Chapter 32
EvanAnn
Cam’s studying for a test and I don’t want to disturb him. I need to think about something else besides the inevitability of having to talk to Damon tomorrow and sort out our shit. I’m caught up on all of my schoolwork, and I need a break from the play.
Damon did give me access to his video files and permission to edit them. Fuck it. Seeing what Damon sees might be inspiring or at least give me something to do.
When I open up the cloud account, there are so many videos. Each camera seems to have its own folder. I glance at the camera in the corner and glare at it. There are multiple files of cameras.
I figured he had a couple here and there, but this is a lot. It’s going to take time to figure out which camera goes with which room. Curious, I go into a file and click on a random video.
The video I chose shows me walking across my bedroom and sitting at the desk. Okay, so this is my bedroom cam.
The next file is the living room camera from our old house. I get out paper to make notes about what camera file goes where. I’d rename them, but it’s probably best not to mess too much with his filing system. I’ve gotten through about half of them. It’s a little alarming how much Damon watches me.
But I doubt he watches all of these files.
When I click into the next file, it’s an angle looking over Chase’s shoulder in his bedroom.
I check the time stamp on the file, and I’m surprised it’s after Olivia’s blowup.
I figured after we released the video of Olivia, Chase would have found them and taken them down.
Or that Damon took them before he left. Maybe we never used this angle.
I focus on the screen, and Chase is on social media. I click the unmute and there’s some music playing in my headphones.
“You can’t just post pictures.” That’s Abby’s voice. “Unless you know a way to get nudes.”
“Even if I did, those would get taken down so fast.” Chase turns to look over his shoulder towards the bed. “So what else do you want me to post?”
Abby strides over and straddles Chase’s lap. Ew, so not the porn I wanted to watch.
“What are you watching, goody?” Cam’s voice makes me jump.
I hit pause and turn to see him standing behind me. I disconnect the headphones. “Maybe proof that Chase and Abby set up the hockey whore account. Or my ex and his ex having sex.”
Cam’s eyes widen and then he lifts me out of the desk chair and puts me on his lap. He gestures for me to continue. I hit play because I’m too curious about what they’re talking about to stop watching just yet. But I do hover my mouse over the pause button just in case.
“What would you do to her if you knew she was a filthy whore you could use?” Abby rakes her hands through his dark hair. “If you could do anything to her.”
I swallow down the urge to vomit.
“You want this to become homework? Fuck that.” Chase runs his hands up to her breasts.
“Fine, we’ll get something started and feed it into AI to make it work.” Abby smirks and stands before settling back on his lap with her hands on the keyboard.
I pause the video and turn to look at Cam. “What do we do with this?”
Cam’s smile is wicked. “If we expose them, you’ll lose your lead. So what do you want to do with this?”
I bite my lip and really think about it.
“What they did wasn’t as terrible as the rose unless they did that too, but I really think Chase would have gloated about it more.
Both Abby and Chase approached me once they knew the account had been discovered.
Even if it’s just to rub shit in, they’re too narcissistic to let something go.
And as much as I hate to admit it, Chase is perfect for Iago. ”
“One, this is obviously a violation of his privacy. Two, if we took it in to the principal, Chase would get suspended. Three, Chase’s dad would definitely sue about the invasion of privacy.” Cam leans back in the chair and rubs the back of his neck.
“Let’s shut it down then.” I glance at the screen and wonder how we can get back into his bedroom.
“You might not like what I’m about to suggest.” Cam arches his eyebrow warily at me.
Damon
I sit in the locker room before our final practice and really look around. The whole team is here for this practice, and the guys are all at ease with each other. They joke around. Some listen to their headphones. Others are on their phones.
But it’s just like practice at home. But more. So much more.
These guys are following their dreams. Not all of them will continue with a career in hockey, but they’ll always have this time in college. It’s awe-inspiring to be a part of this.
Axel sits down next to me on the bench. “You ready for today?”
I smile. “This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”
“Don’t tell Coach that. Gotta make him work for it a little.” Axel bumps my arm to show me he’s just teasing.
“That accident fucked up my life, and I didn’t think I’d get another chance at this.” I breathe in, holding this feeling inside.
“You would have. Hockey is in your blood. Not everyone can make a future in it, but you...” He makes a dismissive noise. “Of course, you’re going to make it. You just need the right people around you to make you shine.”
“Thank you,” I say and mean it. “This week’s been good because of you, Wilder, and the team. I wasn’t sure I’d want to come here. But now, I’m not sure I want to go anywhere else.”
Axel smiles and knocks my arm with his glove. “At least make Coach buy you dinner first.”
He gets up and heads into practice. I stand and follow him. When we hit the ice, it’s like a coordinated dance as we move through warm ups. There’s nothing better than this moment, being so close to my dream.
Except Evan.
Everything about Evan is worth having to go through this. Being forced to stay home and reevaluate my plans for the future. Knowing Hawk and Cam will be with us too. I’m ready to go home to them. To her.
I’m not sorry for what I said to Heather.
Though I do regret doing it the way I did.
Evan can’t always tiptoe around her mother’s feelings and expect her to finally pay attention, but I didn’t mean to make Evan think I hated her or didn’t want her.
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
I need Evan. More than I’ve needed anyone.
