Page 10 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

EvanAnn

When we returned to the foyer, Mom said we needed to head home. Or at least what will be home for a little while longer. I asked when we were moving in, figuring we had at least a month for me to get used to the idea.

Nope.

Friday. We’re moving this week. At least I don’t have to worry about packing. Oh, no, Adam is taking care of everything. Apparently, Mom has known for a while we would need a place. Not that she told me when she saw me yesterday.

Or the day before that. Or the day before that.

I can’t even make a stink about it. I have no control. I may be eighteen, but I’m still in high school and still financially dependent on my mother. Besides, I haven’t complained any other time we moved. So why didn’t she tell me?

Now, I sit cross-legged on my bed. How the hell did my life go off the rails so fast? I’m sorting through the scripts for casting, trying to keep my mind off all the other things plaguing me. My phone buzzes on the bed next to me. I stare at it like it might bear some tragic news.

After the day I’ve had, I wouldn’t be surprised. Maybe news of the zombie apocalypse. That would be in line with what my day’s been like. Hmm, would I survive a zombie apocalypse?

When I turn my phone over, it’s Mia calling. My shoulders relax and I put it on speakerphone.

“Hello to the only good thing that happened today,” I say.

“I will take that.” Mia sighs. “Is there always so much homework on the first day?”

I cringe. Yeah, she probably wasn’t prepared for that. Even though we’re a conservatory school, our academics are rigorous.

“Yeah. Deimos is a really well-ranked private school. Everyone wants their kids to funnel into an Ivy League school from here, so they make sure we’re prepared.”

Mia scoffs. “I’m not going to anything ivy-covered. I might take a year to live in New York or LA and see what I can do.”

I chuckle, because that’s almost every actor’s plan if they don’t plan to attend college. “That’s the dream. To be discovered.”

She laughs. “Yeah. To make it big without spending a ton of money on college or acting school.”

She’s not wrong. It would be awesome to get a job out of high school. If I had connections, I could, possibly. So I need to make it into the best college I can afford that can introduce me to the people who can help me in my career.

“That would be amazing,” I say and lean against my wall.

“I have nothing to go on, but I’m sure you’re awesome at directing and Hollywood will snatch you up as soon as you graduate.” Mia sounds sure of herself.

If only it were that easy. Someone like Brandt might. He has connections and money. He can dabble and enter short film contests. Hell, his parents could put him to work on a real set as soon as he graduates, giving him real-world experience.

Not me though, I need college. A good college with lots of industry connections. Which is why I need to focus on what’s important this year. Not the Devil’s trio.

“Honestly, I’m excited about college. I’ve got a few conservatory schools and film schools I’m looking into.” The problem isn’t desire or even ability. The problem is cost. Wherever I go, I’ll need a scholarship if I don’t want to be saddled with mountains of debt.

“Oh, the best thing about college—the college boys.” Mia sounds excited. “Seriously, college boys are the best. Last year, I fucked a few at parties. Usually better than high school boys.”

I hear a guy call Mia’s name in the background. Somehow I’m not surprised given how many sex stories she’s told me so far today.

She covers the phone and yells back, “Just a minute.”

I’m impressed though. Did she seriously snag a guy on day one, while it took me over two-and-a-half years and working on a project together to find a boyfriend? Of course, I’m me. If I looked like Mia, maybe I’d have a bunch of guys going after me too.

She could probably get one of the trio everyone wants. Maybe even all of them.

“Hey, Evan, I have to go. My brother is here this week to help out. Not that we don’t get on each other’s nerves, but since I’m not going to see him all year, I should go hang out with him.”

“That’s nice. Do you like having a brother?” I stare at the ends of my hair. I’ve always been an only child. Seems like Damon has too.

I don’t know how any of this is going to work. I get that my mom is ready to move on. It’s been years since my dad died. But Adam Storm? Damon’s dad? I don’t think she’s thought this one through. If all they have in common is being widowed, is that enough for a relationship?

I try to figure out how long they’ve actually been dating, but I was too busy with Chase to be her sounding board on this one.

“Having a brother is okay, but I’d kill to have a bathroom to myself.” Mia laughs. “Which I’ll have as soon as he leaves, so that’s exciting.”

