Chapter 21
Cam
I’m sitting on the porch waiting for Evan when she pulls in, another red paper flower ready for her. A motorcycle follows her, and he flashes his lights at me as I hold up my hand. Damon’s a possessive fucker.
He heads off as Evan gets out of her car, and I walk over to her.
She takes the flower with a soft smile and pulls me down to kiss me quickly.
Smirking, I take her backpack and put it over my shoulder before leading her into my house.
Her eyes go everywhere, but linger on the pictures of my family at various ages on the wall.
She slips her shoes off at the door and follows me in.
“My parents just want to meet you, and then we can go work in the family room.” I told them about Evan, and they’re wary.
Especially Dad. He thinks I’m just asking a girl over to screw around with.
He’s not exactly wrong. I do want to screw around with Evan, but I know we won’t get away with it until I actually show improvement in my grades.
“I’ll help where I can, but I also need to use this time to work on my homework too.” Her blue-gray eyes capture mine, and she gives me this serious look.
“We can do that.” I open the door to the living room where my parents are watching a movie. They pause it and turn to us. “Mom. Dad. This is EvanAnn. The soon to be valedictorian of Deimos and Anteros. EvanAnn, these are my parents, Alex and Lisa.”
Mom stands and runs her hand over her slacks. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, EvanAnn. Cam says you’re super busy, so we’re glad you can find time to help out Cam with his classes.”
She holds her hand out to Evan, and Evan shakes it. “It’s a pleasure, Mrs. Warwick.”
“Lisa, please, dear.” Mom glances at Dad as he stands behind her. “You can call him Alex.”
Evan holds her hand out and he shakes it. “It’s a pleasure, sir.”
Dad looks her over until Mom elbows him with an overbright smile.
“It’s good to meet you.” Dad puts his hands on Mom’s shoulders. “I hope you can do something to make sure he gets the grades he needs to get into Yale.”
“I’ll do my best to help him get his grades up.” She glances back at me.
Yeah, that’s enough of that. “Okay, we’ll be in the family room.”
“If you need any snacks—”
“We’re good, Mom.” I smirk as I lead Evan down the hallway. I gesture to the opening. “We can work here.”
I set her backpack on the table in the corner. This room will be the best for my parents since there are no doors to close. It sucks for me though.
“Okay, first thing we need to do is figure out where you are and make a plan to get you caught up or improve your grades.” She sets the flower in front of her with a smile before she pulls out her laptop and opens it. “WiFi?”
I give her the information. “You really are a nerd, aren’t you, goody?”
Her smile makes my chest tight. “Probably. But I’ve been the one driving my education. I love my mom, but she’s not focused on me or getting good grades.”
“I wish my dad were a little more lax, but maybe a happy medium?”
As she begins to plan what I need to work on, I fill in the details when she asks for them. She takes control. I never imagined listening to her boss me around would be so hot.
When we have a plan, she sets me to work on homework for one of my classes she’s not in while she begins on her calculus homework. It’s probably been a half hour when I hear footsteps.
“How are you two doing?” Dad stands in the doorway. His gaze takes in everything. I’m sitting next to Evan instead of across from her, but we both have our texts and laptops out and are busy working.
“Good. Evan’s a good instructor.”
She blushes but smiles at my dad. “He’s not really behind. We put together a schedule, so he can stay on top of his assignments and a study schedule, so he won’t be doing it all the night before.”
My dad nods. “Who are your parents?”
Too many of my friends are from families he knows. But Evan isn’t like the other Deimos kids.
Evan clears her throat. “Heather Ward. My father passed years ago. Cancer.”
“Oh, sorry for your loss.” Dad straightens. I can see him trying to figure out the last name and if it’s someone he knows. Or a friend of a friend.
Evan smiles. “It was a long time ago. I miss him, but he’s always with me.”
Dad nods. “You’re in Deimos?”
“Anteros. I’m in the directing program.” A good thing about our school is that they train us to deal with situations like this. She has no problem rolling with the questions. “I’ve always excelled in school as well.”
“Well, if you can help Cam, we’d be grateful.” Dad steps away with a nod and leaves us alone.
