Page 17 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

EvanAnn

“Why were you with those guys, EvanAnn?” Chase asks as I get rid of my tray.

He’s right behind me as I turn around and look up into his blue eyes. My ear still tingles from Hawk’s lips. The way he grabbed the back of my neck sent sparks flooding my system.

“I went out there with Mia.” I shrug and turn to leave the cafeteria. “She found a spot, but there wasn’t room for me. Hawk offered a place at his table, so I took it. I don’t see what the problem is.”

But I do. It shouldn’t have been a problem, but Hawk and Cam sat close to me and talked to me the whole lunch period. That’s not the problem though. They’re attractive and I enjoyed being around them. What Chase wouldn’t understand is that Hawk actually helped me out.

When the popular girls snatched Mia up, I stood there feeling lost.

Hawk saved me the embarrassment of turning around and going back inside. Chase doesn’t know what it’s like to be a lowly ant. Yes, he’s Anteros too, but he’s part of the in-crowd.

Chase belongs. If he wanted, he could have any seat out there. He did when he dated Abby. The only reason he sits inside is because of me.

I never should have gone out there with Mia. Should have told her I don’t belong, but they made it so obvious I don’t. There wasn’t room. There’s never room for me at their tables. It’s a reminder.

Maybe in the future when I’ve earned the space by being a noteworthy director, I’ll be included. But not right now. Not while I’m a lowly ant.

“I would have come out and sat with you if I’d known, babe.” Chase wraps his arm around my shoulders and squeezes me against his side. “I don’t mind sitting outside. I thought you liked sitting inside.”

“I do.” I glance up at him, feeling awful for soaking up the attention from those guys when I have this one who actually likes me. “I like sitting inside with you.”

He grins and we head to our acting studio. Mia catches up to us.

“Hey.” She glances at Chase before her blue eyes settle on me. “Are you okay? I’m really sorry about lunch. I didn’t realize those girls would do that after clearly inviting both of us.”

“It’s okay.” I shrug, because I don’t really have any way to express to her that it’s the social system. I knew better. She’ll be part of the in-crowd because she’s beautiful and talented, while I’m not talented in the same way. She’ll be in front of the camera, while I stay behind it.

“No, it’s not okay.” She straightens. “I should have gone back inside with you. After all, you’re my bestie.” Her eyes meet mine and there’s a little uncertainty there. “Right?”

I nod. For as long as she wants me. I may not be able to tell her about my future roommate, but she’s still the only friend I have. Chase is always busy with his friends. And while I should spend more time with him, it isn’t feasible with our schedules.

“Good.” She releases a breath. “I’d say we should do dinner, but my brother is still here. This week only though. So next week make sure to pencil me in for whatever we should do around here after school.”

“Practice for the plays will begin next week. Which means if you end up cast in my play, we’ll see each other all the time.” I give her a weak smile. “Until you get sick of me.”

She smiles and hooks her arm in mine. “I won’t get sick of you, Evan. Besides, I found out the first scrimmage for the hockey guys is on Saturday afternoon. It’s not a real game, but it should be fun to watch. We should go.”

“If it’s Saturday, I can go with you guys.” Chase squeezes my shoulder. “I haven’t really sized up our hockey team this year.”

I smile even though I don’t know how to feel about going to see the trio. By then I’ll be all moved into my new room that’s adjacent to Damon’s. The Devils will be distracted with the game, so obviously it’ll be me and Mia time. And apparently, Chase.

“We’re still on for dinner with my parents, right?” Chase asks. When Mia goes into the classroom, he holds me back in the hallway.

Mia glances back at us before smiling and heading to her seat.

“Yeah, tomorrow.” I look up at him. He really is classically handsome. His looks will take him far in an acting career. But when I look at him, there’s no buzz of energy like when I’m around Hawk, Cam, or Damon.

Did I ever feel that same buzz with him? Maybe my anxiety around them is working overtime.

Chase cups my jaw and brushes his thumb over my cheek. It’s nice, but it’s nothing like when Hawk touched me last night or when Damon brushed my hair behind my ear. It’s probably because I’m more familiar with Chase’s touch now. It’s comfortable.

He leans down until his lips are almost on mine. My instinct is to turn away. We’re at school. This isn’t the right time to kiss, but I don’t move. Because I need to know. He touches his lips to mine and it’s pleasant, but not earth shattering.

He lifts his head and smiles. “We definitely need to find some alone time this weekend, babe.”

That could be all we need, some time together.

Damon

It’s late. The house is quiet, but I know Heather went to bed with my father. This woman has way more sticking power than the previous women my dad has brought home. But I’ve seen her house, and if I had her life, I’d do anything to keep a guy like my dad on the hook.

The only time I haven’t seen her around the house was last week, when Dad was on a business trip. I don’t think this one will run away if I look down on her or make snide comments. There’s hunger in her eyes when she looks at my father.

Maybe it’s for my dad. After all, he’s in good shape and handsome. But it could be the lifestyle upgrade he offers her. It doesn’t matter. She isn’t like my mom, who was the partner my dad deserved. Anything less than her is caving to lust, which isn’t acceptable.

Lust dies after it’s slaked.

I go down the back stairs and out the door to the garage. I’d grab a motorcycle but they’re too loud. While no one in this house will hear it or even care I’m out this late, when I drive up to Evan’s, it might alert her, which I definitely don’t want to do.

My black BMW M4 will be perfect for my late-night mission. When I get in, I set my black gloves and mask on the passenger seat, along with the cameras I intend to plant.

A slut like Evan should provide something for me to blackmail her with.

Whether she’s giving her boyfriend head or fucking him, it doesn’t matter.

A sex video spread around school would be social suicide for someone like Evan.

