Chapter 42 EvanAnn
EvanAnn
Eating breakfast with Hawk’s parents after he made me cum so hard I nearly screamed the house down is a whole new level of awkwardness for me. He did let me sleep, but he also fucked me so good. I’m a little sore, mostly from the ass play, but it was worth it.
“Did you sleep okay?” Naomi asks.
“Yes.” My cheeks flush with heat, and I glance at Hawk. Last night was a lot and I’m used to three of them using me. He gives me a soft, loving smile.
“You have rehearsal this afternoon?” she asks while pouring milk into her tea.
“Yes, it’s a long one.” Hawk lifts his coffee cup and winks at me. “We’re doing a complete run through and starting on the tech aspect. We’ll be getting done about the time Cam and Damon get back into town.”
“Well, that will be nice.” Naomi takes a sip of her tea. “It was a pleasure having you at our house, EvanAnn.”
“Thank you for having me.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I try not to look at the smirk on Hawk’s lips. He definitely had me last night. Over and over again.
“Anytime you need a place to crash. You can sleep here.”
“Thank you.” I really do mean it. It’s weird that my mom finding someone to move on with also made it so I moved on and got my guys and their parents in my life as well.
I glance at Paul, who still has a dour expression on his face.
I’m pretty sure that’s just who he is and less about me.
Hopefully. Maybe not all the parents are all in, but it’s nice they respect our decision to be together.
After breakfast, we go back up to Hawk’s room to hang out. While he studies at his desk, I spread out my work on his bed. There’s one thing I’ve been dreading having to do, but I know it’s time.
I pick up my phone and open my text message thread with Mia.
Me:
Hey, I know things are difficult right now and I don’t want to add to that, but we have to move forward with the play.
You would have made an amazing Desdemona and blown everyone away with your performance.
With only a week until performance, we won’t be able to work you back into the cast in time.
I’m so sorry and I hope your brother is doing better.
If you want to talk, I’m here for you. I wish I had better things to say, but the show must go on.
I miss you.
I hit send and then fall back onto the bed. Hawk glances over at me, and I turn my face toward him.
“Why do I feel like I just broke up with my best friend?”
Hawk sets his pen down and comes over to sit beside me on the bed. I move up so my arms are around his waist, and he holds me close. “You did what you had to. She’ll understand. This is part of the business. It has nothing to do with whether you like her or not.”
“I know, but it still feels shitty.” I release my breath and squeeze him.
“The guys will be home later after rehearsal. We should go out and get ice cream or something.”
I pull back, confused and amused, and raise my gaze to his. “Ice cream? What are we, twelve?”
“You don’t like ice cream?” he asks with a look that says he wouldn’t believe me if I said no.
“You don’t have to be a kid to eat ice cream.
Besides, when we’re in public, it’s less likely someone will strip you naked and fuck you.
I, for one, would like to hear about the Yale visit prior to the fuckery. ”
I can’t help the giggle that slips out. “We need to get you away from Shakespeare for a while.”
For a second, I just hold him and consider that maybe Mia won’t be mad at me for taking her part.
“Do you want to talk about Mia?” he asks softly.
I sit up and look at my phone. It’s been days since she’s responded, but I can’t imagine what she’s going through. Actually, I can imagine, and what I imagine is hopefully worse than what she’s dealing with. It would be nice to hear from her, but I’m not pushing it.
“No.” I release my breath. “Maybe. I don’t know.
I mean, according to Jackson, she was my stalker all along.
But if that was the case, why not gloat about it?
Also, nothing has happened since she left which does point in her direction again.
But maybe the stalker is just busy. And then there’s Brandt.
Where the fuck does he fit in this mess?
And am I shooting myself in the foot by replacing Mia in the play?
Mr. Watson seemed to think it was a brilliant plan, and I made sure to tell him it was Keira’s idea, but what if it isn’t smart? What if I choke?”