“He probably counts it as a win that I’m not out partying tonight.” I roll my eyes as I focus on my screen.
Evan’s fingers stop on the keyboard. “Do you really party on weeknights?”
Is she concerned about my drinking? I couldn’t be there when she needed me because I was too drunk.
“I’m done drinking.”
She arches an eyebrow skeptically.
I smirk. “Maybe one, but that’s it.”
“Why did you go out on weeknights anyway?”
I shrug and meet her eyes. “Sometimes it’s better than being at home.”
“I spent a lot of time alone at our house, but I kept myself busy with school.” She glances at the computer. “I never got into the party scene. Honestly, I don’t like alcohol all that much.”
“I’ll find a drink you can love.” I slide my hand over hers on the table.
She startles, but smiles and turns her hand over so we’re holding hands. It’s weird, because I don’t think we’ve done this and it seems strangely intimate given what we did last night and other nights.
“Damon told us about your texts.” I pull her hand down onto my thigh below the table, still holding it.
She glances my way. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“He said they scared you.” I want her to know I’m taking this seriously.
She shrugs. “It’s someone trying to make me afraid. They succeeded. I’m sure it doesn’t mean anything.”
She swallows and I realize she’s trying to convince herself. I’ve never had anyone like Evan in my life. There’s this instinct to protect her no other girl has made me feel. I squeeze her hand to reassure her.
“Well, I’m taking it seriously, and so are Damon and Hawk.”
Her eyes look at me like she’s trying to figure me out. I’m a simple guy though. I love fiercely and protect what’s mine. It’s why I’m protective of Hawk and Damon. They’re my friends, and they feel the same about me.
“When we decided to come after you together, it felt like fate or some bullshit.” I draw in a breath. “We didn’t know we’d be getting you, goody. You’re more than a conquest to us. You have to know that by now.”
She blows out a breath and glances toward the doorway. She leans in and says quietly, “If this is because I gave you my virginity, it really doesn’t matter to me. It’s a construct.”
“It’s not about that. It’s about you.” I don’t know if I’m explaining this well. “What’s happening between us is more than physical.”
She looks down at our hands. “Cam—”
“None of us knows what we’re doing here, but we like spending time with you. It’s not all about the sex.”
When she gives me a look like she doesn’t believe that, I laugh.
“It’s mostly about the sex, but we want to take care of you too. So don’t hold this shit back. Tell us when you’re afraid. Your instincts probably aren’t off. If something frightens you, tell us. If you get a weird feeling. Whatever. You need me? Call. I’ll be there and sober.”
She searches my eyes, but I’m being sincere here. We’re a lot. But she takes everything we throw at her. There aren’t many girls who would be cool with the way we treat Evan. Most girls would cry if Damon took videos of them in their private time. Not Evan.
“Fuck, Evan. You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?” I give her a small smile and raise my eyebrow.
“What?”
“You complete us.” When she doesn’t reply, I lean in and whisper like she forgot her line, “This is where you say you had me at hello.”
I chuckle.
She shakes her head, but her lips curve into a smile. “You didn’t even say hello.”
“Hmm, that doesn’t matter. You give us something more than sex. You can read into that what you want.” I squeeze her hand and reach out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Just consider this might be something more than a blackmail and revenge pact.”
She blinks at me, but she gives me a small nod. I’ll take it because I’m not letting this girl go, and I need to convince the others this is what’s best for all of us. That she’s what’s best for us.
She blows out a breath. “There is something.”
“Whatever it is I’ll help if I can.”
“I need to talk to you and Hawk.” She sighs. “It’s about Damon.”
I pull out my phone and text Hawk. “He can be here in ten.”
We study for a little until Hawk walks in. He runs his hand through his hair as he checks out us working.
“I’m guessing this isn’t a bootie call?” Hawk smirks at Evan.
Fuck, he’s going to get me in trouble. He needs to knock that shit off in case my dad comes by.
I shake my head. “You know my parents are still up, right?”
Hawk shrugs and sits on the edge of the couch. “Come here, Annie.”
She stands and walks over to him. He pulls her down onto his lap and hugs her. I follow her over and sit down next to them.
“What’s going on?” Hawk asks.
