Page 34 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

Hawk

The ice is where I rule. The scrimmage doesn’t usually draw a huge crowd, but today, there’s a decent number of students in the stands. Especially with Damon back on the ice.

He can skate circles around the Kentwood Prep guys. His whole life has been focused on hockey. Achieving the next level.

Being back at Deimos is hard for him. The plan was to go to the Junior League, get noticed by the big division one schools on the East Coast and by the NHL. Instead, he’s here. Some of these guys will play in college, but for most, high school is the end of the line for them with hockey.

They may play in rec leagues when they’re older, but they will never be on this level again. And never with someone who will be drafted to the NHL.

I’ve loved every moment I’ve had on the ice, even when the coach forces us to bag skate, skating drills without the puck. But this is probably my final year. I have to focus either on my studies or on hockey. I’m good on the ice and could play in college, but I’m not at the level Damon is.

Cam glides up next to me. “She’s here.”

My gaze goes to where he indicates in the stands. Annie sits between Mia and Chase who’s talking to some blond guy.

Annie looks happy, but when her gaze collides with mine, the smile freezes on her face. I can’t get the feel of her lips against mine out of my mind. I don’t want to. I want to do it again.

The rejection stung, not going to lie. I’ll take whatever Damon gets her to offer, but no girl has ever rejected me before. It makes me want to make her beg for it. And she will.

“Scoping out the puck bunnies?” Jackson Riordan slides to a stop next to me. We played together when we were younger. He’s on the Kentwood Prep team on a scholarship. He’s good, but an asshole. “Who’s the blond?”

“Mia Lewis.” Cam skates backwards, leaving me with Jackson. He’s not a fan. None of us are.

“She looks promising. Blonds are my favorite.” Jackson smirks. “Is that who you were looking at?”

“Fuck off, Jackson,” Damon says as he skates over to us.

“Feeling territorial?” Jackson sneers at him. He’s always hated Damon. Maybe because Damon is better than him on the ice, or has more money, or gets more pussy. It doesn’t matter what Jackson is good at, Damon will always be better.

“Warm-ups are over, Riordan.” I know better than to let Jackson and Damon talk for too long, because the hate goes both ways. We don’t need a fight before the game even begins.

Jackson skates back to his side of the ice.

Damon’s gaze goes to Annie in the stands. “What did he want?”

I’m not surprised he’s already locked onto her. Last night was fucked up. But we’ve all gotten to see Annie naked, and fuck, does it make me want to make her beg me for it even more. I don’t know what she brings out in me, but I’m ready to explore it.

“Nothing. We should head to the coach.” I gesture with my head.

Cam assumed Jackson was talking about Mia, but his gaze seemed intent on Annie. Something about that focus set off warning bells in my head. Damon doesn’t need to know that. Not before going into a game.

He needs to focus. We need this win.

EvanAnn

The hair stands on the back of my neck. I turn to meet Hawk’s gaze. He’s standing on the ice with Cam and both are looking in my direction.

“Oh my god, I think Hawk’s looking at me.” Mia straightens and smiles.

My cheeks heat. I haven’t seen Cam or Hawk since they saw me naked on video. I don’t know if Damon showed them the other footage, but it seems like something he would do. Did he tell them about us kissing?

Fuck, that kiss in the bathroom with him naked and exposed. I was the one coming undone. He may have been naked, but he had complete control over me, making me the vulnerable one in that situation.

“I didn't pay attention to the hockey team at Sherman.” Mia cranes her head around to check out the entire team. “Do you think we could move closer to the ice?”

“These seats seem good,” Chase says. He reaches over and takes my hand.

It’s chilly in here and my hands are cold, so I appreciate it.

I turn to thank Chase but get caught in his blue eyes and his classic smile.

The trouble is, my brain can’t stop thinking about someone else’s blue eyes.

I didn’t touch Damon, but he touched me.

If I thought Hawk shook my foundation, Damon shattered it.

I couldn’t have pushed him away even if I wanted to. But Chase doesn’t know. He doesn’t know I’ve kissed two guys behind his back. Sure, they kissed me, but that’s semantics. I know what I felt. It’s how I should feel for Chase, not Hawk or Damon.

Chase turns away from me when Tanner mentions something.

Do you think you’re the only one he’s fucking? Damon is in my head and I can’t seem to shake him out. What if I’m not the only one doing things behind closed doors? A stone sinks in my stomach.

I turn back toward the ice. Mia’s focused on the guys, leaving me stuck in my thoughts.

Chase had a reputation before we started dating. He definitely got around. He also hasn’t really pushed me hard on the physical side, claiming he’s willing to wait for me to be ready. But what if he isn’t waiting? What if the reason he’s willing to wait is because he’s getting sex on the side?

