Chapter 8
EvanAnn
“How’s school going, Evan?” Mom asks.
I look up at my name and meet Damon’s eyes across the table. He looks bored. I look away quickly. Drawing in a breath, I refocus on the room. Wednesday night dinner with the family. My mind had wandered while Mom talked about her work.
There’s this scene between Desdemona and Othello that’s missing something. I’ve been struggling to figure out what it is. Running the scene over and over again in my head. Changing perspective to try to see what it is I’m missing. Is it something that Mark or Mia isn’t doing?
Maybe I should call Keira. She might know what I’m talking about. Or I could call an emergency rehearsal with Mark and Mia.
“Evan?” Mom touches my hand and glances toward Adam with a rueful smile. “Sorry, she gets like this when she’s got a production going. Head in the clouds is what Jason always said.”
My heart clenches at the reminder of my dad. It may have been years, but sometimes his death and the grief feels as fresh as yesterday. Sometimes the memories will make me smile or sometimes they’ll make me cry, but I love that I still remember him.
“Evan.” Damon’s voice is soft.
I lift my gaze, and his blue eyes center me, bringing me back here. Back to him.
“Sorry, Mom.” I glance down at my half-eaten dinner, trying not to let how I feel about Damon come out. “School’s going well. There’s this problem with a scene that’s using up most of my brain right now.”
“Othello is a big production.” Adam glances at Damon before focusing on me. His eyes narrow thoughtfully. “I’m surprised they let you take it on.”
“The school likes to challenge the seniors. There will be a few other plays this year. Smaller casts. Shorter scripts. And then the spring showcase.” I inhale because I’m comfortable talking about this. It’s easier than trying to make small talk or just talking about my day.
Because my days and my nights are filled with the Devil’s trio, but I’m not about to tell my mother about that.
I can’t tell her how I laughed with Cam at lunch when he told me a story about a party gone wrong.
Or how Hawk can just touch my hand and settle my thoughts.
Or how Damon holds me at night and makes sure I have something to eat during long rehearsals.
“The thing that’s on my mind is how weird it was that you had a reaction to that rose.” Mom cuts her chicken and takes a bite. “Maybe we should get you to an allergist. Make sure it isn’t something that you’ll come into contact with again.”
My panicked gaze lifts to Damon before I bury the feeling. “I don’t have time to go to a doctor right now, Mom. Maybe we can do it in late November or early December when things have calmed down.”
I give my mom a smile and hope she lets it go.
“We should have had someone collect the rose.” Mom shakes her head. “Maybe there was something on it.”
“Unfortunately, someone must have thrown it away.” I touch the back of her hand and smile when she meets my eyes. “I’m okay. It burned, but the rinsing and the antihistamines made it better. It’s not like we have someone who could analyze it on speed dial.”
Though my guys do.
“I might know someone.” Adam smirks and, for a second, he looks so much like Damon my breath catches. “If something happens like this again, we should definitely take it to the police. Without the rose, we don’t know if someone tampered with it or you just had a bad reaction.”
Damon’s foot presses against mine under the table, and I release the breath I was holding.
The rose is safely with Cam. There’s not more to it besides the oil.
The note was written in block print, and Cam’s guy did a test for fingerprints.
We knew whoever put it down had to handle it with care or use gloves to make sure they didn’t get pricked.
The guys and I talked about it, but right now, it just looks like a prank gone wrong to everyone else.
I’ve gotten some mysterious texts, but that’s it.
There’s no proof of the car in the parking lot—it was outside the range of the school cameras.
The police have more important things to do than to analyze a rose when we already know what was on it. It wasn’t anything illegal either.
“Hopefully nothing like that happens again.” Mom shakes her head. “I don’t know how I’d deal with another trip to the hospital.”
Adam takes her hand, threading their fingers together, and smiles softly at her. “I’m sure you did fine.”
“I’m sure I sounded like a maniac.” Mom shakes her head with a wry smile. “I had no idea what happened. Just that Mr. Watson called and said they had taken Evan to urgent care. Pretty sure I broke a few traffic laws to get there.”
“I also know a guy who can fix tickets.” Adam brings her hand up to his lips and kisses her knuckles. My mom’s cheeks turn pink. It’s kind of sweet and also a little disturbing at the same time.