I need Evan, Hawk, and Cam. They’re my team for everything. Which means I need to make things right with Evan. I need her to know I’ll think of her first before I let my anger get carried away. That she, Cam, and Hawk are my priority now.
We run through practice with the rest of the team, included as if we’re already part of it and not just trying out for a place.
I don’t know if all five of us will be here when the school year begins in the fall, but I can see me being here.
Evan working on her next film. Cam going to his frat. Hawk burying himself in schoolwork.
It’s a fantasy that feels like it could come true. And it exists because of Evan. I owe her everything, and it’s time I make sure she knows that.
Coach pulls us all in at the end of practice.
“We’ve had a good week, and I hope you five take away something from your time on the ice with us.
We’re working to build something new on the foundations that the previous coach built.
We won’t tear down that foundation, but rise from it, better, sharper, ready to take championships and prove to the rest of the league that we’re ready to become great. ”
“I think you should talk to Jackson.” Axel sits across the table from me.
The dining room isn’t crowded yet, but students are arriving for lunch.
“I know you don’t need to be friends to be on a team together, but our team works because we respect each other.
Jackson has a good chance of getting an offer, and I’d hate for you not to come because he does. ”
I blow out a breath. “He attacked my girl when she was sixteen. It was only a kiss, but he had her trapped and she was afraid he wanted more and would have pushed for more. As soon as he realized she was at Anteros, Evan started receiving texts from an anonymous number.”
“And you think it’s him?” Axel leans back in the chair and watches me.
“She does.” I lean forward on the table. “It would fit with who we know him to be. He’s a loner and doesn’t play well with others.”
“Has anything happened to her?” Axel asks. “Besides the texts?”
“Nothing that can’t be explained away. A rose sent her to urgent care, but he would have to be working with someone at her school.” I run my hand through my hair. “I thought I might figure him out better while we’re here, but time’s almost up.”
Axel nods. “Fuck, man. I know stalkers can be dangerous, but what if you’re wrong about Jackson? There’s no one else in your girl’s life who could be doing this?”
“If it is, they aren’t making themselves known.” I press my lips together. “This is why we haven’t gone to the police or accused him.”
“But you think Jackson wants your girl?” Axel asks.
“The way he acts. The texts. The things he says sometimes.” I shrug.
“Just talk to him. If you have to, ask him outright if he has a thing for your girl.” Axel pushes to stand. “Chances like these don’t happen every day. And I don’t want you to lose out because you think he’s after her.”
Axel taps the table and walks away. Maybe I should confront Jackson. I don’t trust he wouldn’t lie to me, but it can’t hurt. I can get some sort of read on him. It’s worse going back and not knowing. Fuck.
I take my tray over to the trash.
“I overheard you talking to Axel.” Jackson stops beside me. “I don’t know why you think I want your girl. I was interested in Mia. Well, until I found out she had two boyfriends.”
I narrow my eyes at him and try to remember every interaction. Mia was always with Evan when Jackson sought them out. But it also gave him a plausible reason to talk to Evan.
“Here, you can look at the texts Mia sent me. She’s got some crazy idea that Evan is in her way at her new school. When we talked at the football game, she wanted to know what I knew about Evan as a kid.” Jackson pulls out his phone and taps on the screen.
He holds it out for me to see the text conversation.
Mia:
This is Mia’s number
Me:
I hope you don’t delete my number
Mia:
Why would I?
Are you coming to the party?
Me:
Can’t get away
Though I’d love to see you
How about Sunday night?
Mia:
Sounds good
I just have rehearsal and then I’m free
“Mia said she hasn’t heard from you.” We saw her phone and there was no back and forth, but she handed over her phone with no problem at all. From Evan, I would expect that, but from Mia, she might hesitate to give her phone to someone. That always bothered me.
Fuck, Evan and Mia being friends always bothered me.
But texts can be deleted or faked. What Jackson showed me only has Mia at the top not a number. So which is it? Did Mia delete the evidence or did Jackson create it?
Jackson smirks and puts away his phone. “She’s been texting me since I got her number at the football game. We’ve met up a few times even. But she doesn’t want to be tied down. Well, not in a relationship.”
I try to think of everything we asked Mia. The things we told her. She’s been close to Evan this whole time. She knew Jackson called her pretty girl, and that we thought he was stalking Evan. But why?
I don’t buy that Evan is in Mia’s way at school. Evan made her fucking lead in her first play. That’s not in the way. And if something goes wrong with Evan’s play, that’s Mia’s bread and butter. But Evan also has us, and Mia did say she wanted to fuck us. She even warned us away from Evan.
“Do you still want Evan?” I ask, because fuck it. I study him closely.
Jackson’s dark eyes meet mine, and I can almost see the calculation in them. “Why would you think that?”
“You’ve shown up to games and sought her out.” I’m not going to mention the texts. Hopefully he’ll slip up if he sent them.
“I came to see Mia.” He shakes his head and shoves his hands in his pockets.
He releases a slow breath before saying, “Evan and I were together for a couple weeks when we were sixteen before she ghosted me. I took the fucking hint. The girl didn’t want me, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to pretend not to know her. We were friends.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Look, I didn’t want to say anything because it isn’t any of my business...”
I wait, letting him talk.
“If someone’s after your girl, it’s probably Mia.”