And if her mom is at my place, I can almost guarantee Chase is at Evan’s.

Pussy without having to be quiet. He should be all over that.

I admit she plays her role of the good girl perfectly. If I didn’t know better, I would take her for a tight-lipped, little virgin. But no, there’s definitely something naughty about EvanAnn. I’ll never forget the image of her head in Chase’s lap.

Maybe she’s only giving it up to him.

I should have called the guys to come help with this, but fuck, I want this done without Evan even realizing I’ve been there.

Besides, they might not approve of cameras in her house. It might be the most boring video ever of her studying and packing. She is a straight A student, after all. But if there’s a show, I’ll make sure to loop them in.

I pull up beside her house, turning into the driveway to park toward the back, and shut off the car.

Chase’s car isn’t here. Only Evan’s beat-up Honda.

The lights inside the house are all off.

The street is noisy, even at this time of night.

There’s a highway not too far away, providing a steady stream of cars driving by.

A truck that needs a tune-up pulls into the driveway a few doors down.

My car sticks out like a sore thumb. Fortunately, this neighborhood isn’t the kind where someone would try to jack it. Still, I shouldn’t leave it out here for long.

That’s the part I don’t understand. If Heather is at my house right now, why not bring her daughter? Why wait for Friday? Why leave her here all by herself where anyone can get to her? Is it so Evan can adjust to the thought of moving in with me?

I shake my head and slip on my black leather gloves. Yes, I’m dressed in all black and will look like a fucking criminal if I try to break in. But I had the forethought to grab Heather’s keys.

She’s not going to miss them until the morning when they’ll already be returned to her purse. I slip out of the car and walk with confidence to the back door.

The cameras are in my pocket. All I have to do is install them where they aren’t obvious, so Evan doesn’t take them down right away. I slip into the tiny kitchen and wait to see if Evan is awake enough to hear someone come in. Hopefully, she’ll assume it’s her mother and return to sleep.

There’s no sound anywhere in the house as I creep in. There’s not much to Evan’s house. Honestly, we could probably fit this house in our garage. Yes, I realize this is a lifestyle upgrade for both of these women, and they’ll cling to it with both hands, but I’ll manage to shake them loose.

I was a little surprised Evan didn’t use her new status at school today. The new girl doesn’t even seem to know. When they came out for lunch, I figured Evan would have spilled the good news to everyone, and assumed she’d be accepted now that she was rich-adjacent.

But it was Mia those bitches wanted to join them. Not Evan.

Instead, Evan looked like a puppy that had gotten kicked. Olivia nudged me and chuckled softly like I should watch the show. Evan kept her chin up, but even I realize how humiliating it would be to have to turn around and go back inside.

I sat back and waited to be entertained. But Hawk swooped in and rescued her. Fucking savior complex. I love my friend, but if he doesn’t get over that shit, she’s going to run right over him.

I move quietly into the living room and determine the angle I need to get most of the room with the camera, checking on my phone.

It takes me a few more minutes to find somewhere to hide it before settling it into place.

It’s programmed to upload to the cloud where I’ll get notifications when something is moving on the video feed.

The stairs to her bedroom are right there. Moonlight and streetlight pour through the windows, just enough to illuminate the way. I hesitate. It’s a risk to go upstairs, but I can’t seem to resist. Putting a camera in her room would be better than downstairs.

Though the single bed makes it difficult to have company over, I’m sure they manage. My friends are excited over the prospect of fucking the good girl, but I’m all about ruining her, ruining her boyfriend, and ruining her mother.

I want to prove to everyone she isn’t who she pretends to be. I climb the stairs silently. Her door is shut and I don’t know if the hinges will squeak when I open it. Holding my breath, I turn the knob and push the door open slowly, carefully.

I stand in the open doorway and breathe in her woodsy scent. She’s asleep, her blond hair spread out on her pillow. Her blankets are kicked down by her feet, leaving her long legs bare, glistening white in the streetlight creeping through the curtains.

I’m not immune to her curves or how pretty she is. Not pretty enough to be popular at our school. But I’m not opposed to fucking her.

Her nightgown barely covers her white panties. Her eyes are closed. Realizing I’m standing there staring, I move toward her dresser. I need to get the camera placed before she becomes aware I’m here.

She’s going to be packing soon. Or maybe she won’t, since my dad is funding their move into our house. I set the camera. Part of me wants her to find it when she’s packing, so she knows whoever planted it has pictures of her.

It’s an invasion of privacy, but fuck, she’s invading my life. She can handle a little intrusion. I walk toward her bed and glance back at the camera. It’s hidden enough from this angle.

She lets out a little noise and shifts on the bed. Freezing in place, I turn to see if she’s awake. I’m close enough that when her arm falls off the edge of the bed, her fingers brush against my jeans. But she doesn’t wake up.

How deeply does she sleep? It’s a curiosity, because she’ll be sleeping next door to me soon. I’ve already made sure she won’t have a way to lock me out. Will she not be able to sleep, worried I’ll creep in on her, or will she sleep like the lamb she is? Ripe for the slaughter.

I study her face, soft and unaware. None of the usual worry shows on her face. I drag my gaze down her long neck to her breasts rising and falling in time with her steady breaths. Her nightgown shifted higher with her turn, showing off her white cotton bikini briefs.

Always playing the virgin. I shake my head, but my cock is hard. How long until I can have her under me? I have to play this carefully, so she doesn’t misinterpret my intentions. But we need more information.

The cameras are only the beginning. I need something to hold over her, so she’ll do whatever I want. I don’t care if it’s not fair or right. She and Chase took my future from me. Maybe I can get my future back on track, but I’ll be a year behind now.

So I’ll own her year to make up for my loss, and at the end of it, I’ll make sure she’s as broken as I am right now.