mine.

  “C’mon. I need to go show you off,” he said, smiling at me again and leading me into the crowd.

  ~~~

  The sweetness started to wear off after about three drinking games. Tyler had always been the life of the party. People flocked to him and I stood back, still sipping on my first beer. It was warm by now. I didn’t even like beer, but Tyler had given it to me when he got his first drink and I’d spent the last hour sipping on it as he led the games, which were undeniably stupid and juvenile.

  I looked around and realized the place had turned into a den of iniquity. Drunks everywhere and people making out wherever I looked. I felt like I was in the middle of an orgy.

  Tyler was holding a beer bong up to one of his frat brothers while the crowd around them cheered them on. His fedora and suit jacket were long gone now. He’d unbuttoned the shirt and his defined chest and abs were on display for everyone to see. I was certain he was enjoying all the attention. I rolled my eyes, tired of holding the room temperature beer and decided I needed a drink of water.

  It felt as if the crowd had doubled in size since I first arrived and I pushed my way through it, finally finding myself in the kitchen that was virtually empty. I felt I could breathe again. The place was trashed and I stepped over the sea of red Solo cups and beer cans before finding a clean glass and filling it with water. I took a long drink and then leaned against the counter. I pulled out my phone, deciding to text my sister to see if she’d gone to the movies. I really didn’t care, but I was bored and it gave me something to do.

  I finished the text and then took another drink. One of Tyler’s frat brothers walked in a few moments later. I recognized him as Keaton. Most of the guys in Tyler’s fraternity were douchebags, but Keaton had always seemed nice. He was quiet and respectful compared to the rest of the Neanderthals.

  “Sam. Hi,” he said, obviously surprised to see me standing alone.

  “Hey,” I replied as he got himself a drink of water. “You look sober.”

  “That’s because I am,” he said, taking a long swig from his cup.

  “I think we might be the only two here that aren’t inebriated,” I said and he laughed, setting the cup down on the counter.

  “I think you may be right.”

  “Why aren’t you drunk?”

  “I have better things to do than look like an ass and go to bed with some random chick like the rest of my brothers.”

  “That doesn’t seem to fit the mold around here,” I pointed out, taking another drink.

  “That’s because I don’t fit the mold.”

  “Then why’d you join this fraternity?” I asked curiously.

  “Because my dad did and his father before him.”

  “You’re a legacy then,” I said with a condescending grin and he nodded.

  “I am. It was expected of me and so that’s what I did, just like everything else in my life, which is why I’m also starting medical school next year. Can’t let the family down,” he said sarcastically and I could only imagine what it was like living up to that kind of family pressure…to have any family pressure at all.

  “I’m sorry, Keaton,” I said apologetically.

  “Don’t be sorry. I can’t complain. As long as I follow the family rules, I don’t go without, which is why I got that new BMW you might’ve seen parked outside. It was a gift for getting accepted into med school at Yale.”

  “Yale? Impressive.”

  “Yeah. I guess so,” he said and I heard the sarcasm again. “Kinda like your boy, Tyler out there. Headed to Harvard Law next year if all goes well I assume.”

  “That’s what he says,” I answered.

  Tyler’s father was a prominent lawyer in Boston and Tyler planned on following in his footsteps. He craved the power and money his father had made for himself. It was the only life he’d ever known. He’d gone to the best private schools, traveled the world on family vacations and never wanted for anything. Our lives couldn’t have been more different.

  “He looks to be having fun out there,” Keaton said, inching a little closer to me.

  “He always does,” I said mundanely.

  “Forgive me if I’m being too forward, Sam,” he began, turning his head so I was looking into his nearly black eyes, “but, what do you see in Tyler?”

  His question took me off guard and I didn’t know how to respond. Keaton was Tyler’s frat brother. They were supposed to be like family and yet here he stood, questioning me about our relationship.

  “He loves me,” I finally answered and I heard Keaton scoff a little.

  “You’re too nice, Sam,” he said, putting his arm around me and giving me a little squeeze just as the kitchen door swung open and Tyler appeared. He’d been laughing and smiling when he walked in, but then he stopped when he saw us. His eyes moved between Keaton and I and then locked on mine before finally stepping closer to me.

  “I was wondering where you’d disappeared to, Samantha,” he said curtly. He only used my full name when he was being playful or upset and I felt a pit in my stomach.

  “I just needed a drink of water. It was getting a little crowded out there,” I told him, gesturing to the cup.

  “And you needed to talk to Keaton too?” His eyes darted over to Keaton who just rolled his eyes.


  “Calm down, man,” he sighed. “We were talking.”

  “You had your fucking hands on her.”

  Tyler stepped closer to Keaton and then shoved him so he stumbled back into the counter.

  “You’re drunk, Tyler, so I’ll let that slide,” Keaton said, straightening the collar of his surgeon’s costume that had been rumpled when Tyler pushed him, and then he looked over to me. “Good luck with this one, Sam,” Keaton said and then left us alone.

  Tyler just stared at me. His eyes were cold and it was quiet for what seemed like eternity.

  “What the hell was that?” he spat.

  “What the hell was what?”

  “You damn well know what I’m talking about. Disappearing into the kitchen with Keaton.”

  “We were drinking water and talking since everyone else at this lame party is too drunk to hold a conversation with,” I scoffed, deciding it was time for me to leave, but as I started to move past him, he grabbed my arm. I tried to yank it away, but his grip only grew tighter.

  “You’re hurting me, Tyler,” I cried, but the grip continued to get stronger and then he started walking towards the back staircase that led up to the bedrooms. I couldn’t do anything but follow him since he was over six feet tall and spent an hour a day lifting weights. “Please stop, Tyler,” I pleaded, trying to stay calm as he practically dragged me up the stairs. He wasn’t saying anything, but his face was stone cold and the moment we got to his bedroom, he pushed open the door, throwing me inside and locking the door behind us. I stood in the middle of his room and he turned, staring at me with his bloodshot eyes and I noticed a vein throbbing in his neck. At that moment, fear set in. I knew what this meant.

  He came towards me quickly, grabbing me by the arm and shoving me against the wall so hard, I heard a loud crack when my head hit.

  “I won’t be made to look like a fool. You hear me?” He grabbed both my forearms and shook me, throwing me against the wall again.

  “Tyler, please,” I whispered, my lip trembling as a tear streaked down my face.

  “Shut up!” he said quickly and then I saw him lift his hand and felt the sting on my cheek when he struck me. It wasn’t the first time he’d hit me like this, but each time he did, he promised it would never happen again and I believed him.