Hawk chuckles. “I’m not sure if you want me to answer any of that, but you aren’t going to choke. I’m angry at Anteros for making you choose directing over acting.”
“I was being typecast.” I shrug. “It was a thing, and I really enjoy directing.”
“Fuck that. You should have been working on both, and everyone in your cast knows it. The way you flawlessly stepped into Mia’s shoes and took over that role without even missing a beat is...”
“Amazing?” I arch an eyebrow and smirk. “I’ve been told.”
“You have what it takes, and anyone would have to be blind to not realize your potential. It’s like Damon on the ice.
I could maybe push myself to be as good as he is now, but I will never reach the same potential he has.
You’re both going to grow so much in the next four years, and I want to be with you every step of the way, reminding you both how amazing you are. ”
We’re working through act four, but everyone is dragging a little. It’s a lot of stop, fix this, wait, okay, let’s keep going. Next week we’ll take it act-by-act through tech and put it together a few times before performances begin.
I glance at Keira, and she nods.
“You’re doing great, but let’s take a fifteen minute break.” I smile as everyone almost breathes a sigh of relief. I love that this school focuses on making us professional. No one’s going to let their crabbiness shine through, or the next time they probably won’t be cast.
Hawk stops and gives me a kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.” I’m a little surprised. I’m used to having a guy practically on top of me during breaks.
He holds my hand as he walks away and then lets it go. But I have stuff to do. I turn back to my desk and drag in a breath. This week is going to be hell week, but at least Damon and Cam will be back.
Wanting to check on something, I walk across the stage to behind the set. We have a lot of moving parts in this production, and I want to make sure the prop table is set up well. The backstage crew must have decided to take the break, which is good.
I know they have a lot more opportunity to sit during the performance, so I let them do what they want.
“EvanAnn.”
I turn at Chase’s voice. He looks nervous to be talking to me, rubbing the back of his neck and hunching his shoulders like he doesn’t want to be doing this.
“What can I do for you?” Professional. I can stay professional.
“I want to apologize for being such an asshole.” He looks over his shoulder, but then turns his blue eyes to mine. “You’ve been more than fair with me in this production.”
“Okay?” I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. A cold breeze wafts my way. Sometimes with the lights on, it gets stifling behind the stage, and someone will prop open the door. If they do, someone is supposed to stay close and shut it before leaving.
I move that way to close the door. Chase follows me.
“My dad says I need to make amends to you for how I treated you.”
“You never apologized for real when you fucked around on me and thought I’d give you another chance.
Everything out of your mouth was fake or a lie, so why do you think I’d believe you now?
” As I turn the corner, something makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
Kind of like when you walk into somewhere you aren’t supposed to be, but it’s stupid because I’m supposed to be here.
Chase sighs. “What I did to you was shitty, but Brandt is by far the bigger asshole. I’m pretty sure he talked Mia into being your friend this year.”
I turn to look at him. “What are you talking about, Chase?”
“You know how Iago doesn’t do anything directly to anyone?”
I nod and gesture for him to get to the point.
“That’s Brandt. He just whispers in people’s ears or gets them into tight spots where they don’t have a choice but to do what he tells them to.” Chase runs his hand through his hair. “He convinced me you’d be perfect for me.”
I cross my arms as the breeze wafts through again. “I need to close the door.”
When I turn around, someone steps out of the shadows. For a second, I don’t think anything about it. It must be one of the backstage hands or extras. Good, they were at least keeping a watch over it.
“Do you have the door open? Because we really should have it closed at night. It’s a breach in protocol for the theater,” I say in a nice tone, but firm. “It’s a security risk.”
The shadow comes closer and grows taller. It grabs my arm and jerks me toward it.
“What?” I stumble forward into what feels like a brick wall of a person.
“Hey!” Chase yells and moves forward.
The shadow shoves me away from Chase. Before I can catch myself, I fall to the ground. Something hits the side of my head, and blackness engulfs me.