Page 11 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

I check my messages and notice Chase hasn’t responded to my text about going out with my mom for dinner. He could be busy. Or he might be mad I blew him off tonight. Sending off a quick text to see what he’s up to, I set my phone aside.

After failing to focus on the scripts, I eye my phone. I could call him. Maybe talk to him about this move. Isn’t that what boyfriends are for?

What would he think of me moving in with Damon Storm? He didn’t seem happy about me sitting near them or them talking to me. Now they’ll have access to me he doesn’t. Fuck, I don’t want to add any additional animosity between him and the Devils. I glance at my phone. Why hasn’t it buzzed?

Chase and I don’t talk constantly, but he usually texts me back. Eventually. It’s not like I’m a needy girlfriend. I don’t always answer his texts right away either.

He’s a big deal and has a very active social life. I try to participate when I can, but I don’t have the same social battery level he does. I need my alone time, and that doesn’t seem to bother him.

Normally, being alone wouldn’t bother me. I have things to keep me occupied, but knowing I have to move into that mansion makes it hard to concentrate.

Focus, that’s what I need. I want to study Othello more. Auditions are closing in on me. Decisions will have to be made, like whether to pick people I like or people who are best for the part. Hopefully, they’re the same people and the decision will be easy.

Mia wants to be my best friend, even after meeting everyone else. But will it last? Does she actually want to be my friend or was I just the first person she met? She did text, and that’s what friends do.

Maybe I’m underestimating Mia. Maybe she could be the sounding board I could talk to about this move. To help me not stress out about all the awkwardness of sharing space with Damon. Except she was busy with her twin brother tonight.

“Evan!” Mom calls up the stairs.

“Yeah?” I’m still surrounded by scripts, so I don’t move from my bed. In a perfect world, I could tell Mom my concerns, but I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time. Who am I to ruin what might be a good thing for her?

She’s right. In less than a year, I’m gone. It might be uncomfortable living with them, but the alternative isn’t better. In fact, it could be far worse. Iciness floods me.

“I’m going out for a little while.” Meaning she’s going to go back to her boyfriend’s where we’re literally moving Friday.

“Okay.” I wait a few minutes and the door shuts. Her car starts outside my window and she drives away. My stomach sinks.

So basically, I have no one to talk to about this.

Maybe there’s some anonymous website I can post on and wait for people to comment. I wouldn’t trust anyone outside of our school to understand what’s happening. I’m moving in with the hottest boy in school, and he and his two friends made it a point to see me today.

They’ll probably say stop whining and enjoy the high life. Or worse, they’ll say I should try to hook up with my future stepbrother.

My insides grow warm thinking about Damon.

Ugh. Nope, random advice from strangers is not for me.

The house is very quiet tonight.

I shake my head, select my playlist on my phone to block out my thoughts, and focus on working on the scripts again.

I’m usually okay being alone. Prefer it actually. But tonight I need someone rational to bounce this off of, because it feels like my life is falling apart. Which is ridiculous because my life is going awesome.

I’m one of the top students at an exclusive conservatory school. My play earned a spot in the showcase. My boyfriend is being attentive, not clingy. I haven’t had a boyfriend before and need to get used to it.

I made a new friend who seems nice. My new room and house will be a step up from this house. Which should make me happy for me and my mom because she really seems happy this time. Maybe I’m misjudging everything and she and Adam have a lot more in common.

Maybe I should give this a chance and not worry about what happens when things fall apart and we have nowhere to live.

I rub at that ache in my chest.

The doorbell rings. I straighten, suddenly alert, and turn off my music.

I’d been so lost in my thoughts I didn’t hear someone pull up.

When I check my phone, there aren’t any new messages from Chase or anyone else.

Careful of my scripts, I slide off the bed and head downstairs, straightening my t-shirt and brushing off my pajama bottoms. I don’t bother with socks. I’m sure this won’t take long.

Damon

There are few things I’m sure of in this world: hockey is my future, Heather Ward is a gold-digging whore, and EvanAnn is a lying little cunt, along with her boyfriend. I’m going to enjoy breaking her.

She opens the door without hesitation. Her eyes go wide when she sees it’s not only me, but Hawk and Cam too. I use her disorientation to take her in. There’s not much to her. She’s average height for a girl, blond hair and blue eyes that are almost gray.

Her current outfit doesn’t show off her legs or that tight little body like her school uniform does. Though her pink toes peek out from under the legs of her pajamas. I honestly didn’t know she existed until the end of summer. Now she’s all that’s on my mind.

I want to destroy her.