“I need to go...” Damon stands and gestures to our parents. “Anywhere else.”
He walks away from the table, and Adam sighs.
“He’ll get used to having you around.” He picks up his wine glass and takes a sip.
“His mother’s death was devastating to both of us.
I got him into therapy, but it doesn’t help if you don’t want help.
” Adam glances at me, and I swallow. “He seems calmer with you here. Maybe it’s because he knows you went through the same thing.
You’re solid and thriving just like him. Thank you.”
“Uh, sure.” I blot my lips with my napkin. “I should go work on my homework. If you’ll excuse me?”
“Of course, dear.” Mom picks up her wine glass. “You remember we’re going out for drinks tonight with some of Adam’s colleagues.”
I stand and nod. That’s why we’re meeting here tonight. “Have a good night.”
Hawk
Damon wanted to meet down in the rec room instead of his bedroom. Maybe to prevent us from fucking our girl before we have a chance to talk about him heading off to training next week. Honestly, I think we can accomplish both at the same time.
Cam walks in with me, and we head to the basement, grabbing a couple of drinks from the fridge before sitting on the couch. I’d hoped to at least make Annie come in the closet yesterday, but she had other things on her mind.
Important things that needed to be talked about. This relationship didn’t start like a typical one, so we haven’t discussed things besides that night she lost her virginity. Maybe we need another night like that. Where she can ask us what she wants to.
Annie comes down first. She smiles when she sees us, and my heart warms.
“Hey, goody.” Cam rises and crosses the room to lift her into his arms. He kisses her and nuzzles her neck until she giggles. “I’ve missed spending the night with you.”
“I’ve missed you too, Cam.”
He sets her on her feet, and I reach out my hand to her. She comes to me and sits beside me on the couch, our thighs pressed against each other.
“Hawk,” she breathes out.
“Annie.” I draw her face to mine and kiss her softly. “How are you? Healing?”
I lift her bandaged hand and kiss her knuckles.
“Coming along nicely,” Damon says as he walks in. “She’ll be healed before you know it.”
Annie presses into my side with a little exhale. Cam sits on her other side. Damon looks at the three of us and shakes his head with a smirk. He can fuck off. He gets her in his bed every night. We have to deal with the scraps of attention we can get. For now.
He leans against the wall and rubs the side of his lip. “We need a schedule for this weekend and next week.”
The hockey week starts with him and his dad driving up Friday night.
“Mom’s already mentioned a movie night for Friday night.” Annie rests her head on my shoulder and tangles her fingers with Cam’s. “I was thinking about asking Mia to spend the night.”
Damon’s mouth tightens. “No.”
“I know she’s not your favorite person, but she’s my friend and I want to spend time with her.” Annie straightens and glares at Damon. “I don’t need you to control my whole life.”
I smirk but try to hide it from Damon. That’s exactly what he wants. He likes having full access to Annie. I imagine he’ll have the whole house tripped out with video cameras while he’s gone so he can watch her every move.
She’s lucky he doesn’t make her wear a body cam. Though it’s not a bad idea, given someone’s fucking with her. The ring will track her if she goes missing, but a body cam would tell us what happened.
Damon’s gaze flicks to mine before he focuses on Annie.
“Mia will probably sneak off to whatever party is happening, and you won’t be sneaking with her.
You don’t go anywhere without one of us.
Your girlfriends won’t be able to protect you.
It would be better if Hawk or Cam or both of them sleep with you. That way I know you’re safe.”
“I’m in the house with my mom and a security system that’s top notch.
” She holds up her hand, showing her ring.
“I’m tagged like a pet, so if I get lost you can find me.
Not to mention the video surveillance you have set up to capture my every move.
What exactly do you expect to happen while you’re away? ”
He turns his head to the side, looking away from us. His jaw is clenched. Both Cam and I go still.
“His mom got worse while he was at training camp for the summer,” Cam says quietly. “He wanted to stay home with her, but she insisted he go.”
Her blue eyes turn to silver, and she releases both of us to close the distance between her and Damon. She wraps her arms around him while he stands stiffly, not looking at her. Not really accepting her hug.
“I’ll be fine, Damon.”
“You forget to eat.”
“I’ll set a timer.”
“You stay up too late working.”
