Chapter 19
Cam
I sit in the back of the black box theater as Evan gives the actors notes from rehearsal.
It’s the same every night. There’s something soothing about the way she pays them compliments while also giving them ways to be better.
The sadness and anger from this morning doesn’t seem to hang over her. At least not in here.
Everyone rises to their feet and heads out.
Evan glances my way with a smile before talking with Keira. Mia walks over to me.
“Guess you’re not in the doghouse?” She smirks and drops into the chair one over from mine, leaving space between us.
“Nah, I couldn’t fit with Damon shoved in there.” I raise an eyebrow, and she laughs.
“He stopped by before he left.” She watches Evan walk with Keira to close up the room. “Gave her a helmet and a snack.”
“Did she throw it in his face?” I’m glad it’s not me she’s angry with.
“He kissed her, and she gave him a hug.” Mia shrugged. “But it wasn’t the way they usually are with each other.”
“How so?” I cock my head.
“Those two give off second-degree burns with how hot they run normally.” Mia grins. “The first time I saw them together, I told her she should suck his cock, but she’s not that kind of girl.”
I grunt. She totally is that kind of girl for us.
“I didn’t know there was already something between them, but there’s this intensity that’s hard to miss.
” Mia shrugs. “Now, there’s something more between the two of them.
That fire is still there, but it’s been dampened by the bullshit from this morning.
” She turns to me with a serious face. “You’ll take care of her, won’t you? ”
I nod. “She’s my girl too.”
Mia breathes out. “I’m not good at the being there for my friends thing. I’ve fucked up too many times in the past. Hit on the guy they liked. Their boyfriend liked me better. That kind of shit. But I’m done playing those games.”
I make a noise that she must assume means I think she’s lying.
“I know how this looks.” Mia rubs her hands together. “I would have fucked all three of you if you weren’t with Evan, but I’m not doing that to her. Even if it was an option, which it’s not. I know when I’m not wanted. Trust me.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I can’t help but ask.
“Because Abby’s planning something. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been sticking closer to her to try to figure out what.
” Mia runs a hand over her hair. “She doesn’t trust me enough to let me in, but I’m afraid it’s something with Evan or one of you guys.
If I figure out what it is, I’ll let you know.
But I’m warning you now to watch for her.
Abby’s a catty bitch and wasn’t happy when Evan was with Chase.
She’s fucking furious Evan has you three. ”
I nod and lean forward. “We’re watching Evan. What happened last weekend won’t happen again. We’ll make sure of it.”
“Good.” Mia stands and brushes her hands off on her skirt. She smiles as she watches Evan. “I like Evan. I think she’s a good influence on me.”
“You partying this weekend?” I ask out of habit more than anything else.
Mia’s cheeks flush pink, but her smile is cocky. “I have a date.”
“Who’s next on your list?” I chuckle, thinking of our roster.
“Liam and Fletcher.” For a moment, she seems like Evan. This soft, sweet look comes over her face. “I think I actually like them.”
“Good.” I stand and follow her over to Evan. Mia in an actual relationship is a good thing. And knowing it’s Liam and Fletcher, I smirk. They’ll have their hands full, but they’re good guys.
Mia says goodbye to Evan and walks out with Keira, talking about a movie night. When Evan turns to me, her eyes are dry and she even has a smile on her lips.
“Hey,” she says and picks up her backpack.
I take it out of her hands and swing it onto my shoulder. “Hey, goody.”
She smiles and grabs her helmet. She doesn’t even realize what that means. I doubt Damon told her.
“Do you know why Damon has that helmet?” I take her hand and pull her out into the hallway.
She stops and locks the door, looking over her shoulder at me with a questioning brow.
I smile and take her hand again. Feeling her small warm hand in mine is one of my favorite things about having her as my girlfriend. “When we started riding, Hawk thought it would be a great way to pick up chicks.”
He wasn’t wrong.
“That probably contributed to your numbers.” She rolls her eyes, but there isn’t any jealousy in her tone. No bite like earlier this week.
I smirk. “Probably.”
She holds out the helmet. “So Damon bought this to get chicks?”
“Hawk said we should all get helmets for chicks, but he’s the only one who did it.” I shake my head. “Damon started riding when his mom was sick.”
We push out into the evening air. The sun was making its way down, but there was still light everywhere.
She stops at my bike and looks at me with a question in her eyes.
“His mom always wanted to ride a motorcycle. He bought her that helmet so she could ride with him.”
