Page 69 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

Cam

We don’t normally go to the football games, but we know Evan is going to be there. There’s also a party afterwards, but for once, I’m hoping we’ll skip it and just go back to Damon’s and fuck around.

If not, I plan to get white girl wasted. This week has been rough, trying to balance everything. Including dinners with my dad, where he tells me all the things I should be doing to get into college.

I need a night to lose myself. Sex or booze are my favorite options.

The stadium is packed for the first home game, but the student section still has space as we close in on it. Evan and Mia must have arrived early, because they’re near the front. That’ll make it hard to do anything to Evan.

We’re still a secret. I can’t pull her onto my lap at the party tonight and make her come. So, might as well get drunk and let her take advantage of me later. I smirk, thinking of Evan kissing me all over.

Her blue eyes meet mine with a blush before she returns her attention to Mia. After Hawk told me about the closet in the drama hallway, I followed his example and tasted that sweet pussy during lunch today, getting her off before she returned the favor.

Evan has been diligent about working on the play. It’s almost her whole life right now.

So when I noticed her heading to the drama wing alone, I took full advantage. The girl is stressed, and I’m willing to help her relieve it.

Hawk, Damon, and I head up to the top of the bleachers where Fletcher and a few other guys from the hockey team are sitting. As soon as we sit down, Fletcher offers me a flask. I open it and sniff it. Bourbon.

Pre-gaming the party. Nice.

I take a sip and pass it to Hawk. He offers it to Damon who waves it away. Hawk gives it back without taking a drink. I take another sip before giving it back to Fletcher.

“Watch out, Damon. Incoming,” one of the guys mutters.

On the stairs is Olivia Carmichael. Her sights are set on Damon as she and her two friends, Megan and Gemma, follow her to the seats directly in front of us.

“I didn’t know you planned to be here.” Olivia coos, putting her hand on Damon’s knee.

“Why would you?” He arches an eyebrow, but she releases a delighted laugh like it’s their own personal joke.

“I’m glad you are. Otherwise, tonight might have been boring.” She takes the seat in front of Damon.

Gemma gives me a smile and winks. We fucked sophomore year. It was a party and both of us were wasted. She wanted another go, but I turned her down. I don’t need someone who wants more than a fuck from me. And Gemma definitely wants more.

I nod respectfully and almost ask for Fletcher’s flask back. But I need to ride my bike to the party. Hawk is willing to take my keys if I drink too much, but there’s no way I’m riding bitch seat tonight.

Blake slaps Fletcher on the chest. “Hey, man.”

“What?” Fletcher glances at Blake.

He smirks and nods down toward Mia. “I hear she wants to get with hockey players and is good to go. She nice and tight?”

Fletcher smirks. “She’s definitely worth the ride.”

Olivia turns around. “Are you guys talking about Mia or EvanAnn?”

Fuck, she’s got claws. Evan hasn’t so much as looked at the hockey players here tonight. Mia gave all of us a once over as we passed.

Fletcher looks at her like she has a screw loose. “Mia.”

Olivia makes a little noise of displeasure.

“You know, girls generally stick to their own kind, so if Mia is a whore, that must mean EvanAnn is a whore too.” Olivia glances at Damon as if looking for confirmation.

A muscle in his jaw ticks but he doesn’t look at Olivia. Fuck, this girl is going to make him explode, and not in the fun way. Fuck it, I’m here for it.

Fletcher laughs. “So what does that make you and your friends?”

The rest of the guys laugh while Olivia’s cheeks turn pink. These girls have all gotten around. Maybe not with the dedication Mia is showing, but they’ve had years to make their way through the guys.

“Are you jealous you haven’t taken two guys at once, Olivia?” Blake nudges Fletcher. “We could go right now and help you level up.”

“I don’t need to level up,” she hisses at him. Her gaze goes back to Damon like he might defend her, but his attention appears to be on the game.

“Don’t be jealous of the new girl, Olivia.” Fletcher taps her nose with his finger. “She’s only following in your footsteps.”

Olivia opens her mouth, but then closes it. Yeah, she’s gotten around to almost all the guys in our school and a few from Anteros. But she doesn’t brag about it. The problem is she’s never gotten Damon, and she almost missed her opportunity.

She’s always wanted him. And she’s used to getting what she wants.

“Maybe you should branch out, Olivia. Riordan is down there talking to Mia. Maybe you can get there first too.”