Evan blows out a breath. “Today during lunch, Olivia confronted me in the bathroom.”
“I told him not to encourage her.” Hawk growls softly as he rubs her back. “What did she do?”
She laughs bitterly. “She wanted to pay me off. Give me money to have me discourage Damon from coming after me.”
“How much did you get?” Hawk asks.
“I didn’t take it,” Evan says offended.
I shake my head. “Money is what Olivia is used to. She figures everyone has a price. She’s fucking desperate for him. That’s the part that doesn’t make sense. It’s not like she couldn’t get another guy to fuck her.”
“She said she gets the best and he’s the best.” Evan shrugs. “She said she cheated with Chase over the summer, even gave him road head.”
“Fuck.” I stand and put my fingers against my lips. “Did you tell Damon?”
Will this change his strategy at all? I’m not on board with leaving Evan.
Nodding, she blows out a breath. “That’s the thing. She was trying to pay me off, which I’m not down for, but then Damon comes into the girls’ bathroom.”
My gaze collides with Hawk’s and his widen.
“He’s apparently tracking me and said my phone hadn’t moved, so he wanted to make sure I was okay.
” She takes a breath and looks at both of us.
“Not really surprised given there are cameras all over our rooms. But he told Olivia I was his and that he was mine. When she left, he said he wanted to protect me. He called me his girlfriend.”
She meets my eyes. “Did he tell you guys?”
I shake my head and sink down onto the couch next to her and Hawk. Fuck. What would that even mean? We talked a little about how to protect her from Jackson, but we decided it might be best not to poke the bear.
Jackson’s always been jealous of what Damon has.
“I don’t think it’s gone further than Olivia because she wouldn’t spread it. It would just make her look bad.” She glances at Hawk. “How do I tell Damon this is a bad idea?”
Hawk looks at me, but I shake my head. Damon’s off script.
Hawk sits back and pulls Evan to rest against his chest. “I don’t know that you can convince him, but it would be better to get through the weekend before we claim you.
If that’s even advisable. I’m not convinced that our having you isn’t half of why Riordan is after you again.
If he’s really watching you, he has to know about all of us. ”
“Olivia might tell Chase.” I rub Evan’s thigh. “If she wants to get back at you, that probably would be her move to call you out. Especially if she thinks you want to get back together with him. But she might not, hoping you’ll get back with Chase and she’ll have another go at Damon.”
“Why did Damon do that though?” Evan closes her eyes. “Everything has been going according to plan. Mostly.”
“I already told you, goody.” I wait for her eyes to meet mine. “You complete us. Maybe he’s tired of being your side piece.”
Her mouth opens for a second before she snaps it shut.
“My side piece?” Indignation colors her words.
I smirk. “I mean, you did have a boyfriend.”
She narrows her eyes, but I boop her nose.
“Just talk to him, Annie.” Hawk rests his hand on her back. “He’s worried about you. Maybe he overreacted, but when he sees a threat to someone he cares about, he takes care of it.”
“He wants me to let him take care of me.” Evan looks thoughtful.
“I know this didn’t start out with best intentions.” Hawk shrugs when I scoff. “But this isn’t something we want to end. Maybe Damon is pulling the trigger a little sooner than any of us expected. But I’m okay being yours and letting you claim me at school.”
Evan’s eyes widen. “That’s not part of the deal. I mean, Chase finding out is definitely part of the plan, but—”
“Just because we didn’t start that way—” I clear my throat, “doesn’t mean we can’t grow into something new, Evan.”
“But our parents—”
“Don’t need to know the details.” I lean back.
“They might make me move if they know about Damon. Or if they think I’m single.” She nibbles on her lip. Yeah, she doesn’t want to move away from him.
“Then claim one of us is your boyfriend.” I smirk. “They might freak out if they knew you were dating all three of us. I’ll definitely take the role.”
“Get in line,” Hawk says.
Evan smiles and shakes her head like she doesn’t believe us.
“Probably best to go with the golden boy who can do no wrong with the parents. You’re ours and we’re yours. That’s all that matters.” I glance toward the doorway before pressing my forehead against hers. “I do agree with Damon on one thing.”
Her blue-gray eyes meet mine.
“Let us protect you.”