He’s introduced me to his parents and talks about a future, so why would he be with me if he’s having sex with other girls?

Maybe Damon is fucking with me to make me doubt my boyfriend. But for what purpose? Why did he kiss me? It took everything in me not to reach out and touch him. To slide my hands down his solid chest and feel his cock pulse in my hand.

Fuck. My cheeks flush with heat. Definitely need him out of my head.

I don’t know what the purpose of Damon’s attention is yet, but it can’t be good. A shiver rolls through me.

“Look at Damon.” Mia draws my attention down to the ice where Damon skates on the ice like he owns it. “Fuck, he’s so hot. Can you imagine what he’d be like in bed. Do you think he’ll be at the party tonight?”

My lip aches from his bite, and I resist the urge to reach up and touch it. What would have happened if my mom hadn’t interrupted us again?

I’ve never seen a naked guy in person. Every inch of Damon is sculpted to perfection, including his cock. Although I have nothing to compare it to, he definitely seemed larger than the ones I’ve seen online.

Heat floods me. I’m trying not to focus on him and what happened in his room and the bathroom, but fuck, his lips on mine are enough to set me on fire. His heart, beneath my palms, had been beating as rapidly as mine.

“You okay?” Mia asks.

“Sorry, what?” I tear my gaze from him and look at Mia.

“You seem distracted. Is everything okay?” She gestures to the ice. “I know this is distracting, but you seem distant.”

“Just thinking.” I can’t tell her what I’m thinking about. I don’t know if there’s some girl code about guys your friend wants to fuck. Besides, I can’t tell her about Damon with Chase here. I don’t even know how to explain what’s happening without giving it all away.

I’m a mess.

“Okay, but if you need to talk, I’m here for you.” Mia’s look is concerned.

I give her a smile. “I appreciate that.”

“Did you see the guys on the other team?” Mia looks down at the ice with hearts in her eyes. “I might have found my new favorite sport.”

I shake my head with a smile as the guys line up for the face-off. Then they’re a blur on the ice. It’s difficult to follow who’s who and where the puck is.

“You want something to drink?” Chase leans in to ask.

“I’m good. Thanks.” I search his eyes. Is he cheating on me? Is that why he isn’t pressuring me for sex after months of dating?

He leans in to kiss me and something loud hits the boards, startling me. I turn with wide eyes and see Damon glaring up at us before he skates away from the guy he pushed into the boards. My heart is in my throat.

Did he just... ?

I cough to cover my distraction and Chase rears back.

“You getting sick, babe?”

“It’s just a little cough. I’m sure it’s nothing.” If Damon didn’t do it on purpose, it’s a weird fucking coincidence. Fortunately, Chase is a bit of a germaphobe, and I haven’t been enjoying his PDA. What’s the point of kissing me here, anyway?

He stands. “I’ll get you some orange juice or something. Gotta stay healthy for the play.”

Tanner stands with him. “You need something, Mia?”

“No, I’m good.” Mia doesn’t take her eyes off the guys on the ice.

Tanner chuckles, shaking his head, and follows Chase. They’ve been talking about football and something about horsemen, which I didn’t follow.

As soon as they’re out of sight, I turn to Mia. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, bestie.” Mia turns to me. Her cheeks are pink. From the cold or the excitement?

“Do you know how to tell if someone is cheating on you?” I glance toward the ice and the three guys who are making me question everything.

Is it wrong of me to ask since I technically cheated on Chase?

It’s not a tit-for-tat situation though.

I don’t have any evidence of his cheating and I don’t think he’s aware of mine.

Besides, if Chase is fucking someone else, that’s different than me getting kissed and not immediately pushing the guy away.

My stomach churns. It doesn’t excuse what I’ve done. It’s always possible Chase isn’t cheating at all, and Damon wants to fuck with my head. That seems to be his goal in life right now. I should come clean to Chase and tell him everything.

Mia straightens her skirt and keeps her eyes on the ice. “I haven’t really been in a relationship for someone to cheat on me. But I’m sure there would be signs. Are you worried about Chase?”

I shrug and try to put it out of my mind. “This is my first relationship. I feel like I’m winging this and it should be harder.”

Her eyes meet mine and she smiles. “I’m sure you’re doing fine.”

Except I’ve cheated with two guys. When my gaze lingers on Cam, I know it’s only a matter of time before I cheat on Chase with a third. Maybe I shouldn’t be in a relationship. But then I imagine sitting alone at lunch and having no one to talk to.

Maybe Mia would stay, but Damon doesn’t want me to be his girlfriend any more than Hawk or Cam do. I shouldn’t let them tempt me. I should stay with the guy who values me, dates me in the open, introduces me to his parents, and talks about the future, no matter how far-fetched.