Page 154 of Brutal Little Secrets

I give him my practiced smile. “It went well. Thank you.”

“You should give your boyfriend a hug.” He arches an eyebrow.

“I will give my boyfriend a hug as soon as we’re alone.” I move away from him a little, and he drops his hand.

“You could be a little more grateful, EvanAnn.” Chase closes the distance between us and leans down so no one else can hear. “I got you one-on-one time with your future, and you didn’t even have to suck my cock.”

I narrow my eyes at him. He’s right on the edge of the swimming pool no one is using. The blue water ripples from the gentle breeze. I give him a fake grin and move like I’m going to give him a hug. He opens his arms, and I shove him enough that he loses balance. I’m careful to scramble away so he doesn’t drag me in with him.

He lets out a yelp as he crashes into the pool. I cover my mouth to hide my smile but keep my eyes wide.

“Oh my god, babe,” I say. “Are you okay?”

Chase runs his hands through his wet, dark hair and lifts his gaze to mine. He’s careful to hide his anger, knowing he’s the center of attention. “Must have slipped.”

He swims to the ladder and climbs out. Mom stops beside me.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

I almost giggle but hide it. “I’m fine.”

I turn to look for Damon, and his blue eyes dance with amusement. Chase makes his way inside as his mom offers him a towel. He snatches it from her. Damon walks over to us.

“Seems like a fitting end to the party.” Damon nods to his dad as Adam joins us. “I’m ready to go when you are.”

I wish we’d come separately from our parents. That we could take off on his bike and ride up into the hills.

Tom approaches us, shaking his head. “I don’t know what to do with that boy. You’d think he’d be more graceful from all the acting classes we bought him.”

I shrug. “I might have thrown him off balance.”

Swallowing my laugh, I glance at Damon. He doesn’t give anything away, but I really can’t wait until we’re alone so we can laugh about it. Cam and Hawk will be pleased too.

“You should stay for dinner, EvanAnn,” Tom announces. “It’ll just be us and Chase. Seems like you two haven’t gotten a lot of time together lately.”

“I already have plans to hang out with friends. Chase said he’d be busy tonight.” It’s just a line in the part I’m playing as Chase’s long-suffering girlfriend.

“That’s too bad.” Tom glances toward the house. “I have to say goodbye to people. Hopefully, we can get together again soon. I’d love to hear about who you talked to and what opportunities might have come your way.”

“It’s a little busy right now with family, the play, and school. Thank you so much for introducing me to Sandra Cox. She’s amazing.”

Tom smiles. “I knew she’d love you.”

“Who wouldn’t?” Damon says softly. He’s close enough to my back I can feel the heat coming off him. But far enough away to be appropriate.

“I always knew my little girl would go far.” Mom touches my hair and smiles with a little sadness. Like she’s remembering Dad and his love of movies. I could use a hug, and it looks like she needs one too.

I step into her and wrap my arms around her waist, resting my chin on her shoulder. “I love you, Mom.”

She hugs me back and rests her head against mine. “I love you, too.”

Chapter 48

Hawk

“And then Sandra told me she couldn’t wait for my submission.” Annie sits on the edge of her seat at my kitchen table. Her plate of pasta has grown cold, but she was so excited when she and Damon arrived. “I still can’t believe it happened.”

She holds her hand out, and it shakes. “I can’t stop trembling.”