Page 47 of Brutal Little Secrets

I swallow and set my fork down. My appetite gone. “That school is no longer an option.”

Evan’s hand slides over my thigh under the table. It’s subtle enough no one will notice, but her touch centers me, keeps me from exploding.

“You’ve got decent grades. They’d have to let you play hockey.” Tom smiles like all it takes is a little money to grease the wheels. And in some cases, it does, but not this time.

“They only take players who are draft-ready.” I lean back in my chair and meet Chase’s gaze. “The accident fucked that up for me.”

Chase has the decency to flinch. Has he figured it out yet? That I know and I’ll do anything to make his life hell? Taking Evan is only one piece to the puzzle. Chase wasn’t smart enough to get into Deimos so maybe he hasn’t put the pieces together.

“Surely there’s another school that’s just as good.” Tom seems determined.

They’ll keep harping on this until I give them something.

“Crowne Mawr has a new coach. They’re working on becoming a feeder into the NHL,” I say with no emotion. What else can I do? I don’t have a lot of choices unless I want to wait a year to go to college or try to do both Juniors at the same time as my first year of college and then transfer.

No matter which way I look at it, I’m fucked.

“Crowne Mawr is a good school.” My dad nods at me. He doesn’t understand it might be my only choice because he held me back this year. That pit of rage boils in my center, threatening to explode. “It’s not that far away and if you can play and get an education?—”

“I’ve actually considered Crowne Mawr for college,” Evan interrupts. Her hand rubs my tense thigh.

My father pauses with his mouth open. I’m usually the one who interrupts.

“It makes sense.” She smiles and looks at the adults, but not Chase or me. “It’s close to home. Their directing program hosts a lot of famous directors. It’s a program that will help me get noticed if I choose not to go to New York or don’t get the scholarship I need.”

The server comes around and takes plates. When she comes back with the main course, she sets the ratatouille in front of me and my steak in front of Evan. Before the adults notice and can say anything, I switch our plates. She smiles softly and squeezes my thigh before taking her hand away.

Chase studies the two of us closely. Does he suspect I’ve got her wrapped around my finger? And tonight I’ll have her wrapped around me and fill her so full of my cum he’ll smell it on her at school.

“My birthday is coming up in a few weeks.” Tom tucks into his steak like a man on a mission. “I know EvanAnn is planning on attending, but I’d love for your whole family to come.”

Heather smiles and glances at my father, taking his hand on the table. “That sounds amazing. We’d love to.”

Evan glances at me, but I don’t look back.

“We’re taking a trip this weekend to celebrate on our own,” Jessica says. She smiles and winks my way. “It’s good to reconnect every so often. Chase has play practice, or we would have brought him with us.”

Chase leans back in his chair. Wonder what or who Chase will do this weekend. It won’t be Evan, but maybe this is something we can use.

EvanAnn

When dinner ends, Chase hangs back while the adults walk outside to have a drink next to the pool. Damon glances at the two of us and rolls his eyes before heading upstairs.

I’m tempted to look in the corners for more of his cameras, but I doubt he has the whole house bugged. And even though I know they’re there, I haven’t found any in my room or the bathroom.

I draw in a breath, bracing myself for what Chase has to say.

“Ishewhy you didn’t tell me about this move?” Chase steps toward me, but I shift behind the couch, putting the furniture between us. He changes his aggressive expression to something more like hurt.

“It’s not like I had a choice in the matter.” I take in a breath and keep my tone light. Damon wouldn’t really leave me alone with Chase. He’ll be close enough that if I need him, he’ll be here. “She didn’t tell me until the last minute, and by then I didn’t want to create more animosity between you and Damon and his friends.”

“Is that why they always seem to be around now?” Chase studies me like he can see if something’s changed.

He can’t. I’m not any different. Just had my eyes opened to his cheating.

Besides, he has some nerve blaming me when he’s the one who was cheating the whole time. I didn’t create this mess. He did. He made me think I was special and worth waiting for by someone like him. Instead, he used me to keep up his lifestyle under his father’s nose.

It’s time to go on the attack. “What your dad said… Is that the reason why you’re dating me? To help repair your image in your father’s eyes? To have someone to say you’re spending all your time with?”