Chapter 32
Damon
Hawk has Evan, leaving me free to do what I need to do. I’m sure Fletcher reminded Chase about locking bedrooms. If not, Hawk will. The good news is Chase doesn’t have a keyed lock on his door. He’ll set the lock and use an interior door key to get into it later.
Most people will try a knob and move on if it’s locked, figuring it’s occupied.
I’m planning for the girls to come to his door at the right time because Olivia is supposed to be bringing me someone willing and drugged. Fuck this girl. Like I need to mess around with chicks high on drugs. I’ve got Evan to take care of my every need.
Olivia’s desperation is worrisome. Is there no boundary she won’t push?
Is she really that bored? Or is it something more?
I don’t know her home life or what might be going on outside of school.
But I don’t give a shit because she’s decided to focus on me and threatened to drug Evan.
She also helped Chase ruin my life. The problem is her father is rich enough to get her out of anything, including a drug charge.
The only reason I can find why she wants me is because she can’t have me. Nothing else makes sense. She’s not asking me to date her. She wants to fuck me. Maybe it’s a numbers game. A collect-them-all type of thing.
Or maybe she thinks once I’ve had her, I won’t want to give her up. Fuck that noise.
About ten minutes ago, Olivia showed up at the party. She’s looking for me, but I’m avoiding her. My job is to make sure Jackson isn’t here and get our game pieces lined up. Cam is playing party captain. Hawk’s goal is to keep an eye on Evan.
We have plans to ensure we come out on top. It just depends on the moves of the other people. The main plan is for me and Evan to put on a performance for Olivia and catch the storm on video to use as blackmail or to broadcast at school. Olivia’s choice.
I’m not showing anyone an inch of Evan though.
The plan is to use the video later for Chase.
We talked it through in the shower as I fucked her against the tile wall—slowly, since she’s sore from last night.
Her skirt tonight will hide whether we’re actually fucking.
It just has to look like we’re fucking to get Olivia to explode.
“Why don’t we just fuck?” Evan’s voice was breathless. Pretty sure my little devil likes to put on a performance. But not this time.
“Because that’s for us, little devil. Only us.”
Every inch of her is ours, and I’m not sharing it with anyone else.
As much as I want to fulfill her every fantasy, I may be too possessive to show anyone else that part of us.
We need to keep track of the players and make sure the girls head to Chase’s room at the right time for optimum results. Cam will keep Chase distracted so he won’t come investigate or notice Evan isn’t where he left her.
Olivia has her friend Megan with her. They both have on short skirts and barely-there tops. Their pinkies hooked together as they walk through the party.
Megan might be collateral damage. It can’t be helped. Olivia’s overstepped one too many times. It’s time she learns the hard way she’s never going to have me.
EvanAnn
This isn’t like last weekend’s party at Olivia’s where the room was dark. Hawk and I are out in the open. Mia continues to flirt with Liam and Fletcher. It won’t be long before they end up in one of the bedrooms upstairs.
Hawk leans forward to talk with me. It’s casual looking, but his knuckles brush my bare knees, sending sparks through my system. We talk about Romeo and Juliet.
It’s nothing like the blatant flirting happening next to us, but I love that Hawk wants to talk Shakespeare with me. And not just surface stuff like Chase does.
My phone buzzes.
Sex God:
Now
I glance up at Hawk and nod.
“Should we move inside?” Hawk rises.
Liam and Fletcher stand with him like they’re in on the plan, but the only ones who know are the four of us, and Mia knows some. Mia squeezes my hand as we follow the guys inside.
The outside was quiet compared to in here. Music plays, drowning out other noises. The lights are down low, and people are making out on every available surface. There’s a group sitting in a circle on the living room floor spinning a bottle.
Two girls crawl to each other and kiss while the others cheer. I never really explored parties with Chase. He stayed outside by the beer pong table. It was a safe space I never wandered from. I never participated, and he never pushed me to do anything more.
Honestly, the fact he didn’t really want me did me a favor. He didn’t push me.
Now I belong to the guys I was always meant to belong to.
Our play is in motion. I haven’t seen Chase since he wandered off to try to keep his house intact. For all I know, he’s upstairs having sex right now.
I really don’t want to walk in on that.
I’ve already caught enough live shows to last me our high school career.
Cam is supposed to distract Chase from looking for me.
