Page 101 of Brutal Little Secrets

“Soon.” Damon lifts his gaze to me and then Hawk. “Tonight, Chase doesn’t get a chance to draw her off on her own. Evan is ours.”

“Good.” I glance toward the stairs. “What about the other plan?”

Hawk nods. “She’s keeping him on the hook. When we’re ready to pull the trigger, all we have to do is say when and where.”

“We need to make sure Evan is safe when it happens.” Damon glances down at his phone again.

I stand. “I’ve gotta run home and grab my books. I’ll study while you guys work on your project.”

Hawk nods. I head out. The ride home is quiet, and when I get there, I worry this is a mistake. That Dad will try to make me stay home. I’m supposed to be on lockdown, but my parents aren’t really helicopter parents who know everything I’m doing.

As I pass the living room, Dad says, “Cam?”

I blow out a breath and stop. I hoped he was out.

“How was the scrimmage?” He gets up from the couch and puts his book down.

“Good.” I lean against the doorjamb. “I’m heading over to Damon’s to study.”

My dad chuckles. “You expect me to believe that?”

“Actually, yes.” I straighten. “EvanAnn’s mother is Damon’s dad’s girlfriend. Evan will be there to make sure I stay on task.”

Dad’s gaze narrows on me, suspiciously. “She’s a cute girl.”

“Most girls who go to our school are cute or downright gorgeous. Just par for the course.” I shake my head. “I really want to get my work done.”

“If your grades improve, I’ll thank the girl myself.” Dad clicks his tongue.

“Don’t worry, they will.” I turn and walk up to my room. It’s not like my grades are in the tank, but the partying did make it hard to compete with my classmates. I grab my schoolbag and head back downstairs.

“Your mother and I are going out tonight.” Dad calls after me when I pass the doorway.

I backtrack. “Okay.”

They don’t usually tell me where they’re going or when they’ll be home. But I’ve also never been on lockdown before.

“You’ll be here tonight?” He tries to make it a statement, but it comes out as a question.

“Where else would I go?” I smirk, but fuck that shit. “Oh, wait, I’m eighteen, and it’s a weekend, so I think I’ll go hang out with my friends.”

“Cam.” His tone is a warning.

“Look, we have this year left to hang out. It’s my senior year, and sure, we’ll keep in touch after graduation, but I doubt we’ll even be in the same state next year, so cut me some slack. I’m studying on a fucking Saturday. My friends will only give me sodas because they don’t want me to get in an accident because I drank too much.”

Dad’s eyes widened during my speech. “Fine. But only if your homework is done.”

“On it.”

EvanAnn

We work on our history project while Cam does some of his homework. Before Cam heads out, he puts a red paper flower next to me. I put it with the others on my desk.

Mia helped me pick out an outfit for tonight. It’s not as revealing as the outfit Damon picked out last weekend, but it’s still showing a lot more skin than I normally do.

I didn’t tell her the whole plan, and neither did the guys, but she knows to distract Jackson if he actually shows up. I hope he doesn’t. It will just complicate things. My nerves are frayed by the time she leaves, and she’ll be back after dinner to do my makeup.

I don’t know what to think about Mia. The things she said and knew and didn’t tell me. Testing the guys? My boyfriend? I knew she wasn’t really my speed of person, but I do believe in second chances. She hasn’t hurt me.