Chapter 36
EvanAnn
Saturday morning, I’m huddled in the stands of the ice rink with a hot chocolate. Keira, Mia, and Mark have all joined me to watch the guys in action. The guys told me what Jackson said about Mia. How he pointed to her as the stalker, to which I laughed in their faces.
There’s no way. But they pointed out the possibility, just like with Chase, she could fit the circumstantial evidence. I don’t point out that it’s just as likely them doing all this to get closer to me. To make me need them.
I don’t think they would have taken that well. But I did agree to think about it.
Uncomfortable on the hard plastic, I shift in my seat again. Mia laughs.
“Was someone grateful to be home last night?” She nudges me with her elbow.
Mark chuckles and looks at his phone.
Keira smirks. “She’s practically glowing.”
I press my lips together, refusing to say anything, but they curve into a smug smile.
When Damon and I finally got home, Cam and Hawk joined us.
Damon was far from done fucking me, and the others happily participated.
I woke in a tangle of limbs and very messy, but Damon just lifted me in his arms and took me into the shower with him.
“Everything good in married life?” Mia leans back in the chairs. “I mean you guys live together and fuck together and eat together.”
“No more forbidden romance. No sneaking around anymore because the parents don’t know,” Keira adds on.
I blow out a breath. “We’ll see how comfortable with us they really are at dinner tomorrow night.”
“Keeping it in the family.” Mark puts his phone away and grins at me. “So how about you get us a backstage pass to the locker room? I’m sure one of these guys can be convinced to try something new.”
I shake my head at him.
“When’s Fletcher going to have another party?” Keira asks. “Mia, you guys are seeing each other. What do you know?”
“I would have thought you’d be wary of parties after the last one,” I say, a little concerned.
Keira shrugs. “Olivia is gone, and I learned a valuable life lesson about getting my own drinks. I just never thought a girl would give me a spiked drink.”
“Any offering from Olivia should have been met with a heavy dose of skepticism.” Mia rolls her eyes. “That girl was crazy. Fletcher tends to prefer a private party these days. Less likely to get him into trouble.”
“I just think it would be fun to party together. We’re just going to have to name a time for getting together and commit to it, aren’t we?” Keira straightens. “Something else can always come up, but maybe Sunday after rehearsal? It would get you out of family dinner, EvanAnn.”
“Don’t tempt me.” I smirk. “It would serve Damon right. I had to field our parents on my own since he was gone last week.”
“How was his trip to Crowne Mawr?” Mia asks.
I glance her way to see if her question has any hidden meaning. “Besides Jackson being there too, the whole experience was good for Damon. I’m working on my application to their drama school. We’re already planning on going down to visit after the play ends and before hockey season begins.”
“Was Damon able to learn anything more about Jackson?” Mia asks.
I glance over at her and sigh. “No, they didn’t really get any new information. With the social media account, all our focus was on that.”
I wish that were the truth. What Jackson said about Mia doesn’t make a lot of sense. Like the motivation is the Devil’s trio? To fuck them? Because they’re mine?
At least Olivia thought she could make Damon hers. Mia didn’t have any grand plans with the guys besides fucking one or all of them at the same time. And I don’t see that same gleam in her eye when she looks at them.
Even jealousy of me doesn’t make any sense.
I cast her as the lead in my play. She’s not here for directing.
If anything, Keira would have more motivation to steal my show, but she has her senior year to dominate.
If I couldn’t finish the show for whatever reason, they’d have another senior step in to work over her, not give her the show.
The problem is, I can’t let Mia know what Jackson said about her. The texts haven’t come in a while. The rose? Did I do something to make her mad that week? Or did she just think I was too comfortable in my love nest with my guys?
Maybe she’s actually been working with Chase this whole time. She did ask if I thought it could be Chase. Was that a misdirect? Or is this a misdirect?
The scrimmage draws my attention. Damon skates circles around the competition. He talked about the program a lot with the guys and me, while we lay in our bed, sated. He liked the guys who are on the team as well. It seems like the perfect fit for him.
I just need to figure out if it’s the perfect fit for me. And what happens if I get an internship? The year-long one will push my admission to college by a year, but I can probably work with the program chair to get it to count for some of my credits.