I ignore whatever else Olivia says as Jackson Riordan, from our rival team, stands in front of Mia and Evan. I don’t need to look at Damon to see where his focus is. I don’t know why they hate each other, but Jackson pretends he’s okay with Damon. Damon doesn’t give a shit about appearances.

EvanAnn

“Hey there, pretty girl.” My heart stops as I lift my gaze to Jackson. His dark eyes take in all of me. My flight or freeze reaction goes haywire. I want to run, but I’m locked in place. I wish I had a fight reaction, but he’s the reason I know I don’t.

“Oh my god, you’re Jackson Riordan.” Mia captures Jackson’s attention, and I can breathe again for a second.

He’s only gotten bigger, more built, in the two years since I saw him last in the apartment complex. We went to the same elementary and middle school. I didn’t think he even knew who I was until Mom and I moved into the same apartment complex as his family.

A shiver goes through me. That instinct to flee presses on me. He only caught me unawares once. That was when he stole my first kiss. I’d frozen in place. If it hadn’t been for my mom calling for me, I don’t know what else would have happened. What else he might have done to me.

The intent was there and I was terrified.

I inhale and exhale. We’re in the middle of a football game. The stadium is packed, and there’s no way he can get me alone. I clue back in to Mia talking with Jackson.

My eyes meet his dark ones. He smiles and gives me a wink while Mia recites his stats. He’s a good-looking guy, but when I look at him, it makes me cold inside. All I feel for him is fear.

“I haven’t found a lot of open seats.” Jackson turns his attention on Mia. “Do you mind if I sit with you?”

Mia nearly squeals with delight. “Of course, here.”

Thankfully, she scoots closer to me and leaves room for Jackson on her other side. My heart races and my hands are cold. Damon, Hawk, and Cam have done more to me than Jackson ever did, but I’ve always wanted them and I agreed to most of it.

Jackson was willing to take what he wanted from me, but that was almost two years ago. We were only sixteen. Maybe things have changed. Whatever he felt for me then should be gone by now.

No matter which way I try to justify it or rationalize it, I can’t relax. I sit ramrod straight as Mia flirts with Jackson.

You ride a motorcycle? I love motorcycles. Hockey is my new favorite sport. We’re definitely going to the party tonight, especially if you’re going to be there .

I’m going to be sick. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

Lurching to my feet, I ignore when Mia calls after me. Her voice is lost when the crowd goes wild for a touchdown. I disappear down the walkway behind the stadium. There are still people around. I’m safe.

My chest loosens and I hurry into the bathroom. I stay in there as long as I can get away with before washing my hands.

As I’m walking past the underside of the bleachers, a hand grabs my arm, dragging me under. I try to scream, but another hand covers my mouth and I’m drawn back against a hard body. My panicked mind can only process that Jackson has me again.

This time, no one will be around to stop him. I whimper and tears roll down my cheeks.

“Evan.” Damon’s voice breaks through my panic and the frozen world I was sinking into. I gasp in a breath. It’s him. I’m safe.

I turn and wrap my arms around his waist, burrowing into his warmth. The tears don’t stop, but now they’re from relief. If I have to be caught by someone, I want it to be one of the Devil’s trio.

“What’s wrong?” His hand cradles my head as his other hand rubs my back.

It’s stupid. A boy stole a kiss from me years ago, and seeing him now turns me into a scared girl all over again. But it wasn’t the kiss that frightened me all those years ago. It was something about him that told me I was caught by a predator.

But he was just a boy then too. Maybe I read it wrong.

For a second, I breathe Damon in, grateful for once he’s my monster. When I realize Damon’s holding me underneath the bleachers where anyone can walk by, I jerk away.

His gaze narrows on my tears. His thumb brushes them away. “What’s wrong, little devil?”

“We shouldn’t be here,” I whisper. The stands go wild again. I turn to leave, but Damon grabs my arm.

“Evan, what happened?”

I open my mouth, but then I realize I can’t tell him. Not about Jackson, or the real reason I’m terrified to trust someone. At first, I was definitely enjoying the attention Jackson showed me. The candy he gave me. The smiles we shared. The talks we had. But I didn’t see the warning signs.

The Devil’s trio are full of warning signs, but my alarm doesn’t go off with them. It makes me not trust myself, like maybe my warning system is broken.

“I need to get back,” I say softly, looking away from him. His hand squeezes my arm, just enough to draw my attention, and I look up at him.

Damon’s face is hard. “We’re talking about this later.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I swipe at my cheeks and fan my face with my hands, trying to force a smile. “I’m not your problem. Unless you want to get caught, you should let me go.”