Evan looks at the helmet with tears gathering in her eyes. But they’re different than the tears from this morning. She lifts her blue-gray eyes to mine. “Did she?”
I shake my head. “They talked about it a lot. About how they’d go out for a ride in the countryside, when she felt better.
..” I cough to clear the sudden lump in my throat.
“He’d take video for her to watch when we got back from riding.
We all loved her so much. She was our hockey mom.
Every game, every practice, she’d be there cheering us on. ”
Evan wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head on my heart. “I’ll be there when I can.”
“I know, goody.” I cradle her head against me and take in a deep breath. “No one wore that helmet until you. Damon wouldn’t let anyone ride on his bike, because that’s where she was supposed to be. But he gave it to you because it’s his connection to his mom. Because you’re important to him.”
A soft sob comes out of her, and I hold her tighter.
“Everything’s going to be okay, goody. I know it.”
EvanAnn
Cam brings me home and walks me inside.
“Cam, right?” My mom comes out of a room and holds her hand out to Cam. “I’m Heather, EvanAnn’s mom.”
Cam takes her hand and shakes it. “Nice to meet you, Heather.”
Mom looks from me to Cam and back to me. “Would you two want to have dinner with me? Or are you going out? Do you only go out together? Will Hawk be joining you?”
I must look like a deer caught in headlights. Yeah, I told her about the guys, but I wasn’t expecting her to be cool about it. In fact, I secretly thought she’d go in the opposite direction and forbid me from seeing any of them. Not that I’d let that happen.
“Adam took Damon to Crowne Mawr.” Mom gestures for us to follow her to the dining room.
With a little chuckle, Cam practically pushes me to follow her.
“Have you planned your college trips, Cam?” Mom asks and gestures to the table that’s been set for two. The server brings out another setting and sets it up. Still too weird.
Cam smiles. “Thanks, Adelaide.”
My eyes widen when I look up at him. Of course, she has a name, but I just didn’t think to ask, and no one introduced her.
Adelaide smiles and touches his arm in a friendly gesture before heading back to the kitchen. Huh. No one’s really interacted with her before. Sure, there are discreet hand signals from Adam I picked up on, but I didn’t know her name was Adelaide.
Cam holds my chair out for me, and I sit down. When he takes his seat, he pulls the napkin across his lap and looks up at my mom.
“Yes, I’ve got a few visits planned for the near future. Crowne Mawr is on my short list.” Cam takes my hand on the table. Not hiding it below.
My cheeks flush with heat like he propositioned me in front of my mom.
“It’s a good school, and with Deimos on your resume, I’m sure you’ll get in.”
Adelaide comes out with dishes and puts them in front of us. It’s a vegetarian dish I’m not familiar with, but it smells delicious.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“Do you play hockey like Damon?” Mom cuts her food and arches an eyebrow at Cam. Playing the perfect host.
“No one plays hockey like Damon.” Cam laughs. “But I do play hockey. I might even try out to sit on the bench in college.”
“I’m sure you’ll get some ice time.” Mom sounds certain.
“It won’t matter as long as I’m with my friends.” Cam smiles and releases my hand to eat his food.
Mom clears her throat and looks at me. “How was your day, Evan?”
I swallow my bite and pat my lips with my napkin. “It was okay.”
This morning was rough, but the day went by like any other day. Even afternoon rehearsal went fairly well. Hawk had pulled me into the hallway afterward and just held me for a few moments before he headed off to hockey practice.
“Is everything okay with you and Damon?” Mom asks. Her eyes watch me for any indication that I’m not okay.
I don’t blame her really. I cried a lot this morning. But that moment when he came to say goodbye helped. He didn’t explain the significance of the helmet. I wish he had, but I understand why he didn’t.
“We think the time away from each other will help them figure out where to go next. Keep them from being too impulsive.” Cam rubs my back and meets my mother’s gaze. “But I don’t see this being more than a blip.”
Mom smiles and takes a sip of her wine. “That’s what I told Evan. It’s always hardest when you’re in the middle of it though.”
“She’s got us to support her.”
Mom dangles her wine in her fingers and cocks her head slightly. “But you’re Damon’s friends.”
“Best friends. Practically brothers.” Cam glances at me and his gaze softens. “But we all love Evan. This isn’t some sort of game or phase for us. What we have is real and worth keeping. So we’ll help them work through it.”
My chest feels warm, and I can’t look my mom in the eye right now. Yes, Damon and I are a little wrecked right now. But Hawk and Cam will hold us together, because we love each other.