They do encourage internships in their program. But I don’t know how we’ll deal with me on location and them at school. We barely made it a week, and yes, it was a stressful week, but it was only a week. I’d be separated from all of them.
“Does Sophie always come to games?” Keira asks and gestures toward Sophie across the ice rink. “Maybe she’s got a boyfriend on the team?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen her here before.” Mia squints.
“You sure you weren’t distracted with other sights at previous games?” Mark asks.
“Maybe.” Mia shrugs like it doesn’t matter. “Abby and her lot showed up to one scrimmage. I think they’ve finally given up on the guys, but now that Damon’s back, who knows?”
Mia also helped us take down the social media account. I don’t know if Abby even realized Mia took her phone at lunch. We also found out who was helping her with the pictures at the school. Hawk had a talk with the guy, and he agreed to wipe everything he had.
Maybe it’s not the guys Mia wants, but to monopolize my time?
They do take a lot of my time, and Mia is new in town.
If we broke up, I wouldn’t be with anyone for a while.
Actually, probably ever. But the guys aren’t going to break up with me over a stalker.
It just makes them more protective. Mia knows that.
“Without an outright confession or stunning evidence, I doubt we’ll find out who’s behind the social media account.” Mark leans back in his chair.
Mia and I look at each other, but until Othello is finished, we’re not going to say anything.
“It got taken down yesterday. Probably some bot finally got around to the content.” Mia flicks her hair. Both Keira and Mark are happy to hear it.
After we focus on the game again for a while, Mark sighs. “Two weeks before tech week and then one week until performance. It’s creeping up on us.”
“We’re ready for it,” Keira says.
“We are,” I agree.
Hawk
Annie rides on the back of my bike over to my house. My parents asked if she’d join us for dinner on Saturday, and when I told Annie, she unexpectedly said yes. So we’re heading there now. I asked to include the guys, which isn’t normally a big deal.
Here’s the thing. My parents know about me dating Annie, but they don’t know about her dating Cam and Damon too. Of all our parents, I think my mom will be the most accepting of our relationship. But I don’t know if she ever considered it a possibility.
I’m not sure how Dad will react.
I pull into the driveway, and Annie gets off.
Damon and Cam pull in next. If Annie can be out with all of us, I guess I can too.
The thing I’m not looking forward to is explaining that the sex is between Annie and us, and not between me and the other guys.
I’d rather not explain the sex at all if I can help it.
I take Annie’s helmet and hang it on my bike before taking her hand. She put on a white dress with little blue flowers on it. She shakes out her hair after having the helmet on. When she straightens, I pull her in close and kiss her.
She goes up on her toes to kiss me back. I’m tempted to say fuck it, and just go off somewhere to have sex. Seems like the easier thing to do.
“Come on.” Cam gestures to the door. “I’m not looking forward to telling my parents I’m fucking my tutor and so are my best friends. I might get grounded. But you telling your folks?” Cam grins like a kid in a candy store. “I can’t fucking wait.”
Damon brushes his fingers against Annie’s and she looks up at him. They seem to be good again. Thankfully. She also showed her gratitude to both Cam and I for repairing the necklace.
I hold open the door for her, and she walks into my house.
The guys follow us as I lead them down the hallway to the sitting room where my parents are expecting us.
I swallow and push open the door. Lately it’s been a crap shoot of what I’ll find behind any door in the house.
My parents are definitely in the honeymoon phase again.
Fortunately, they’re clothed and waiting with drinks in hand. When we walk in, they rise.
“You must be EvanAnn.” Mom practically beams. “I’m so glad to meet you.”
“Pleased to meet you too, Mrs. Wilker.” Annie holds out her hand, but Mom grabs her and pulls her into a full body hug. I probably should have warned Annie about that. After an uncomfortably long hug, Mom holds Annie’s shoulders and pushes her out to arm’s length to look her over.
“You can call me Naomi.” Mom touches Annie’s hair. Mom’s blue eyes sparkle when she looks at me. “She’s so pretty, Hawk.”
“Thank you,” Annie says. Her face is flushed.
“And so polite. I love her already.” Mom pulls her back in for a hug, and Annie glances at me. “Can we keep her? I’ve always wanted a daughter.”
“I’m not planning on giving her away, Mom.”
When Mom releases her, I draw Annie in against me so Mom can’t keep hugging her. She’s known to be a clinger.
