Page 15 of Brutal Little Secrets

My cheeks warm as I flatten against the wall next to the bathroom door. I shouldn’t be doing this, but I can’t seem to help myself. I want to know why, and maybe his father will help me understand Damon better.

“You can’t keep fucking around like this. Not if you want to be a professional.” Adam’s tone is strong. “You’re far too reckless. If I can’t control you, how would anyone else be able to? Fuck, Damon, you’re old enough to get charged for assault.”

“If you knew what he did?—”

“I can’t go around decking every guy I disagree with. That’s not how the world works. You need time to learn to control your anger.”

“You mean bury it inside.”

“No, I mean learn some control. Hockey will be there?—”

“You’ve already cost me my shot.”

“There will be other shots.”

“Not like this. They talked to us about this. This was my best chance. I can get time to go to college. They encourage that. But if I wanted in, this was my opportunity, and you took it from me.”

My heart pounds. If I could chase my dream right now, would I? If someone said you can mentor under this director, but you’ll miss your senior year, could I pass that up?

“You could have died, Damon. How am I supposed to protect you when you risk your life? You need college, structure. You need something to fall back on if you get injured. Your temper is an issue if you can’t control it. For fucks’ sake, you punched Chase Chadwick.”

I cover my mouth as I gasp. Damon punched Chase? I considered it, but it doesn’t track. That’s not how Damon wanted to take Chase down.

I’m not surprised Chase returned to the party after abandoning me out in the middle of nowhere. My stomach churns. Maybe I should be, but I’m not. How long would he have waited before coming back for me? Would he have? How many girls would he have fucked while I was out there, cold, alone, and afraid?

How am I going to face him without kneeing him in the fucking balls?

“They aren’t pressing charges, but this is your wake-up call. You need to get your act together. You need to figure out what you want out of life.”

“Are you finished?” The rumble of rage in Damon’s voice has me worried, bringing me back to the present.

Maybe I should leave my room. Go somewhere other people are until he cools down. My body shivers with anticipation as I remember the last time he was angry.

“I need you to think about what you want, Damon. And what you need to do to achieve it. I can’t sit back and watch you self-destruct. It’s not what your mother would have wanted.” Adam lets out a sigh before Damon’s door opens. “You’re too old for me to ground. I can’t take away anything, but I hope this makes you reevaluate your situation. You can’t keep steering your life into a brick wall and expect to come out unscathed. If you won’t try for me, try for your mother. She wanted the world for you.”

Damon is silent as Adam’s footsteps walk past my door. For a second, I just breathe. I shouldn’t have stayed. That wasn’t for me to hear. Our lives are more entwined than they should be already.

Damon walks through the bathroom, and I don’t move away from the wall fast enough. His angry eyes meet mine when he finds me. Obviously eavesdropping. Fuck. What do I even say?

He glances over his shoulder before he shoves me toward my closet.

“Damon?” I say, unsure of his mood. Angry, yes, but there’s a coldness too. The coldness makes me worried more than the anger.

He strides over to the door and locks it. “Get changed for the party.”

“What? I can’t go.” I look at my closet like something might pop out of it. “I’m not with Chase anymore.”

His gaze narrows on mine. “You need to look the part, Evan.”

The part?He sweeps into my closet and I can hear the hangers sliding against each other. I swallow. Is he mad I was eavesdropping? Or just mad in general? I can’t even say I’m sorry I overheard.

“Look the part of what?” I wrap my arms around myself.

“Our whore.” Damon walks back out and throws a short skirt and a crop top on the bed. Things my mother bought.

I’m ignoring thewhorepart, but my eyes widen at the outfit. What was my mom thinking? I mean, they’re cute, but these aren’t clothes I would ever wear. Maybe she thought I might want a different style for this new life, but this isn’t my life. I haven’t changed.

My eyes meet Damon’s. Except he, Cam, and Hawk have taken over my life.