Page 60 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

EvanAnn

The library is quiet when Mia and I walk in. I might have eaten a little slower than normal, knowing she would flirt hardcore with Hawk and Damon during the half hour we have to work on the project.

Chase practically pouted when I told him where we were going. When he tried to come along, I told him we needed to focus.

Mia’s gaze bounces around the room. The librarian behind the checkout desk. The rows of books. Our library has two floors, with steps in the back leading to shelves of more stacks.

“Where are we going to meet them?” Mia whispers.

I blow out a breath and look around. There are a few nooks and crannies to hide from the librarian in, but I figured since we were working on a project, we’d be front and center. I could text them, but I shouldn’t have their numbers.

I gesture to Mia and start walking. “Let’s do a quick sweep.”

Ten minutes later and there is no sign of them anywhere.

“This was a waste of time.” I walk back to the doors because I’m done. I push out into the hallway and start for the theater wing. If they think I’m going to sit around and wait for them like a good little pet, they can figure out when we can work next. I have things to do.

“Wait. We can at least check to see if they’re in the cafeteria.” Mia grabs my arm and I let her bring me back to the cafeteria. Chase isn’t at our table, but I’m no longer worried about Chase’s dalliances. I glance out toward the courtyard and see the guys sitting at Olivia’s table.

“They must have forgotten.” I shrug as Olivia puts her hand on Damon’s chest and he smiles at her. It’s not like he’s going to fuck her. Resisting the urge to rub at my heart, I turn on my heel.

“Where are you going?” Mia asks.

“To get ready for my afternoon classes.”

“Well, I’m going to go talk to them.” She straightens.

“Have fun with that.” I walk away as Mia marches out to the courtyard. Maybe I should stay and support my friend, but I’m having trouble breathing. My chest tightens as I go to my locker and switch out my books.

What I have with the Devil’s trio isn’t anything more than sex and revenge. I shouldn’t be surprised they’re keeping up appearances by flirting with other girls. If they stopped, it would raise questions.

I slam my locker shut and head into the Anteros section. I have better things to do than hang out with guys while my friend tries to get into their pants. She won’t succeed, but I can’t tell her that. Am I a horrible friend?

It’s not like Mia is professing her undying love for the guys. She wants to fuck them. Not even long-term. Nope, I’m done thinking about that.

I head into the empty black box theater and climb the steps to the back row of the audience. Drawing in a breath, I sit and stare at the space. Tomorrow after lunch, we’ll be in here for rehearsal. I’ll have all my actors available to me.

I pull out my tablet and take notes on how best to use the time we have. We’ll have full run-throughs closer to performance, but right now, we need to either do exercises to work on memorization or work on cadence of speech.

A few actors in the cast are familiar with Shakespeare, including Hawk. I could divide them up and have each of them run their lines. The actors with experience can help with pronunciations and delivery.

It’ll also mean I won’t need to spend any time with Chase or Hawk. I send a quick message to Keira to let her know what I’m thinking. After a minute, the door to the theater opens and she walks in.

She looks around and spots me, climbing the steps before dropping into the chair next to me. “What’s going on?”

“You could have just texted back. How did you know I’d be in here?” I turn to look at her.

She smiles. “Because this is where I’d be. And if you’re reworking our plan, something else must be going on. So, what’s wrong with what we already had?”

Keira puts her feet up on the chair in front of her and crosses her ankles as she stares out at the black box.

“Nothing’s wrong. The whole cast together this early just isn’t as effective as it will be later on.” I slide my tablet and phone into my backpack. “I just want to make the best use of their time.”

She nods. “It’ll work. But is it the best use of our principals’ time?”

I tip my head back against the wall and put my hands over my eyes. “Probably not.”

“So, what can we do to utilize everyone according to their talents?” Keira turns her face toward me.

“You and Jason can help the extras with their lines while I work with the principals.” And suddenly, I have both Chase and Hawk in my group again.

“Or we can do it the other way. It’s early on and we have time.” Keira smiles softly. “But if something else is bothering you, you can talk to me.”

I give her a surprised look.

She laughs lightly and holds up her hands.

“This school is stressful. Everyone wants the best roles and best positions, but there aren’t enough for everyone.

It’s cutthroat, but right now, you and I are on the same team.

I don’t see that changing in the future.

So, if you need someone to talk to, I’m here for it. I won’t judge, but I’ll listen.”

“Why haven’t we been friends before?” I ask.

“Probably because I’m right below you, hoping to take your spot when you graduate.

” She bumps her shoulder against mine. “This place messes with your head. Honestly, I don’t need to use you to get a leg up, I’m doing fine on my own.

I appreciate you taking a chance on me for your assistant.

And I know you’ve got stress outside of the play. Who doesn’t?”

I draw in a breath and release it.

“It’s an open-ended offer.” Keira stands. “We’ve got a long road ahead of us, and if you need help focusing by sorting through whatever’s in your head, I’m here.”

She heads out, leaving me to mull over her words.

I need to prioritize. The Devil’s trio could easily consume all my time if I let them.

But they were never part of my strategy this year.

The play, schoolwork, college. Those are my three priorities.

Everything else has to come below those. Including the Devil’s trio.

Cam

“And then she said she wanted to lick my feet.” Brad sits across the table in the courtyard from where Hawk, Damon, and I sit, telling a story about his weekend.

Olivia leans into Damon and says something quietly. He hasn’t fucked her and isn’t going to, but she thinks she has him wrapped around her finger.

A girl clears her throat behind us and for a second, I wonder if Evan finally grew a pair and is coming to confront Damon. Fuck, I’d pay good money to see that. A girl fight between Olivia and Evan would sell out.

