Page 127 of Brutal Little Secrets

Me:

We’ll protect her

Cam:

Should we let her know?

Damon:

No

Better if this is all on us

Chapter 38

EvanAnn

The rest of practice goes off without a hitch, and the whispering stops. Apparently, no one was sure, but everyone had heard various rumors. But now it was confirmed. At least that I’m fucking the Devil’s trio. Not the dating part.

I don’t know how school will go on Monday, but practice continues because we’re professionals. I did write an email to Mr. Watson, detailing my side of the story. Chase blew up in front of practice, so I have witnesses if I need them.

At the end of practice, I call Jason over to me.

“Are you okay being backup for Iago too?” I have to ask, otherwise, I’m going to need to find another understudy.

“Of course.” Jason smiles and winks. “If you want, I could also understudy Desdemona. I look great in a wig.”

“Hopefully that won’t be necessary.” I make some notes, but I honestly don’t know what else to do. Chase can’t get away with coming into practice and calling anyone he wants a whore. Especially not his director.

Granted, he did just find out I was fucking three other guys behind his back while he thought he had a chance to get back with me. But he was using me too, so fuck him.

If he can’t control himself, I’ll have to replace him. The bigger problem is Chase needs the play for class. Though that’s not my problem if he can’t be professional. He’d have to go work on Brandt’s play as a stagehand. It would serve him right.

Hawk comes over and sits next to me at the table. “How do you feel?”

I take a deep breath. “Honestly? Good. I don’t have to pretend to like Chase after he ditched me in the woods and fucked everything that moved.”

“I was fooled. You’re a very talented actress, Annie.” He smirks.

“Thanks.” I close my folio and stand. “Let’s get out of here. I have dinner with my mom tonight, and I have no idea if I should tell her I’ve broken up with Chase.”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

I blow out a breath, remembering her attention earlier. I don’t want to lose what I have. The way things are is perfect, and I don’t want anything else to change.

“She’s waking up and paying attention. If she thinks about it too closely, she might realize putting her daughter in an adjacent room to her hot future stepbrother probably isn’t the smartest choice.” I walk with him toward the parking lot. “And I like sleeping in my bed.”

“You mean Damon’s bed.” He hands me my helmet with an arched eyebrow.

“I mean,ourbed.”

He leans in and kisses me. I don’t hold back or check to see if anyone is in the parking lot. I didn’t know how much not claiming them in public really bothered me until now. The freedom I feel to express myself is almost overwhelming.

He pulls me in tight against him. When he lifts his head, I open my eyes and drown in pools of emerald green. “No more hiding.”

I blow out a breath and look around the parking lot. “It’s not all going to be easy. The girls are going to hate me.”

“Fuck the haters.” He kisses me and then helps me put my helmet on. “We have better things to worry about than some butthurt girls.”