Page 164 of Brutal Little Secrets

He nods and looks at Annie. “Do you need to take your friend home?”

He puts emphasis onfriend. Fuck that. Annie doesn’t need to be shamed about being here.

“This is my girlfriend, EvanAnn.” I step closer to her.

The coffee finishes brewing. My dad’s eyes remain blank and unimpressed.

“And do EvanAnn’s parents know about her little sleepover?” Dad pours the coffee into a cup and holds it out to me.

I pass it to Annie. She mumbles athank youbefore blowing gently on it. When Dad hands me another, I take it and set it on the island in front of me. He gives me the look that he’s processing this and isn’t happy with it. God forbid I have anything in my life that might derail my education.

“Her mother knows she’s out.” At least I assume Annie texted her mom like she normally does. This is the part that stings about my parents being home. Them finally wanting to know what I’m doing and having opinions about it. When they’re gone, my life is my own.

Dad finishes pouring the cups and nods. “We need to have a conversation.” He glances at Annie. “I hope to meet you when you’re better prepared.”

He lifts the cups, rounds the island, and leaves the kitchen.

“Should I leave?” Annie’s voice is small.

I take the cup from her and set it next to mine, before I drag her into my body and hug her. “No, baby girl. Not yet. Let’s go back to my room and make sure the others know. We’ll get dressed and head out.”

She glances over her shoulder before lifting her gaze to mine. “Don’t you need to talk to your parents?”

I don’t know what they need to talk to me about, but it can’t be good. Normally, they aren’t home at the same time. And even then, I have autonomy to come and go as I please. Unless this is finally when they tell me they’re getting a divorce.

I clench my jaw, but then soften it when I focus on Annie. “We have rehearsal this afternoon. It can wait until dinner tonight.”

EvanAnn

It really feels like a ride of shame this morning. I’ve never been caught with a boyfriend before. And definitely not when he’s standing in only his boxers and I’m in one of his shirts. I always wondered what it would feel like.

Now that I know, it’s not an experience I want to repeat. My blood felt like lava coursing through my veins. If I thought watching the video of me naked in front of the Devil’s trio was humiliating, this was that times ten. I’m usually a favorite with parents. After all, I have perfect grades and, not to toot my own horn, but I’m kind of a big deal at Anteros.

We pull up to Damon’s and my house and park in the garage.

The guys haven’t said much, but the mood has been somber since Hawk said his parents are back in town. After we told the others, we got dressed and left.

Fortunately, we didn’t run into Mr. or Mrs. Wilker on the way out. I don’t know how Hawk would explain his friends staying over while he also had his girlfriend stay the night. It’s not like Damon couldn’t walk home from there if he were too drunk to ride.

When we get inside, it looks like our parents are both out. I release my held breath as we head upstairs to our rooms. I go into mine with Hawk and Cam following me, while Damon goes into his.

I take off my clothes, dropping them in the hamper, and go to the closet to find something to wear for today. Lots of coverage, whatever it is. My cheeks burn, thinking of what I must have looked like to Hawk’s dad. Fortunately, my panties had beencovered by the t-shirt. I don’t mind the guys seeing me like that, but an adult? A shudder rolls through me.

“Are you angry at me, Annie?”

I turn to find Hawk leaning against the doorframe, watching me. I grab a sweatshirt and tug it on over my underwear.

“Why would I be angry?” I lift my hair from the shirt and grab a pair of jeans to pull on.

“Because I called you my girlfriend.” He studies my face.

“Why would that make me angry?” I shrug. “I am your girlfriend. And it’s better than being yourfriend.”

I walk up to him and put my hand on his chest when he doesn’t move out of the way. For a moment, I let his heat flow over me. Even though we’ve drunk our fill of each other, I still want more. I want to explore more with him.

When he goes to step back, I clench my hand in his shirt, holding him there. Our eyes lock and I arch an eyebrow. “Has your dad met a lot of yourfriends?”

“Jealous, baby girl?” His eyes darken as his hands go to my hips to pull me closer.