Page 5 of Brutal Little Secrets

I nod, wanting to believe him, but the rot inside me persists. Hawk is guessing about Damon. Will I believe Damon if he tells me nothing happened? How many times did Chase lie to my face? Saying I was the only one for him while he was off fucking someone else?

“It feels like I should be honest about something.” Hawk reaches for the conditioner.

“I don’t know if I can take much more honesty tonight,” I admit.

He smirks and combs the conditioner through my hair with his fingers. “I didn’t really have to practice for my audition. I played Romeo during my stint inShakespeare in the Park.”

A huff of a laugh releases from me. He grins.

“I just wanted to put that out there.”

“You were amazing.” I shake my head.

“See? I was hoping for awe-inspiring.” He rinses his hands and grabs my soap, giving me some and filling his hands. “I almost came in and did the balcony scene, but everyone expects the balcony scene.”

I roll my eyes and let Hawk tell me about his experience. Theater is my first love after all, and it’s easy to let the rest slip to the back of my mind while his hands glide over my body and he talks Shakespeare with me.

Cam

Damon sits across the station from me at another desk. I am so fucked. There are a dozen other teens still here. Most of the parents have already come by to pick up their partiers, but my father and Damon’s haven’t made it in yet.

“Since this is your first offense, you’ll be charged a fine and possibly time.” Officer Taggert types into his computer. He seems bored of all this. “You’ll have a court date to appeal the decision, but the breathalyzer reading is on your record.”

I wish I was more sober because I’m sure this would drill in the fact I need to drink less. Instead, fuck, is this a trip.

Officer Taggert slides a pamphlet my way. I glance down at the Teen AA meeting drivel he’s trying to push on me.

“Sir, I only drink at parties.” I don’t mention that I party most nights, but I don’t always drink, so it’s a balance.

“Camden Lane Warwick.”

I flinch at my father’s voice. Officer Taggert stands and holds his hand out to my dad.

“Sorry to bother you, Mr. Warwick.” Officer Taggert gestures to the other seat. “We’re almost finished here.”

Dad lowers into the chair beside me, sitting up straight while I’m slouched. I look almost exactly like him, Maybe that’s why he expects me to act like him too. My hair is as long as my mom will let it get, which is definitely longer than Dad’s. I run my hand through it and don’t need to look at him to feel the disapproval in his eyes.

Even when I tried to be his little clone, it was only disapproval and nitpicking. So I decided to go another way. Life has been easier.

“What can we do to make this go away, Officer Taggert?” My dad is ready to donate to the fucking police fund if I can keep a pristine record for his school of choice.

“The court hearing is in a week.” Taggert’s tone doesn’t change.

Dad’s smile tightens. “Perfect.”

I don’t laugh, but Dad will take care of this before the hearing. That’s his job as my father. To make shit like that go away so I can get into Yale. It takes another ten minutes before we’re out of the station. Damon’s dad arrives as we’re leaving. My dad stops to talk.

“This shit needs to end. Won’t be long before the boys will be off to college,” my dad says.

“One can only hope.” Adam sighs. “I can’t seem to get it through Damon’s head that hockey is a dream that could go away with one injury. He needs to focus on getting a degree while at college. Not go to a college for hockey.”

“College will straighten them out.” My dad’s hand tightens on my shoulder.

Fuck them both. It’s like they never had dreams beyond what they achieved. If I were as good at hockey as Damon, I wouldn’t let my dad stand in the way. I’d go after it just as hard as Damon does. And yeah, maybe my dream for college is smaller than my dad’s, but it’s what I want.

“We should have you and Lisa over for dinner some time.” Adam smiles. “Heather and I have been talking about having a small dinner party.”

Small, like fifty guests. I chuckle before I can stop myself.