Chapter 13
EvanAnn
I stop at my locker to swap out my books. It feels like I’m being watched, but there’s no one else in the hallway. Nothing makes a sound except my own heartbeat.
I shake it off and head toward the drama wing. I have my notes from Sunday’s rehearsal open on my phone and read them as I walk.
“Careful, Miss Ward.” Mr. Watson’s voice jolts me out of my thoughts. “You’ll run into walls if you fall too deep into your Shakespeare.”
I smile as he joins me on the way to the black box theater. He opens the door for me, and we walk in. I breathe in the space, and it settles my heart.
“How’s the cast coming together?” he asks and picks up chairs to move them to the center of the room. He’s not setting them in a circle today. Each pair of chairs face each other.
“A little rough around the edges still, but I’m sure I can make them smoother.” I take a seat in the audience to continue to work.
“As your advisor, if you need me to come to any practices, all you need to do is ask. I’ll be at tomorrow afternoon’s rehearsal to see how far you’ve progressed.” Mr. Watson sets a chair at the end centered between the rows and looks over his configuration.
“What happens if two cast members get involved romantically and then they break up?” I lean my elbows on my knees, curious what his answer is.
“One of the core ideas we try to instill in all the actors who come through our program is professionalism. The job always comes first. Your private lives have no room on stage. If you need to talk to someone, get a therapist and work on yourself.” He crosses the room and sits backwards on a chair in front of me.
“That’s of course the standard answer.” He rubs at his jaw. “The reality is it can be rough to get the actors to focus on their work. Especially if it’s not an amicable split. Do you think you’re going to have any issues?”
I draw in a breath and release it. “Teenage relationships tend to be a flash in the pan. I’m worried someone will get their feelings hurt and want to quit.”
“Fortunately, like real theater work, if they quit, they lose something. Pay, prestige, their reputation. But here, they lose their grade. If you need someone to focus, you can always ask me to talk to them, or we can get them down to the counselor if it’s outside of my comfort zone.
You don’t have to do this alone, EvanAnn.
I know it feels like a huge weight right now, but you’ve got a team of teachers and staff ready to support you. ”
I smile. “Thanks, Mr. Watson.”
A few girls come into the room talking. He glances at them and flashes me another smile.
“Anytime.”
Between schoolwork, rehearsals, and hockey practices this week, it’s been hard to find time with the guys. I don’t know if Cam and Hawk told Damon to give my pussy a rest or what, but the last couple nights, we’ve just slept together.
I might have let slip that I was still a little sore to Damon Monday night. It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. I would have let him fuck me all night long. But that was Monday. It’s Wednesday. I’m definitely feeling neglected. Not that I have the time to do anything about it.
Chase is acting like the best boyfriend ever, as if it’s his job. He’s brought me chocolate and has been super attentive, which means nothing can happen during the school day, except for brief touches and text messages.
Tonight is my night off, but that also means dinner with the family.
My mom texted me to meet them in the living room before dinner. After school, I sit in my room doing homework. I’m almost through with what I need to work on when my door opens and closes, and Damon walks into my room.
“Hey.” I don’t get up or do anything but wait for him to let me know what the plan is because I need to go down to dinner in about fifteen minutes.
“I need to change, but are you going to dinner tonight?” He runs a hand through his hair that still looks damp. He probably just got home from practice.
I nod and glance at my phone. “I planned to meet my mom in the living room.”
His eyes narrow. “They’re up to something, because my dad asked me to meet early there too.”
I bite my lip and heat floods my cheeks. “Do you think they’ve figured it out?”
He smirks and shakes his head. “Nah, they would have demanded to see us right away. Not give me time to fuck you before dinner.”
The fire bursts into flames inside me. I arch an eyebrow. “Now?”
He chuckles. “No, but your reaction was priceless. Give me five and I’ll head down with you.”
Five minutes later, we walk down the stairs quietly. We won’t know what they want until we get to that room. I’m behind Damon as he opens the door.
“There he is,” Adam says proudly.
“What the fuck?” Damon’s words should have been a warning as I cross the threshold and see Tom and Jessica sitting across from my mom and Adam on the couch with my mother. Chase turns from where he’s looking out the window.
His gaze meets mine, and my stomach roils. His eyes widen before he masks his expression behind a pleasant smile. But there are questions in his eyes. Fuck, I hope he doesn’t put anything together.
“We figured it would be best to talk with you boys over dinner. So we can clear up this mess.” Adam stands.