“Dad, you remember EvanAnn.”
Dad holds his hand out, and Annie takes it with a small smile. Her cheeks flush even redder.
“Mr. Wilker, it’s nice to see you again.”
“Paul,” he says as he releases her hand and looks at Cam and Damon. His face changes into an honest smile. “How have you two been? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you at the house.”
Probably because my parents are rarely here to see anyone including me.
Both Damon and Cam get a handshake from Dad and a hug from Mom. Mom touches their hair and their arms and comments on how tall they’ve gotten like we’re still little boys growing up before her eyes.
When we all take a seat, Dad leans forward. “How’s hockey looking this year?”
“I think we’re in for a good season,” Damon says. He’s still riding the high of last week and probably from fucking Annie last night.
I hold Annie’s hand as Cam, Damon, and I tell my dad about the team’s prospects this year as well as the other teams we’ve played in scrimmages.
“I hear you’re directing the play Hawk is in.” Mom finds a break in the conversation to say, trying to draw Annie into the conversation.
Annie clears her throat. “Yes, I’m directing Othello.”
“Lovely.” Mom looks at me knowingly. “Top grades too. Talented and smart.”
Annie smiles and her hand tightens on mine. Probably worried my mom will offer to adopt her again.
“We should go in for dinner,” Dad says.
Damon glances at me with a raised eyebrow. My parents obviously don’t think there’s anything unusual about me having my best friends here when they meet my girlfriend for the first time. When we sit at the table, Cam takes the chair on the other side of Annie.
She smiles at him and then looks at me. Her look asks if we’re going to do this or not.
After the first dish is set in front of us, I clear my throat. My parents look at me expectantly.
“EvanAnn is very special to all of us.” I clear the lump that seems permanently stuck in my throat. There’s no easy way to say this. “We aren’t in a typical relationship.”
Dad sits back and steeples his fingers against his lips as he waits for me to say I’m just fucking the girl or that we’re friends with benefits or some such bullshit.
Mom raises her wine glass and looks at us with curiosity.
Fuck it. “EvanAnn is in a relationship with me, Cam, and Damon.”
Annie keeps her smile locked in place and doesn’t look at all nervous or uncomfortable, but her fingers twitch against mine. I move our hands to my leg.
“Do her parents know?” Dad asks.
“Yes,” Annie answers. “My mother is aware of our relationship.”
“Well, I think it’s amazing.” Mom grins and holds her glass up. “To young love.”
She takes a drink and looks at my dad. He’s still trying to wrap his head around it. I don’t know what he’s thinking. It’s not like anyone is taking advantage in this situation.
“We can talk about this later, Hawk.” Dad’s voice is a little rough, and I can tell he’s uncomfortable. That’s the difference between my mom and my dad. I don’t think if they met today, they would have made it.
He’s let her have her way with chakra alignments and soul readings, but only with the compromise of seeing certified therapists. They’ve worked to balance their relationship, but my dad is a very by the book type of guy.
Mom evens him out. Mostly.
“There’s not really anything to talk about.” I lean back in my chair. “It’s my relationship, and it’s not going to affect my grades or anything else about my life. So, it’s not really up for discussion. I’m informing you of my choice to be with the girl I love and to be with her with my friends.”
“I think it’s lovely,” Mom says and takes Dad’s hand on the table. “Paul, Hawk is right. This is his life, and he can do what he wants with who he wants. As long as he’s being safe and responsible, there’s not a lot more we can ask for.”
Dad takes in a breath and looks at Damon and Cam. “Have you two talked with your parents about this?”
“My father knows,” Damon says.
“My parents have met Evan, but they don’t know about our relationship yet,” Cam admits. “I guess they’re next on the tour though.”
“Let’s talk about something else.” Mom claps her hands. “I can see that your father needs a little time to digest this new information. So why don’t we talk about colleges? Damon, Hawk said you just got back from a week at Crowne Mawr. That must have been exciting.”
Damon answers my mom’s questions while my dad and I have a silent battle of wills. It would be easier if they just left me to my own devices again. But they’ve determined that in order to function as a couple, we need to function as a family.
Annie, Damon, and Cam are my family though. And they aren’t going away. My dad nods slightly to me before answering my mother. The rest of dinner is spent talking about colleges, plays, and hockey.