Page 8 of Whisper Pretty Lies (Lust & Liars #1)

EvanAnn

I’m frozen as Damon Storm saunters into the foyer. His smile is knowing, but not nearly as welcoming as his father’s. His eyes narrow on me. My knees suddenly feel weak like they aren’t going to hold me up.

“We know each other.” Damon’s voice is rough and low. It captures the butterflies wreaking havoc in my stomach and crushes them.

That’s a lie.

We don’t really know each other, but the way he says it makes it sound like we do. I know of him. Everyone in both schools knows of Damon Storm. Before this year, I would have said he probably didn’t know my name or what I looked like. I’m insignificant. Not even a blip on his social radar.

Now I’m invading his space. Is this why they invaded mine at school today? What has my mom gotten us into?

“This is Heather, who I’ve told you so much about,” Adam says, oblivious to the underlying tension between his son and me. Sounds like Damon is more prepared for this meeting than I am. I bet he didn’t find out an hour ago I was moving in with him. Has he known all day? Did he assume I knew?

Mom smiles like this is the best day of her life and holds her hand out to Damon. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m so sorry about your accident, but your dad says you’ll still get to play hockey this year. That’s a good thing.”

What accident? Damon shakes my mother’s hand briefly before releasing it. Is that where the redness on his jaw came from?

“I’ve got dinner in the dining room for all of us to sit down and discuss how this is going to work.

I know you’re both teens and need your space, but from what Heather says, EvanAnn is rarely home due to theater, and with hockey, Damon is always busy.

” Adam’s smile is a little strained. Maybe he’s picking up on the tension. “I doubt you’ll even see each other.”

Or maybe this whole thing is stressful, meeting the kids and introducing them. Even though we’re both eighteen and technically know each other, this wasn’t exactly well thought out.

“Shall we eat?” Adam nods toward what I guess is the dining room, before heading with my mom in that direction.

I’m still frozen in place though, because my mind hasn’t caught up to the fact my mom is dating Damon’s dad and hasn’t said anything about it in the past few months. Not to mention, now my mom wants to move in with Damon’s dad. Meaning, I’m moving in with Damon.

Fuck, I’m moving in with Damon Storm .

I don’t have a choice in the matter, because she’s all I have left.

And if I pitch a fit, we’ll end up in that apartment complex. I can’t go back there, not after what happened.

Though maybe Damon doesn’t really live here. I don’t know anything about Damon outside of school. Maybe he actually lives with his mom and only visits his dad. Maybe he’s only here on weekends or every other day, which should give me a break.

My gaze takes in this palace around me. It’s not cozy like our house. It’s a little cold and sterile. If it’s this or the apartments...

This is by far the prettier cage. I drag a breath into my lungs. It’s only one year. How bad could a year be?

Can I live with Damon? He’s never noticed me before today, but since he has, my life has been chaos. What will my life become if I live with him? What will people at school think? I can’t tell them. It’s not an option.

“Come on, Evan.” Damon hasn’t followed his father, but stands there watching me cope with this new development. His lips twitch up into an almost-smile, but it’s not pleasant. “It’s only dinner. What could possibly go wrong?”

Famous last words. Does he know that? How could he not know that? I cock an eyebrow at him. But his words unlock the part of me that was frozen.

When he turns, I follow him into the dining room. What else am I going to do? This is happening whether I want it to or not. I doubt we have the money to make a counteroffer on the house we’re in.

Mom has a good job, but not that good. We get by week to week.

Pouting in the car won’t help anything. Neither will pitching a fit.

The dining room is modern with light gray walls and sheer drapes on the tall windows. The mahogany table is large enough for twelve, but the place settings are all down on one end. Silver utensils sparkle, cloth napkins lay on the white plates, and a mix of glasses shine next to everyone’s setting.

Is this normal here? A special occasion? Or is this what they call casual? Anxious energy flows through me. This is what my mom wants?

Adam sits at the end with my mom beside him on the side with two place settings. Damon lounges in the chair on his father’s other side, and I take the chair next to Mom. I lift the napkin off the plate and drape it over my lap.

I don’t know what to do in this situation. I mean, I know enough etiquette to eat a fancy meal, but this isn’t really what my life looks like. I stare unseeing at the plate in front of me. Is this the reason why he and his friends focused on me today? Did he know this would happen?