Tonight I’ll be the one giving a performance.
Anticipation and performance anxiety wind through me.
Hawk slips back and nods to Mia, who moves up to walk between Liam and Fletcher.
Their arms go around her. I kind of hope they’re serious about her. She deserves someone to love too. Or at least someone who wants to take care of her.
Hawk slides his hand onto the small of my back where my skin shows. His hand is warm, and I can’t wait to be able to turn into him and kiss him like he’s mine. I glance up at him through my lashes. He leans down to talk in my ear.
“You’re gorgeous tonight, baby girl.” His lips brush my ear and send a shiver through me.
I turn and lead him down a hallway. Either no one has found it or no one is inclined to use it. Being alone tempts me to make something happen with Hawk, but we’re on a time crunch. We make our way up some back steps and turn some corners until we’re almost at Chase’s bedroom.
Before we turn the corner, someone knocks on a door. Hawk presses me into the wall as we wait to see what’s happening.
“I don’t feel well,” a girl mumbles.
“Shh, you’re fine,” Olivia snaps. “I promised to bring you somewhere you could lie down.”
Olivia. They’re early. Fuck. My eyes meet Hawk’s and he presses his forehead against mine. All we can do is work with what we’ve got.
The door opens.
“What the fuck?” Damon’s voice. He was probably expecting me to be on the other side of the door. Not Olivia and whoever is with her.
“Well don’t just stand there. Help me. The ant is heavier than she looks,” Olivia says. “I got you a little theater nerd. Just like you wanted.”
What? I meet Hawk’s eyes. Who did Olivia get?
“I said willing.” Damon’s voice is tense.
Olivia shrugs. “She will be.”
“Fuck.” Damon’s word is soft, but there’s a slight groan of pain from the other girl.
Hawk nods at me and we round the corner, stepping into the open door to see Olivia leading Keira to the edge of the bed.
I press my hand to my mouth as I rush in. “What did you do?”
“Why are you here?” Olivia says at the same time and releases Keira.
I help Keira sit, tipping her chin up. Her eyes are seriously dilated.
“Damon, why is she here?” Olivia is so fucking confident in her ability to have Damon. I wish I could knock her down, but she’ll always be rich, and she’ll always have power.
Damon closes in on Olivia. “You were with Megan. Why are you with this girl now?”
Olivia shrugs like this is all beneath her and glares at Damon.
“Megan doesn’t like how the drugs make her feel.” Olivia scoffs. “Besides, she’s a greedy bitch and would have wanted all your attention.”
“What did you give Keira?” I ask, checking her pulse. It’s steady but fast. I lift my gaze to Hawk’s. “We need to get her to the hospital.”
Hawk nods and begins typing on his phone.
Olivia laughs. “Oh my god, she’ll be fine. It’s just a little party upper.”
Damon narrows his eyes on Olivia. “Did she know she was taking a drug?”
“Why are you angry? I did what you wanted.” Olivia glares at Damon. “You wanted a little theater nerd, so I brought you one.”
“I also said willing. This doesn’t look willing. Did you slip her the drug?” Damon glances at us. I sit next to Keira on the bed. She sways like we’re on a boat.
Olivia glances at Keira. “It’s her fault. She drank what I gave her without asking questions. Honestly, she should know better.”
“I don’t feel well.” Keira clutches her stomach.
I go into Chase’s bathroom and wet a washcloth with cool water before coming back in. Olivia has her arms crossed like we’re interrupting her fun time with nonsense. I sit beside Keira and put the cool cloth on the back of her neck.
“That feels nice.” Keira’s smile is loose, and her words slurred.
Hawk squats in front of her and meets my gaze. “Cam’s finding someone who can give us a lift. She can’t ride in this state.”
I nod, but I’m nervous for Keira. She’s been nice to me. Honestly, she’s been more of a friend than Mia. Rage wells inside me. Where does Olivia get off with targeting us? Is it because we can’t fight back?
“Why are they here, Damon?” Olivia demands. “You told me it would be just us.”
“You told me you’d bring someone willing. Not that you would drug some random girl at the party so you could rape her.” Damon’s voice is colder than I’ve heard it in a long time.
“Girls can’t rape girls.” Olivia looks away.
“Did she consent, Olivia?” Damon stalks closer. “Did she say yes, I want to fuck you and whoever else you get to party with us? Did she ask to be fucking drugged?”
