Chapter 8
EvanAnn
Liam tells a joke and I laugh. He eyes me with a lot more interest than he did last weekend or ever before. But I don’t want any of these guys. I just have to keep my gaze from slipping to the ones I do want. The ones I’ve decided to have.
I just have to get through this part of the evening. And then I’ll let them be my reward. I won’t be doing this for them, but I’m definitely doing it for me.
“Hey, Mia, have you seen—” Chase cuts off when I turn to look at him. “EvanAnn?”
Mia was right. Seeing him look me over like he doesn’t know me is fucking powerful. His jaw is more bruised than Damon’s. I wish I’d been there to see the fight. Part of me wants to deck him right now for abandoning me out there.
“Can we talk?” He reaches out to take my arm, but I pull it away before he can touch me. “Please, babe, I want to explain.”
Like any explanation will take away what he did. Or what he might have done. What would have happened if I hadn’t run off? Would he have forced himself on me? I shudder internally. Maybe he thinks I owe him for the months we were together.
Fuck him. I don’t owe him anything.
Mia rolls her eyes, but this is what I’ve been waiting for.
I touch her arm. “I’ll be back.”
“You need me, I’m here.” She leans back against Liam and wiggles to the music.
I smile and let it fall when I return my gaze to Chase. Find somewhere relatively away from everyone but not completely private. Damon’s words ring in my head. That’s not a problem. I never want to be alone with Chase ever again.
I’m not familiar with Olivia’s house, but Damon mentioned there were usually areas around the pool. The guys are here and will intervene if I need them.
Nodding to Chase, I lead the way outside and away from the water’s edge. His friends call to him from the beer pong table, but he raises his hand and smiles before following me to a couple of chairs next to an unlit fire.
I sit down and cross my legs, leaning back to wait for his explanation.
“I never should have left you out there.” He leans forward and puts his hand on my bare knee. “When you weren’t there, I went nuts, thinking I really fucked up.”
I glare at his hand, and he pulls it back. Let him do all the talking.
“Fuck, babe.” He runs his hand through his hair. I focus on the bruise on his jaw. Part of me wishes I could have seen his face when Damon hit him. “I was so angry and worked up. I didn’t want to accidentally hurt you. We needed to cool off.”
Then drop me off at my house, you wanker.
“I’ve been going through some shit at home, so I needed release.
I didn’t want to push you, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to be with other girls until you were ready.
I only want you, though.” Chase runs his hand through his hair again.
Then drops it to his lap. “I’ve fucked up so bad, but I don’t want to lose you, EvanAnn.
I really do think we can go the distance. ”
He starts again on his vision of our future. But I know what the reality would be like. I’ll be working on location, and he’ll be fucking anything that moves. We’ll have our children and then the children of his other women. But it won’t matter because we’ll be a power couple.
I sit back with my arms crossed as he goes on about his fantasy future and really look at the guy who was my first boyfriend. On the outside and on paper, he’s a catch. He’s popular, attractive, knows how to be sensitive—or at least knows how to act sensitive. And he noticed me.
I’d like to say that wasn’t the biggest draw, but I’ve gone through almost three years of school without making a close friend or finding a boyfriend. It was lonely, and Mom was just beginning to see another new guy.
I didn’t want to get left alone again. And he was interested in me.
Maybe I thought it would be over before the end of the school year. But then we made it through the summer, and I thought everything would be golden this year. Instead, I find out I’m not as attracted to him as I thought. Or whatever I felt for him wasn’t physical.
Suddenly three guys who are completely out of my league wanted me. Want me. It’s not even a competition between what they make me feel and what Chase made me feel. And even if I’m just a passing phase for them, it doesn’t matter because I’ll remember what they gave me all my life.
But Chase? Chase will just be the asshole I almost gave my virginity to who cheated on me.
“What happened to your jaw?” My tone is steady, like I’m asking about the weather.
He rubs his jaw and glances toward the house. “Damon Storm sucker punched me. I don’t know why he’s messing with us, babe. But I’ll figure it out. He was all over Olivia. I think she has a thing for me.”
I narrow my gaze, because Damon couldn’t possibly have a thing for me.
He holds his hands up. “Not that I’m interested in her. Or anyone else.”
How much longer do I need to listen to this shit? I’d rather be watching him get torn apart by wild dogs.