We turn and Mia Lewis stands there. She straightens, but she isn’t looking at me. She’s got her sights on Damon and Hawk.

“We were supposed to work in the library today for our history project.” Mia arches an eyebrow and crosses her arms. All she needs now is to tap her foot.

I grin, because I’m interested in how this is going to play out. Damon looks around like Evan would be anywhere near this shit show. Is he really surprised she isn’t leading the charge?

“Slipped my mind.” Damon shrugs.

Hawk smiles. “Sorry.”

“You do realize Evan’s time is valuable. She’s scheduled for practically every second of the day. And we need to get this history assignment done.” Mia arches an eyebrow.

She was flirty at lunch yesterday. But today, she’s all righteous indignation on Evan’s behalf. Fascinating.

“I’m sorry, but who are you?” Olivia stands and puts her hands on her hip. “Do you even know who you’re talking to?”

I lean my elbows on the table behind me. Okay, Mia and Olivia catfight. I can get behind that.

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Mia looks her up and down with a bitchy attitude.

Olivia taps her finger against her lip and gives Mia a fake smile. “You’re new, so I’m going to go easy on you, Mia. See, everyone’s already heard about you, Liam, and Fletcher this weekend.”

Mia’s smile is vicious. “Are you trying to sex shame me?”

Olivia shakes her head, but her smile doesn’t fade.

“I don’t think you know how this school works yet.

Which is a shame. There are levels here, but they aren’t quite the same as the levels at normal schools.

Our cream of the crop aren’t the jocks and cheerleaders.

” Olivia turns and runs her hand through Damon’s blond hair. “They have money and popularity.”

“And if someone doesn’t have money?” Mia asks.

“Then they don’t matter. So, your little pet project with the charity case isn’t going to win you any bonus points at this school.

I talked to your brother Tanner this weekend.

” Olivia closes in on Mia. Mia’s taller by a couple inches.

“Your family has money, don’t they? They made a huge donation to the school to help you get in. ”

Mia’s lips tighten, but she smiles. “Are you going to get to your point?”

“Oh, I’m already there.” Olivia smiles and sits next to Damon. “You may have money, but you’re never going to be popular here. Maybe as a slut who likes to get around, but that’s all you’ll ever be.”

Mia smiles. “I didn’t ask you, did I? You offered like I wanted your little rant.

So hear me now, I don’t give a shit if you think I’m a huge slut.

What I care about is doing my best at this school.

And to do my best, I need someone like Evan, who’s clued in to what’s important.

” Mia looks at Damon and Hawk. “Such as our grades, so when you’re ready to work on our school project, let me know and I’ll see if we can squeeze you in. ”

She storms off. I’m grinning because that was awesome.

“Can I slow clap?” I glance around at the others. “That feels like a slow clap moment.”

“Fuck off, Cam!” Olivia crosses her arms and glares after Mia.

Yeah, those two aren’t done with each other. And when their showdown happens, I want front row seats and some popcorn.

Damon

“Hey, you got a minute?” I stand in my coach’s doorway after practice.

“Come in, Storm.” Gary Young rocks back in his desk chair as I walk in and take a seat on the edge of the chair in front of his desk. “What can I do for you?”

I run a hand through my hair. Practice was rough, but I’m ready for the next level. “What’s it going to take?”

Coach Young rocks forward and clasps his hands on the desk. “How’s the leg feeling on the ice now?”

My leg had to be cast for a few weeks this summer when they were concerned it was a break. I’m still working on restrengthening the muscle. Even though it was a bone bruise and not a fracture, the leg still aches.

“Good enough.” I lean back in the chair, trying to appear confident.

He nods. He knows what I want. I want what I had before that accident took it all away.

“Enough people have heard about you that I might be able to send off some tapes to draw recruiters to games this year. But you need to be in peak performance when they show up.” He sighs. “They’ll know you had to drop from the USHL for the year.”

“Is there any way to get back on the roster?” I rub my thigh. “If someone else gets an injury, or someone drops out?”

He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Damon, but it’s too late this year.

It might be too late for college hockey this round.

We could possibly get you back on the USHL team for next year.

I know you had hopes to go to the Northeast for school, but they’ll be scouting at the premier boarding schools.

If you’d been able to go to the summer camp at least.. .”

I blow out a breath. The accident ruined everything. The injury meant I wasn’t able to go to development camp. My father suddenly couldn’t let his only son head out of state for my final year. I’m lucky he didn’t sell my bikes and still lets me ride.

“Whatever I need to do, I’m willing.” I lift my gaze to Coach Young’s. “Anything.”

He nods. “Let me see what I can do. I might have a string or two left to pull.”

He opens his drawer and pulls out a brochure. “It’s not in Boston, but they’ve been making waves with their hockey program.”

He passes it to me, and the Crowne Mawr University logo stands out in the corner. “It’s a few hours away. They pulled in a new coach a few years ago, and the team is finally NCAA qualified. He’s building a team to showcase their skill. He might be interested if you’re willing to work for it.”

“Work for it?” I’m one of the best hockey players this school has ever seen. What more do I need to do?

“You need to fix your grades, Damon.” Coach Young clasps his hands together and gives me a look. “Everyone at this school knows you can make the grades, but you keep fucking it up. No fucking up this year.”

“Got it.” I stand and head for the door. Keep my grades up and make sure my game is flawless.

“I know you can do this, Damon. That accident was a fucking tragedy, but there might be another way.” Coach stands and gestures to my leg. “Focus on school and getting better. You want this? No partying this year. No girlfriends. Just focus on the prize.”

My jaw tightens. No issue on girlfriends. I have Evan to warm my bed. But I won’t be able to fully focus on my future until I destroy Chase Chadwick’s.