“Yeah, I’ve had to share with my mom.” And now I get to share with the hottest boy at school.

Somehow, that doesn’t make it any better.

How does that even work? Do I have to lock both doors before using the bathroom?

What if I forget to unlock his side? Will he have to come through my room? I guess I’ll figure it out.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow. Different class schedule, right?” Mia asks.

“Yes. New classes, new teachers. I think we have third together though—American History.” I try to remember her schedule, but so much happened today.

“Yup.” She pops the p . “I’m so excited to learn more about our school and those guys.”

“The guys in the acting classes?” I ask, hopefully. But I’m intentionally being dumb. There’s only one set of guys the whole female population are obsessed with. Yes, there are some good-looking guys in acting as well, but most of them are in relationships.

Damon, Hawk, and Cam have always been available. None of them have ever had a girlfriend. I doubt that will change this year.

“The hockey guys.” Mia laughs. “I’m going to tear through that team, starting with the guys on top. Oh, or maybe I’ll be on top.”

Even more reason to not tell her I’m sharing a bathroom with Damon.

Part of me wants Mia to like me for me, and not who I can get her close to.

At our school, it’s hard to tell who is being friendly to use you and who is honestly a friend.

It can be really cutthroat. Which is why I don’t have many friends.

An impatient, muffled voice comes through the phone again.

“Oof, my brother won’t leave me alone. I have to go, Evan. See you tomorrow.”

“Yup, tomorrow.” I hang up. Fuck, what will tomorrow even be like? Will the trio be in any of my classes? Will Hawk offer to buy my lunch again?

And what about moving on Friday?

I glance around my room and sigh. I have a few more nights in my room before I have to live in that castle. Part of me wishes I could hold onto this moment forever. I don’t want to leave.

Our house is a one-and-a-half story, meaning I have this floor to myself. The bathroom is downstairs, outside my mom’s bedroom. It’s been a nice home and there are even some trees outside my window. So much better than the apartment complex we left that was basically a concrete block.

Movie posters and theater tickets litter my walls, along with fairy lights and a few shelves to hold the equipment that doesn’t fit in my closet.

Little things I’ve been able to accumulate because we stayed in one place for more than a year.

My twin bed and desk would look like children’s furniture in that huge room.

Not that I’ll need them. The room comes furnished.

That bed is big enough for at least four people.

My cheeks heat. I haven’t really considered sleeping there yet.

Sleeping in the next room over from Damon?

Will I really have any privacy? Will I ever feel safe to sleep in that house with Damon Storm sleeping a few doors away from me?

I didn’t notice if there was a lock on the bathroom door inside the bedroom.

That would be weird, right? But it would need one. Otherwise, he can walk into my bedroom and I can just walk into his. It’s not like we’re real siblings who wouldn’t think of crossing that line. Not that either of us would cross that line.

My brain stalls, but my heartbeat starts again.

I don’t have to worry about Damon sneaking into my room.

Guys like him don’t want girls like me. I’m a nerd and he’s a jock.

He has hot girls falling over him all the time.

The only reason he even knows I exist is because of my mom.

He must be angry that my mom and his dad are shacking up. That must be it.

Or maybe it’s Chase they’re mad at? Or me?

I can’t think of anything I could have done to get on their radar. My summer was spent at home working on Othello until my eyes wanted to bleed. I took in everything I could to distill the story to its essence. Nothing that would suddenly make those guys interested in me.

I stare out the window, wishing Mom had given me more time to get used to the idea. Now I have to adapt and roll with the punches. Of course, this will be a much cushier move than we’ve done before. I don’t even have to load up my car with all my things.

Fuck, I don’t know what to think. I can’t begin to process this.

What was my mother thinking?

I don’t have anyone I can talk to. Mom is too happy. The whole way home, it was Adam this and Adam that . And how happy we were all going to be in that house.

Maybe she’s in love. Maybe she really believes money can buy happiness. I don’t believe that’s the case, but it can definitely make us more comfortable.

She wants this so badly. I don’t want to be the squeaky wheel and ruin it for her. All she’s done since my dad died is work and date. What if this is the one that works out? Or maybe this is just the one she wants to work out, because he’s filthy rich and she won’t have to work as hard if it did.