“I really don’t want to lose you, EvanAnn.” Chase drags in a breath and releases it. His gaze rakes over me. “I’ll do anything to get you back. Just consider it? Please. We’re so good together, babe.”
I lean forward and brush my hair over the shoulder that’s bare. “Look, Chase. You hurt me. I’m going to need time to get over that and see if I can really trust you again.”
“Anything, babe. You tell me what I can do, and I’ll make it happen.”
This part is up to me. I can give him my terms now or make him suffer until Monday, a holiday for most schools, but because we’re private, we don’t get the day off. Oh, I’m definitely going to make him suffer.
“I have to think about it.” Even though I’ve been mentally broken up with Chase for a while, I don’t want to have him back at all. But if I’m doing this for show, he’s really going to commit this time. Even if I’m never going to let him touch me again.
“Can we go somewhere?” he asks. His eyes drop to my bare thighs.
Does he think I’m an idiot? Fuck this guy. I narrow my eyes, and he holds his hands up.
“Like coffee or maybe a late dinner and talk about it.” He gives me this hopeful look. That’s the problem with actors. Is this real or is it an act?
I may never know. What I do know is the guys in there who want to fuck me aren’t playing a part. And what I get from them is so much more than Chase has given me.
“Not tonight.” I smooth my skirt down. “We can talk at lunch on Monday.”
“Monday? Babe, we could talk more tonight.” He seems disheartened as I stand. I wish I could say that didn’t make me happy to make him grovel.
“Monday. Don’t fuck anyone between now and then, and maybe I’ll be willing to hear you out.” I shrug like I’m not sure. When I walk away, it feels really fucking good. It would have felt even better to tell him about the Devil’s trio, but that’s not part of the plan. Yet.
Someone turned down all the lights in the house except for the strobe lights on the dance floor. I walk in and know where I want to go. But I need to hang out a while longer.
Mia dances with Liam. They’re pretty much all over each other, so I lean against the wall nearby. On the outside again. Besides, I’m not much of a dancer.
“Hey, you’re EvanAnn, right?” A guy who looks vaguely familiar sidles up beside me and smiles. “Wayne Anderson. We had history together last year.”
“Aren’t you on the hockey team?” I’m pretty sure I remember Mia listing off his stats with all the others. The names and numbers are all jumbled in my head. I’m not sure how she keeps it straight.
He grins and leans into me so he doesn’t have to yell that loud. “Yeah, thought with Liam hitting on your friend, you might appreciate some company.”
My cheeks grow hot. This is definitely not typical. But before I was dating Chase, I never came to the parties. Maybe if I’d branched out, I would have had more options. If I’d gone to parties and had Mia do my makeup and Damon to dress me.
“Find someone else to hit on.” Hawk steps up and gives Wayne a look. Wayne holds his hands up and walks away.
“He didn’t even fight for me.” I sigh and shake my head, like I’m disappointed.
Hawk puts his hand next to my head on the wall and smirks down at me. “Did you want me to fight for you, baby girl?”
Shivers dance down my spine. It may be too soon to be flirting with guys, but it’s no longer off limits.
“So, were you sent over because you’re the one and done type of guy? Non-threatening to the other girls because they’ll get their turn when you finish with me?” I arch an eyebrow as I search his green eyes.
“Cam probably would have worked too, but I volunteered.” Hawk leans in to say in my ear. “Damon was going to tear poor Wayne a new asshole if someone didn’t get him to fuck off.”
I glance toward the dark corner I know Damon watches me from. Shivers work through me. “I guess he doesn’t want Olivia to go feral on my ass by coming over himself.”
“She’s got no right to be so territorial over him.” Hawk brushes my hair behind my ear, and sparks shimmer through me, making my panties damp and my insides heat.
“Do I have that right?” I’m aching to find out.
“You want to claim us, Annie? Show these other girls and all these guys that we’re yours?” His green eyes twinkle, and I wonder if he wants me to claim them. It’s not the game we’re playing, though.
“Can we leave yet?” I bite my lip.
He growls low enough that the sound rumbles through me. My insides are liquid fire.
He reaches for my hand and drags me deeper into the house instead of out the front door like I’d hoped. We pass through a room where the music is low and slow and there are couples making out on almost every surface.
Hawk chuckles and pulls me against him. “Wanna stop and watch for a while?”
I shake my head. Even though I’m curious, I want the others too. I want us to be alone with no one else watching or listening.