Her mouth opens but no sound comes out.

Hawk steps up to her and taps her chin. “What’s up, Annie?”

Cam chuckles as he slips into the house while Hawk has her distracted. I follow Cam’s lead. Hawk is the seducer. He knows how to get what he wants. I’m not surprised he’s into this. Evan is a challenge and Hawk loves a challenge.

“What are you doing here?” She backs away from Hawk and wraps her arms around her center, drawing the t-shirt tight against her tits. Pretty sure she isn’t aware of that.

Though maybe she is. Maybe everything she does, from this cute, little shy act to drawing my attention to her breasts, is one giant game to her. She’s not as innocent as she acts. I have to remember that.

“Only seems fair, Evan,” I bite out. “You got to see my place. Seems I should get to see yours.”

“My mom’s not home.” Her tone implies we’re not welcome.

I know exactly where her whore of a mother is. Where she always is, making my father lose his goddamned mind. Playing on his grief from losing my mother. She’s another con artist trying to get with Adam Storm. He may be blind to it, but I’m not.

She won’t be the first or last gold-digger I have to drive off, but this time I get to have revenge at the same time. Something I intend to savor.

I need to do something with this rage brewing inside and Evan is the perfect target. Having Evan under my roof will be perfect for what I want to do.

I walk into her house like I own the place.

Honestly, I could probably buy it and everything in it—including EvanAnn—with my monthly allowance.

The living room is tiny, with a small flat-screen TV and a couch that’s seen better days.

An armchair that looks like it came from the turn of the last century sits next to it.

I shudder to think they’ll bring those things with them. Dad already cleared out a guest bedroom for them to store their belongings in. A room that might have been perfect for Evan, if I hadn’t convinced Dad we already had the perfect room for her.

I want Evan close so I can keep an eye on the traitorous bitch.

The carpet is worn in a path from the door, so I follow the trail.

“You shouldn’t be here.” Evan finds her voice again. That voice and that body are designed for sin. And we all know she’s not as righteous as she sounds. How far will she let me push her? I’ll find out when she has nowhere else to go.

“Is that any way to talk to your future stepbrother?” I walk into the kitchen. Fuck, this is tiny. My father is so far out of Heather’s league.

No wonder she’s moving in after only a few months.

“Come on, Annie. Show me your room. I want to see where the magic happens.” Hawk chuckles. He slides his hand against the small of her back, causing her to scurry away. The only thing she might have going for her is she seems loyal to her asshole of a boyfriend.

We’ll fix that.

Cam opens the refrigerator. I glance toward it and see there’s barely anything in it. Not surprising given they’re moving in Friday. My fucking dad is blinded by the mother’s pretty blue eyes. I won’t fall for the same trap.

I close in on Evan and she takes a step back into Hawk. Her blue eyes go wide. They’re a clearer blue in this light, but they won’t tempt me to go easy on her. She makes a delightful little squeak and steps away from both of us. “What are you doing here?”

It’s like she’s stuck on repeat.

“I showed you mine. Now show me yours.” I don’t hide the innuendo. Even give her a little wink.

She bites her lip. Fuck, they’re full and pouty.

On any other girl, I’d have her pressed against the wall, nibbling my way over every bit of them, but not Evan.

No. That’s not the goal here. The goal tonight is to put her in her place before she lets her ego take off.

Moving from this dump to my house is enough to make any girl think she’s fucking special.

The only reason Evan is getting our attention is because of what she and her fucking boyfriend did. I’m going to tear them to pieces for it and enjoy every minute of their downfall.

But to do that, I also need her to trust me. Can’t get ahead of myself.

“There’s not much to see.” She purses those lips and crosses her arms again, trying to protect herself from us.

I want to laugh at the effort. No girl has ever told us no. Evan won’t be any different.

“Don’t sell yourself short, Annie.” Hawk’s been the most aggressive but he’s used to leading, to being the front man. After all, he’s our team captain. He’s also everyone’s favorite. He can do no wrong. Except deep down, he wants to.

He’s as fucking dark as I am, but he hides it better. Will he let his darkness out to play with our little revenge plot? Fuck, I hope so.

“Be a good girl and show us your room.” Hawk gives her that soft look all girls seem to trust.

“Fine, but then you have to leave.” Like she can make demands.

I don’t laugh at how naive she is. Or is it all an act? From what I know about Evan, the type of girl she is, she’s not fucking shy. Blowing her boyfriend in a convertible where anyone can see. His hand hiking up her skirt to dip below it. She definitely isn’t shy for him.

Not a single inch of her delectable little body.