Page 62 of Brutal Little Secrets

Chase gives me a smile like he knows he’s lost me. “Okay. I’ll see you in class.”

I’m not paying attention as I walk toward the restroom. Too much in my head. I don’t even really need to go. I just didn’t want to be near Chase anymore. He has all these excuses, but he’s never been truly sorry. He just says the words to make things better.

Something drops on the tile floor and startles me out of my thoughts. I turn and don’t see anything. It was nothing. I’m just paranoid. Being unaware is how I got into that mess with Jackson. I didn’t sense the danger until it was too late.

The bathroom is empty. I figure I might as well use it quickly before heading to the theater. That’s where I always feel safe.

Before I flush the toilet, the door opens to the bathroom. When I flush and exit, Olivia is there, leaning against the sink with her arms crossed. She’s beautiful and rich and popular. Her eyes narrow at me.

“Hey, EvanAnn.”

“Hi.” I go to the far sink and wash my hands while trying to figure out why she’s here.

“You’re not dating Chase Chadwick anymore, right?” She glances at her fingernails like it doesn’t matter to her. But she’s not an actress. At least not a convincing one.

“We’re on a break.” I shrug. There’s no reason she’d need to know that. My life should be insignificant to her.

“He’s pretty hot.” Olivia’s smile is smug, like she’s got something she doesn’t want to tell me. “Your friend has been making waves too. Fucking the hockey team?”

I shrug. Again, this is none of her business and she shouldn’t even be talking to me.

“What I don’t understand is why Damon would be interested in you at all.” Olivia looks me up and down like she finds me so fucking lacking.

“What makes you think he is?” There’s no way she knows what happens in his bedroom at night. We’ve been extra careful at school. Just that one time for history class when I rode on his motorcycle. But normally, he ignores me.

Her smile is mean as she drops her arms and walks my way. “Something tells me you won’t be run off like the others. See, they didn’t want to see their social status drop, but you don’t have that. So maybe what you really need is a glow-up. How much?”

Olivia levels her blue eyes on me.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not following here.” I straighten. “You think Damon Storm is into me? Like, likes me?”

She rolls her eyes. “Maybe he just wants to fuck you, but it’s getting in my way.”

“How is it getting in your way?” I cock my head like I’m trying to figure her out. Because I am. I know she wants him, but he doesn’t want her.

“I have one more year to get him. I mean, if I thought you might give it up quickly and he’d be done with you, I’d let it go. But you seem like too much of a challenge, and maybe that’s what he wants.” She narrows her eyes at me thoughtfully.

“If he wants a challenge, why don’t you challenge him? Make him work for it.” I shrug.

She chuckles dryly. “You obviously don’t know Damon. He doesn’t want a girl who tries too hard, but if you don’t try at all, he’ll ignore you. He’s the most frustrating man.”

“So why bother?” I ask.

She scoffs. “He’s the best. And I get the best. If I can’t get it by being the most beautiful, then I’ll buy it. But I always get what I want. And I want Damon. So what’s your price?”

“My price?”

“To give up trying to get him. He wouldn’t be interested if you weren’t giving him some kind of encouragement.” Olivia looks at me like I’m not as smart as she is. “You may get great grades in school, but you have no social intelligence. If he gets no encouragement or outright rejection, he’ll give up. He doesn’t have time to seduce someone.”

I think of those nights he works out and returns to our room hot and smelling like sin. He grabs me up and takes me into the shower with him. I’ve been fucked in that shower often. I’m hoping he’ll fuck me tonight. He doesn’t seduce me because he doesn’t have to. There’s something between us that I never expected. He makes me want him.

I know he feels it, the draw, the magnetic pulse that’s irresistible. I shake myself out of it and focus on the queen bee thinking I’m encroaching on her territory.

“So what? You want to pay me to stay away from Damon, but what happens if he keeps coming after me?” I raise an eyebrow. How stupid does she think I am?

“Tell him no. Duh?” Olivia pulls her phone out. “So how much?”

“You really think I can be bought?” I’m curious.