Page 161 of Brutal Little Secrets

I brush her hair behind her ear and smile. “What if we do?”

Damon

“You think it was best leaving him to talk her into it?” I ask Hawk as he lies on the bed staring up at the ceiling. I sit against the headboard in my boxers. My fingers roll the small box in my lap. Maybe I should be in there, talking her into it. Showing her exactly how much I need her.

Hawk chuckles. “Your tactic wasn’t going to work.” He turns his head toward me with an arched eyebrow. “I’ll stalk youis your best idea?”

I shrug. “She has to know I have those tendencies by now.”

Hawk rolls his head to return his stare to the ceiling. “My dream is flexible, but Columbia has always been the goal. Yale would be comparable. But if it’s me that has to travel to you guys…”

He makes a noncommittal noise. Like it doesn’t really matter to him. But I know the way he is with Evan. None of us would make it a week without her. Even during the week, I’ll wake up to one or the other in bed with Evan and me.

I stare at the door, wondering if Cam can convince her. He’s the one who makes the grand speeches about togetherness and the future. If anyone can convince her, it’s him.

I open the box in my hand. It’s not a promise ring or anything romantic. Not really, but if she needs it to be…

The door opens, and Evan steps out in a Devil’s t-shirt, her long legs bare and her blond hair damp around her shoulders. Her skin is flushed pink from the heat. My chest tightens. I can’t lose her.

Cam comes out behind her as she crawls onto the bed. She pauses next to Hawk and leans down to kiss him. He smiles up at her before she moves over to me and sits beside me. Her gaze rests on the box.

“I don’t need a proposal to follow you.” She arches an eyebrow and gives me a cocky smile, like she doesn’t honestly believe that’s what this is. “It’s a little early for that.”

I hold the box out to her. “Honestly, I wanted something a little more permanent, but I was vetoed.”

“You can’t just put a tracker in a girl like she’s your pet.” Cam rolls his eyes as he sits on the end of the bed. “Go on, goody, open it.”

Evan glances at each of us before opening the box. It’s a simple gold band with little flowers carved into the surface. Shelifts it out of the box and slides it onto her ring finger on her right hand.

Something possessive in me rears its head.

“Wrong hand,” I say.

She shakes her head and laughs. “When we make vows to each other, I’ll put it on the left hand.”

She gives me the look liketry me. Every inch of me wants to prove to her she’s mine all over again. I want to argue until she succumbs to me, all soft and willing, but I need her to wear the damned thing.

I hold out my phone and show her the dot in Hawk’s house. “If you’re ever in danger, I’ll be able to find you.”

She rests her head against my shoulder and releases her breath. She holds her hand out in front of her, studying the ring. “Do you think someone is really going to try to take me?”

“No need to risk it.” I slide my fingers against hers.

She sighs and tangles her fingers with mine and drops our joined hands onto her lap. “Is this really what you all want? To be together through college and beyond? What happens when our careers take off, and we have to make decisions about where we go? Who gets to win?”

“I imagine that will be decided on a case-by-case decision, Annie.” Hawk rolls his head to look at her. “That’s not something we need to decide now though. Right now, we just have to apply to similar schools and find out where we all get in and if we can make college work. Decisions for college don’t have to be in until May. Signing for D1 is in November. So we have time.”

“Except for the applications. Those take time and money.” She nods and looks up at me. “Is Yale really a contender?”

I swallow. “I didn’t think it was, but the coach definitely seems interested. My coach has feelers out too. So I’ll talk to him at school Monday.”

“I don’t want to ruin anyone’s opportunity.” She sighs. “I don’t want you to regret choosing me.”

Cam shakes his head. “Not a chance of that happening.”

Hawk chuckles. “Regrets are for losers. That’s not who we are.”

I squeeze her hand, and she looks up at me. Her eyes are a stormy sky, gray and blue mixed perfectly.