Chapter 51
Hawk
Annie is sprawled over me in sleep. Cam’s hand hits my arm as he rolls next to me. I shake my head. Damon is on the other side of Annie. His hand is over her hip, possessive even in sleep. I breathe in this moment.
Do I want a future with this in it? Absolutely. But I need to reevaluate my priorities if this is what I want.
I roll with Annie so she’s on the bed and slide out from beside her. After I use the bathroom, I walk through the bedroom. The three of them are asleep, so I head downstairs to the kitchen to start some coffee.
The weekends are the staff’s days off. It doesn’t make sense for them to keep up service just for me, when I’m rarely home on those days anyway. The chef always makes sure to prepare some easy-to-reheat meals in case I’m actually at home.
As I get to the bottom of the stairs, I hear some footsteps behind me and turn to see Annie walking down to me. Barefoot, with her legs bared. My shirt covers her. Her hair falls around her shoulders as if she ran her fingers through it.
She’s absolutely gorgeous.
She smiles. “Morning.”
“Morning.” I lean on the newel post to wait for her, watching her descend the stairs. “What’s got you out of bed?”
She shrugs and stops beside me to wrap her arms around my waist. “I figured since you were up, you were probably trying to find us breakfast. Thought you could use a hand.”
I kiss her softly before leading her toward the kitchen.
“I can’t promise much for breakfast. Coffee, maybe some muffins, pastries. There might be some bacon or sausage and some eggs.”
Annie laughs. “So not much then?”
“Probably not enough to feed everyone.” I grin as I back into the kitchen and the smell of coffee hits me.
“Good morning, Hawk.” My dad’s voice makes me freeze. But not until both Annie and I are in the kitchen. His green eyes flick to Annie. “And Hawk’s friend.”
Annie stops behind me. Her cheeks are flushed red, and her hands tug at the shirt that she’s wearing over panties. It’s long enough to cover everything, but it’s also obvious she’s not wearing much more.
“Good morning.” Her voice is a little unsure.
Dad leans on the counter next to the coffee machine that is already brewing a pot. He turns and grabs a coffee mug to add to the two already waiting and then he adds another cup.
I swallow. “Mom’s home.”
It’s rare for my dad to be home, but even more rare that they’re both here. A stone falls in my stomach.
He nods and looks at Annie. “Do you need to take your friend home?”
He puts emphasis on friend. Fuck that. Annie doesn’t need to be shamed about being here.
“This is my girlfriend, EvanAnn.” I step closer to her.
The coffee finishes brewing. My dad’s eyes remain blank and unimpressed.
“And do EvanAnn’s parents know about her little sleepover?” Dad pours the coffee into a cup and holds it out to me.
I pass it to Annie. She mumbles a thank you before blowing gently on it. When Dad hands me another, I take it and set it on the island in front of me. He gives me the look that he’s processing this and isn’t happy with it. God forbid I have anything in my life that might derail my education.
“Her mother knows she’s out.” At least I assume Annie texted her mom like she normally does. This is the part that stings about my parents being home. Them finally wanting to know what I’m doing and having opinions about it. When they’re gone, my life is my own.
Dad finishes pouring the cups and nods. “We need to have a conversation.” He glances at Annie. “I hope to meet you when you’re better prepared.”
He lifts the cups, rounds the island, and leaves the kitchen.
“Should I leave?” Annie’s voice is small.
I take the cup from her and set it next to mine, before I drag her into my body and hug her. “No, baby girl. Not yet. Let’s go back to my room and make sure the others know. We’ll get dressed and head out.”
She glances over her shoulder before lifting her gaze to mine. “Don’t you need to talk to your parents?”
I don’t know what they need to talk to me about, but it can’t be good. Normally, they aren’t home at the same time. And even then, I have autonomy to come and go as I please. Unless this is finally when they tell me they’re getting a divorce.
I clench my jaw, but then soften it when I focus on Annie. “We have rehearsal this afternoon. It can wait until dinner tonight.”
EvanAnn
It really feels like a ride of shame this morning. I’ve never been caught with a boyfriend before. And definitely not when he’s standing in only his boxers and I’m in one of his shirts. I always wondered what it would feel like.
Now that I know, it’s not an experience I want to repeat.
My blood felt like lava coursing through my veins.
If I thought watching the video of me naked in front of the Devil’s trio was humiliating, this was that times ten.
I’m usually a favorite with parents. After all, I have perfect grades and, not to toot my own horn, but I’m kind of a big deal at Anteros.
We pull up to Damon’s and my house and park in the garage.
The guys haven’t said much, but the mood has been somber since Hawk said his parents are back in town. After we told the others, we got dressed and left.
Fortunately, we didn’t run into Mr. or Mrs. Wilker on the way out. I don’t know how Hawk would explain his friends staying over while he also had his girlfriend stay the night. It’s not like Damon couldn’t walk home from there if he were too drunk to ride.
When we get inside, it looks like our parents are both out. I release my held breath as we head upstairs to our rooms. I go into mine with Hawk and Cam following me, while Damon goes into his.
I take off my clothes, dropping them in the hamper, and go to the closet to find something to wear for today.
Lots of coverage, whatever it is. My cheeks burn, thinking of what I must have looked like to Hawk’s dad.
Fortunately, my panties had been covered by the t-shirt.
I don’t mind the guys seeing me like that, but an adult? A shudder rolls through me.
“Are you angry at me, Annie?”
I turn to find Hawk leaning against the doorframe, watching me. I grab a sweatshirt and tug it on over my underwear.
“Why would I be angry?” I lift my hair from the shirt and grab a pair of jeans to pull on.