Tom grins. “EvanAnn, dear, I’m so glad you’re here. With the play, you two are so busy I barely see my own son. Let alone the girl who makes it all happen.”
I mask the panic I’m feeling and move into the room. Jessica pulls me in and kisses me on both cheeks. Chase acts like this isn’t news to him, but I saw it on his face. He wasn’t aware I lived here. He hasn’t really met my mother.
“I imagine EvanAnn wasn’t anywhere near that fight.” Jessica holds me at arm’s length and puts her hand on my hair. “She’s a smart girl to not be at that party.”
My insides chill. Of course, Chase didn’t tell his parents the reason I wasn’t at the party. He left me in the woods in the middle of nowhere. I didn’t tell mine either. When I turn to Mom, she smiles.
“I’ve been meaning to call and set up a tea with you, Jessica.” Mom leans into Adam’s side. “Adam talks so much about you and Tom, I feel like I already know you. Plus, with the kids dating…”
I don’t dare look at Damon. This is a fucking disaster in the making.
“We should sit down and have a conversation.” Adam indicates the chairs. He and Mom sit on the sofa, and I quickly sit next to my mom as there’s only a loveseat and another sofa. I’m not sitting next to Chase. And I don’t know that I wouldn’t cave and lean into Damon if I sat near him.
Damon sits in the center of the loveseat while Chase sits next to his parents on the other sofa. My chest crawls with unease, but I keep my smile pleasant.
“Do you want to explain what happened on Friday night?” Adam asks. His attention is on Damon, but he glances at Chase too. “Who started it?”
If I thought the times he yelled at Damon were uncomfortable, this is that times one hundred. It’s made worse since Chase didn’t know I was living here. And I need to be extra careful not to give away there’s anything between me and Damon.
Tom chuckles when neither of them says anything. “This couldn’t be over a girl. Chase has been with EvanAnn for months now. They see each other almost every night.”
I want to laugh. No he doesn’t. He’s been whoring around instead. I meet Chase’s blue eyes. He doesn’t let his mask slip, and neither will I. If he wants to pretend everything is wonderful in our relationship, I can use that to my advantage.
Of course, now he knows where I live. And who I live with. He’ll be keeping a closer eye on both of us, I would assume.
“I was worried with his previous girlfriend. He was just partying all the time. We even found drugs in his room she left behind.” Tom shakes his head. “No, EvanAnn has been a real blessing.”
Drugs? Are they talking about Abby? Is that why Chase wanted to date me? He needed a good girl to use as an excuse to go fuck around because he got in trouble?
“I threw the first punch.” Damon glances at me when my gaze flicks to his. His words hit me in the gut. He left you like garbage, Evan. You.
“The police tested all the kids. You weren’t drinking.” Adam says. He turns to Tom. “Had Chase been drinking?”
“Not enough to be significant.” Tom takes a breath and looks between Damon and Chase. That’s not what Chase said. “Is whatever happened resolved? Or is this something that’s going to continue to be an issue?”
Chase sits forward. “It was my fault.”
I raise my eyebrows. That’s unexpected. Is he going to say he left me to come back to the party to get some? Probably not, but Chase has to have a reason for claiming that.
Chase glances at Damon and then at me. “I said something about the blond that was clinging to him.”
Damon looks down at his hands. Chase must be talking about Olivia.
Tom shakes his head. “Have you apologized?”
I feel like we’re in kindergarten and the teacher is going to make them hug it out. If I weren’t so horrified about this whole thing, I would laugh at the thought of Damon and Chase hugging. Is that what they would have done if the parents knew about the accident?
“Sorry for the misunderstanding.” Chase has a nice smile on his face, but his eyes burn into Damon. “I didn’t mean to make you think I wanted your girl.”
I swallow as I wait for the explosion from Damon. That anger that boils just below the surface.
“No worries, man. We’re cool.” Damon leans forward and offers his hand to Chase and they shake. I’m sure this is all for show for the parents. I’m impressed by Damon’s skill.
“I’m glad that’s over.” Mom stands and gestures to the dining room. “Shall we go eat? I’m sure the cooks won’t let the food get cold, but I’m definitely ready to move on to something more pleasant.”
Tom and Jessica rise and walk with Mom and Adam into the dining room without looking back at the three of us.
“This is your mother’s new boyfriend?” Chase stands. His gaze is steady on me.
“Obviously.” I glance toward the adults, but they’re already in the dining room.
Chase looks me up and down before he turns to Damon. “Why did you really punch me that night?”
I hold my breath as Damon stands. He claps Chase on the shoulder and says, “You insulted my girl, remember?”