How long did Mom know about this before springing it on me? I don’t believe this was a today decision. Was she afraid I’d try to talk her out of it? Or did she not tell me because she knew I’d roll with the change and not make a fuss? Because that’s not who I am.

I do my homework without being told. I keep my room tidy.

When my dad got sick, I took care of myself so she wouldn’t have another person to take care of.

After he died, I kept on taking care of myself because she was grieving.

Then she got busy with work and dating, and I just kept rolling with the changes.

“Your mom says you’re a vegetarian, EvanAnn.”

I lift my gaze to Adam’s blue eyes and see the resemblance to Damon. He’s handsome, just like Damon. My mom holds Adam’s hand on the table. It’s easy for them. They’ve gotten over all that awkward getting-to-know-you phase. They probably told each other about their kids.

Did Adam tell Damon about me? Because Mom said nothing to me about him. Other than she was dating another man.

“Yes, I am.” After I get through this meal, I can figure out what the hell I’m going to do. I mean, obviously, my only option is to come with my mom, but I have to figure out a way to deal with this so it doesn’t blow up my life.

Telling anyone at school is a huge no. The rumor mill would be rampant. Me? An ant? Living with the Devil’s king? We’re not even adjacent in social status. He’s at the top and I’m down on the bottom.

I can’t tell Chase. He’d throw a fit. He was weird when they all sat around me in second period. Then to find out I’m sleeping in the same house as Damon?

Oh shit, I forgot to text Chase about not being able to hang out tonight.

My phone is in my pocket, but I don’t reach for it. What would I even tell him? I’m out with Damon Storm, but don’t worry, I’m moving in with him soon so...

Yeah, that’s a hard pass.

Besides, Chase won’t show up at my house and find it empty. It should be fine. I’ll text him later that my mom and I went out to dinner, which is not really a lie. We are out and we are at dinner. Even if I don’t like lies, I just won’t mention it. Omission is better than lying.

“Honey?” Mom’s voice draws me back in.

“Yeah?” I blink a couple times to focus on her.

“Are you feeling okay?” She reaches out and touches my forehead with the back of her hand and frowns.

“I’m okay.” I draw back. I’m so not okay. “Why do you ask?”

Mom’s smile is tense. “Adam was telling you about the meal and you seemed to space out for a bit.” Her smile turns apologetic when she turns to Adam. “I meant to tell her sooner, but she’s been busy with her boyfriend and school.”

Adam nods in understanding, lifts my mom’s hand to his lips, and kisses her knuckles. I’ve seen my mom every day this week. Chase was busy with football. When did she not have time?

“I wanted you to know everything tonight is vegetarian. I’ve talked to our chef to make sure there’s always an option available for you.” Adam’s eyes soften. “I want you to feel at home here.”

Our chef? I must be dreaming. Or having a nightmare. This isn’t how things happen. I focus on school. I work hard to get what I want. No one cooks for me, with the exception of Mom, and that’s rare. I’m good with a jar of peanut butter, some jelly, and a loaf of bread.

“Heather says you’re in the drama program at Anteros Academy and you’ve been selected to direct for the Fall showcase. That’s quite the honor.”

I clear my throat. This, I’m used to. Telling someone about what I’m working on at school.

“Um, yes. I’m directing Othello this fall.” I stop when a plate is put in front of me. I glance up and see a young woman who smiles before serving my mother.

They have a server.

In their house.

Forget the twilight zone. Frankly, this is too much. I don’t know what to make of any of it. Maybe Mia wouldn’t be opposed to me hanging out at her aunt’s house with her all the time. Is that too much to ask of a new friend?

“That’s great.” Adam glances at Damon. “Damon’s playing hockey this year at Deimos.”

Damon’s lips tighten but he doesn’t say anything. As soon as his plate is set in front of him, he grabs his fork and begins to eat.

Is that not what was supposed to happen? Because as far as I know, that’s the standard for sports. You play them through high school, then head off to play them in college, and then you get to go pro. If you’re good. And from what everyone at school says, Damon is one of the best.

I don’t dare show any interest. What must Damon think of me? And my mom? We’re not these kinds of people. I don’t even associate with the truly rich people at Anteros or Deimos. Chase is the exception. But that’s different, he’s my boyfriend and he asked me out.

This feels like an invasion of privacy. An invasion I didn’t plan, but I’m definitely an accessory to.

I lift my fork and push the pasta around on my plate. Any appetite I might have had went out the window as soon as my mom told me we had to move.