“Because I called you my girlfriend.” He studies my face.
“Why would that make me angry?” I shrug. “I am your girlfriend. And it’s better than being your friend.”
I walk up to him and put my hand on his chest when he doesn’t move out of the way. For a moment, I let his heat flow over me. Even though we’ve drunk our fill of each other, I still want more. I want to explore more with him.
When he goes to step back, I clench my hand in his shirt, holding him there. Our eyes lock and I arch an eyebrow. “Has your dad met a lot of your friends?”
“Jealous, baby girl?” His eyes darken as his hands go to my hips to pull me closer.
I roll my eyes, trying to play off the twist in my stomach. He’s been with a lot of other girls and probably at his house. It must be convenient with his parents always gone.
I try not to let my jealousy leak through to my words and try for flippant. “Only of all the girls who got a tour of that movie theater.”
He smirks. “Only you got the full tour. Including the bedroom.”
Relief washes through me. I don’t understand this need to be special. To have pieces of them no one else has had.
“Good.” I pat his chest and give him a slight push to let me out.
He chuckles but releases me. He walks over to the bed to sit next to Cam while I head to my desk.
“I’ve got homework—”
“For fuck’s sake.” Cam blows out a breath. “No wonder you’re top of our class. Do you do anything besides homework, goody?”
“Apparently I do you guys now too.” I arch an eyebrow and turn to my desk. “We have rehearsal this afternoon. I need to stay ahead in my classes because, as the production gets closer, I’ll have less time.”
“Of course, director.” Hawk stands and kisses my head, resting his hand on my shoulder. I love the weight of it there. Solid.
Hawk waits for me to look up at him. When I relent, he smirks and kisses me. A lingering kiss that leaves me breathless when he straightens.
“I should head home anyway.” Cam stretches and as his shirt lifts, I catch a glimpse of his abs. I’m a very lucky girl. He smirks when he sees me looking. “I’ve got a test this week I should study for.”
When he comes over, I tip my face up for him, and he kisses me. I grab his shirt and pull him back down for a second kiss.
“What’s that for?” he asks, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I’m proud of you for studying. Without me telling you to.”
He chuckles. “What else am I supposed to do with you working?”
“It’s still a choice, Cam.”
They head out, stopping in Damon’s room to say goodbye.
If the guys have their way, in the future, we won’t have to say goodbye.
We can all live together during college and see each other when we can.
Though I’m not sure if Mom will be okay with that.
We’ve never really discussed whether or not I should live with someone.
But it’s not really her choice after this year.
“I’m going to go work out.” Damon’s voice makes me turn my chair around to see him in shorts and a t-shirt. “Wait for Hawk to take you to rehearsal.”
I roll my eyes. “There hasn’t been anything new from the unknown number. I really think it was someone trying to scare me.”
Damon crosses the room to kneel next to me so I don’t have to stretch my neck to meet his gaze. He lifts my chin. “You need to be careful. Just because he hasn’t escalated doesn’t mean he isn’t waiting for an opportunity.”
I want to argue with him. “Fine. But if Hawk isn’t here on time, I’m leaving without him.”
“He will be.” Damon kisses me soundly before standing and leaving. I stare at the door for a moment after he closes it.
I’ve gotten so used to driving Damon’s car that it hasn’t occurred to me to ask about my car. No one’s mentioned it at dinner. Surely, it’s done by now.
Me:
Hey, what’s the deal with my car?
I send the message to Mom and set down my phone, figuring it will take her a while to get back to me. My phone buzzes.
Mom:
There were too many issues with it
We sold it and put the money in your savings account
You can keep driving Damon’s car or we can get you a new one
My first response is nearly you sold my car?! But I don’t send it, sitting with this information first and letting it digest. The car wasn’t anything special to me. Great Aunt Maude had it in her garage, and since she couldn’t see well enough to drive anymore, she passed it on to me.
It’s not even that it’s gone that bothers me.
The thing that really got to me is that she’s willing to buy me another.
Not with her money, because I know she doesn’t have the money for it, but definitely with Adam’s.
I love my mom, but honestly, looking at this from Damon’s point of view, she comes off as a gold digger.
Moving in here. Her new outfits. The clothes she bought me. Offering to buy me a car?
Me:
I’ll make do with what I have
I wish you would have asked before selling the car
I set my phone to the side and look around my room. This is just the place I keep my stuff. At night I sleep with Damon. The only thing I need money for is college. And it’s not like Mom’s going to make Adam pay for that.
My academic record and my directing should help me get into almost any school, but it won’t mean I can afford any school.
Yes, I can get scholarships, but I’ll need living expenses too.
The guys all have the means to go to any school they want.
What happens when I get in and then can’t afford to go to the school with them?
That’s the compromise I’m worried about. I may have to compromise location to go to a school that’s good for directing and acting, plus one I can afford. What if that limits Damon’s dream? Or Hawk’s? Or Cam’s?
I don’t want to be responsible for limiting their futures. My battle was always going to be an uphill struggle. Any money my parents might have put away went to my father’s treatment. After that, money was always tight.
But I don’t have time to think about that right now. I have homework I need to focus on and a rehearsal to lead.
I glance at my phone. Fuck it. I can at least do one thing the guys want me to do. It makes sense. I can’t just let Chase keep using me.
Me:
Chase and I broke up
I wait a minute or two, staring at the conversation with my mom. Maybe she only had a few minutes to text earlier, and she’s busy now. Maybe her phone ran out of charge. A small part of me whispers that maybe Damon’s right and she just doesn’t care.