“I’ll set so many timers I won’t know whether I’m supposed to sleep or eat.” She lifts her head and reaches up to tip his face to look down at her. “I kept myself alive for eighteen years, Damon. I think I can make it a week without you.”
“What if I can’t make it a week without you?
” The words are soft, and it feels like we’re intruding on this moment, but at the same time, we get it better than anyone else would.
I’m hoping this week works out. I can’t imagine being away from Annie for weeks at a time.
Trying to make long distance work will be hell on all of us.
“We’ll video chat, and you’ll be watching me.” She gives him this smile that tugs at something in my chest. Part of me still can’t believe she loves us. That she loves him.
He’s hard to love. Cam and I both know that. He’s tried to shove us away over the years, but we don’t let him. Everyone else can leave, but not us. He needs us as much as we need him.
We all need someone like Annie. Someone soft and gentle who lets us play rough with her but still comes back for more. I don’t think I’ll ever let her go. Maybe I’ll join Damon in stalking her if she ever dares to leave us.
“Go back to the others, little devil.” He rubs her back and then sets her away from him. “We need to talk before I have you on your knees.”
She meets his gaze and wets her lips. His eyes darken, but she just smiles and returns to her place on the couch between me and Cam.
“Mom and Dad are being super weird,” I admit.
Annie tips her head to look questioningly up at me.
“It’s like they finally are in love again and want to share it with me.” I shudder. “Which, while fascinating, watching it makes me nauseous. They kiss and giggle with each other like they’re teenagers.”
Annie’s expression changes from concern to hiding a smile. “That’s awesome.”
“Maybe if I didn’t have to witness it at the breakfast table.
” I touch her nose. “You know who bought all that art around our house? My parents. They are very direct about sex to the point I had to ask them to stop talking with me about it a few years ago because the last thing you want to think about when you have sex is your parents.”
Annie makes a face.
“Yeah, not fun.” I shake my head. “I’ll see what days I can sneak out, but I’m sure Cam can figure something out too.”
“I just got out of the corner, man.” Cam chuckles. “My dad loves what my grades are doing and that I’m studying more, but he’s not convinced I’m taking this seriously. I have to be home some nights.”
“Then Evan can stay with you guys at your houses,” Damon says like it’s a done deal.
“I don’t think my mom will go for that.” Annie sighs. “You do know that me sleeping with you every night isn’t normal, right?”
“Feels normal to me.” Damon smirks.
“We’ll work it out.” I meet Damon’s eyes. “She won’t be left alone. You won’t have to worry.”
Cam claps his hands. “So that’s done then? Because it’s been a hot minute since I’ve had Evan alone.”
Annie flushes and looks around the room. “Should we move upstairs?”
“Why, Annie?” I tip her chin my way. “I was thinking we should play another game.”
“Then we should definitely move upstairs,” she says.
“Our parents aren’t home, little devil. Besides, games are more fun when there’s an element of risk. Like getting caught.” Damon moves to the chair and lounges in it.
Annie narrows her eyes on him. “If we get caught, you probably won’t be able to have me in your bed and bathroom every night.”
Damon’s smirk is evil and relaxed. He leans forward and looks Annie up and down. “I’d like to see them try to keep me away from you.”
She squirms between us.
“I vote fuck, marry, kill. If you don’t want to sort the people you’re given, you take a dare.” Cam rubs his hands together. Guaranteed to make us take dares.
“I was thinking truth or dare.” I brush my hand over Annie’s back, and she shivers beneath my touch. “We could learn something about someone we want to know.”
Damon leans back and steeples his fingers against his lips. “Person whose turn it is decides truth or fuck, marry, kill. They don’t want to answer they do the dare.”
Annie bites her lip and looks between us. “Who would choose truth?”
“You haven’t heard the fuck, marry, kill choices yet, goody.” Cam stands and walks over to the bar. “Besides, it’s more about the dares anyway.”
Grabbing a bottle of vodka and a few shot glasses, he brings them back to the couch and sets them on the table.
Annie’s nose wrinkles. “Vodka?”
“Good vodka.” Cam pours the drinks and passes them out. “One shot to start and loosen things up.”
I clink my shot against Annie’s and take the shot down my throat. Annie throws hers back and gasps. I capture the back of her neck and draw her in for a kiss. I don’t know about the others, but I plan on winning this game.