“This was all a fucking trap anyway, so what do you care?” Olivia looks like she’s ready to storm out.
“You put drugs in someone’s drink.” Damon’s voice is low. “You don’t know what else she might have in her system that would fuck with it. Instead of getting her medical attention when she said she wasn’t feeling well, you brought her here to rape her. Fuck you, Olivia.”
“What about your whore?” Olivia gestures to me with her chin. “That’s the real reason I’m here, right? You’re going to tell me to fuck off again. Like you don’t want to fuck me.”
“I don’t want to fuck you!” Damon says. “Get it into your fucking head already. I’ve never wanted to fuck you.”
Cam shows up in the doorway. “Truck’s outside.”
His gaze roams over all of us.
“Will you carry her?” I ask softly.
Cam nods and scoops Keira up into his arms. She groans and clutches her stomach. “We’ll grab a bucket on the way out.”
When I stand and turn to follow them, Damon pulls me into a hug. I rest my head against his chest and breathe out, taking comfort in his warmth.
“Go on. I’ll take care of this.” Damon presses a kiss to the top of my head.
I draw away and look up into his eyes.
“Yes, run away.” Olivia smirks. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep your man warm.”
Something settles inside me, like the center of a storm. She’s never going to give up on Damon. Fuck this bitch.
I straighten and turn to Olivia. “What the fuck is it going to take to make you see he’ll never be yours because he’s mine?”
“For now.” She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “I’ve been waiting years for him.”
“Why can’t you get this into your head?” I run a hand through my hair while Hawk stands next to Damon and Cam holds Keira next to the door. They’re all watching me.
Fuck it. I step closer to Olivia. Her heels make her taller than me, but I don’t give a shit.
She looks down her nose at me and crosses her arms over her chest. “You’re just something he wants to play with right this minute. I’m fucking endgame.”
“You don’t know the first thing about him.” I narrow my eyes. Why does she want him so much?
“He’s popular, plays hockey, and fucks you like you mean nothing to him. What more do I need to know?” Olivia arches an eyebrow, but she doesn’t get it.
He’s a fucking trophy to her. She’s never looked into his eyes when he’s buried deep inside her and felt that raw connection.
She’s never felt him curl around her in his sleep, holding her tight so neither of them have nightmares.
He’s never brought her a plate of food because he’s worried she hasn’t eaten enough.
And she never will know that side of him, because it’s mine.
“When I say he’s mine, I mean he’s mine and I’m his.
We care for each other. We aren’t just fucking around to get off.
” I turn to look at him. Damon sits on the edge of the bed and watches me.
My heart beats a little harder. “You’re right.
He is those things, but he’s also so much more.
I’d get it if you wanted more than sex from him, but that’s not why you keep coming after him. Is it?”
She presses her lips together and glares at me.
“He’s your fucking prize in the box of cereal. The participation award you deserve for going to this high school. You don’t give a shit about Damon.”
I can’t keep doing this. She needs to stop, and Damon isn’t going to be able to do it. It’s up to me.
“You want something you can use against me?” Laughing bitterly, I look around at the guys before glaring back into her eyes.
“I love him. I love Damon and Hawk and Cam and whatever the fuck we’re doing.
It’s not typical. It’s not all sexy times and getting off.
It’s real and emotional and everything I’ve ever needed.
We take care of each other. And that means finally dealing with you. ”
“Watch how you speak to me. You can’t get any lower, ant.”
“Watch how you speak to her,” Damon steps up behind me. His warmth is a wall surrounding me, but not touching, just supporting. “I’ve told you who she is to me and still you persist. I love Evan. I’m not giving her up. Not for you or any of your machinations.”
“You can’t be serious.” Olivia stomps her foot.
“Why do you want him?” I lean back against him, giving into the need. “What’s the fucking point? He doesn’t want you.”
“But he should. He should want me more than any other girl in this school. I’m everything.
Beautiful, rich, popular. He belongs to me.
” She eyes me up and down with disdain. “Not you. You mean nothing to anyone at this fucking school. Yes, they love trotting out the poor, little, talented kids, but you won’t make it in the real world.
Do you know how much Chase and I laughed at the fact you honestly thought he really wanted you? ”
Her laugh is bitter. It stops abruptly as I smack her across her face.