The tightness in my chest releases. Thank fuck she finally told her mom.
One less hold on Evan. But I’m still not going to leave her on her own. There’s too much going on right now. I’m concerned about next week, but Hawk and Cam can take care of her. And our parents will be here. The weekend we go to Yale, she can staywith Hawk and Cam. We can tell her mom and my dad whatever they need to hear to feel good about themselves.
“There must be a friend she can stay with.” Dad sits back, waiting for Evan to start listing her friends. His eyes are narrowed on Heather. Obviously, he’s not willing to go without her. I ignore the twist in my gut.
“I can ask Mia or Keira.” Evan pushes her food around on her plate, holding her fork with her left hand, obviously not wanting to have to ask her new friends. She’s used to being on her own, but that’s not an option right now.
Definitely not Mia. I don’t know enough about Keira, but Hawk seems to think she’s good for Evan. I can’t say anything at the table. Besides, if I’m away, Hawk or Cam will take care of her. I don’t give a shit what our parents think. They were obviously cool with the idea of her staying with Chase’s family.
Tonight I’ll need to talk to the guys about next week. After this rose situation, I’m not leaving anything to chance. Evan won’t be left alone, and I can’t count on our parents being here to protect her. I’d take her with me, but the program has me staying in the dorms with someone on the team.
Besides, Evan would never leave while she has her play.
Heather clears her throat and puts her hand on Evan’s back.
“Why don’t I stay home with Evan? You two go up to Yale. Evan and I will go later.” Heather rubs Evan’s back and smiles. “That way I’m here if an emergency happens. We’re used to being on our own.”
“It doesn’t need to be decided tonight. We’ll need to work out which weekend is best.” Dad straightens and looks at me like I’ve made his day. “Yale.”
Maybe Cam’s dad isn’t the only one wanting a Yale grad. Yale sours a little in my opinion. Suddenly Crowne Mawr looks like the better option, even though it’s closer to home.
EvanAnn
I sit on the counter in the bathroom as Damon unwraps my hand. The marble is cool against the backs of my thighs. He’s in his boxers and I’m in panties with one of his Devil shirts on. He’s intently focused on my fingers and each of the wounds. The swelling has gone down, and the wounds are no longer red and irritated. They ache a little, but nothing like the intensity of that burn.
“I can do this, Damon.”
His gaze flicks up to mine and he frowns. “Let me take care of you.”
My heart skips a little and I nod. No one has ever taken care of me the way he does.
He gently washes and dries my hand before applying the antibacterial gel and putting new bandages on. There are a few cuts that are larger, but the irritant of the oil made everything so much worse.
I clear my throat, and he lifts his gaze to mine.
“That was some big news at dinner tonight,” I say softly.
The corner of his lip tips up slightly. “It’s Cam’s choice for college. You’ve said it would be good for film. And Hawk will do great wherever he lands. It’s a reasonable choice for all of us.”
“Do you really think Crowne Mawr will be enough for you?” I worry he’s settling to be with us. It’s in-state, and I didn’t lie. It does have an excellent drama school for film. It’s getting more recognition, and being part of a growing program might be perfect for me.
He smirks as he puts the last Band-Aid on. “I’ll know better when I see the school and the team in action. Would it be settling for you?”
His blue eyes search mine like he’s waiting for me to lie to him. I’m the one who insisted neither of us settle. It’s important to hold that line. While we can both suffer a few bad decisions and still have good careers, why risk it?
“I’ve been researching the school for a while. I haven’t applied yet, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go.” Releasing my breath, I lift my hands to circle the back of his neck, careful not to actually use my injured hand and just rest my forearm on his shoulder. His hair is still damp from the shower he insisted we take before he worked on my hand. Where he lifted me and fucked me against the tile. He held my wrists with one hand while the other lifted my ass to hold me in place.
He claimed holding my wrists was to keep my hand from getting wet. But that helpless feeling makes an inferno roar inside me, and we both know it. I smile as I tangle my hand in his hair. His eyes darken, and my insides tighten in anticipation.
“If you could do anything next year, where would you go?” He lifts me up against him, and I wrap my legs around him and hold on as he carries me into his bedroom. “The ultimate dream. No restrictions.”
He lowers me flat onto the bed, following me down. His lips tease the skin of my neck, and his cock presses against my pussy, making me ache for him again. I don’t know how I’ll survive a week without his touch. Without him in our bed.
“The ultimate dream?” Honestly, I’m living it. Him, Hawk, and Cam. Before them, the dream was much tighter, more defined, but I can’t imagine a life without them in it. I’m not stupid. Our relationship could end. I know that, but there’s this whisper of hope that keeps saying, but what if it doesn’t? What if I can have it all?
He pushes up my shirt over my hips and drags his hand along the waistband of my panties. “Tell me, little devil.”
His blue eyes are wicked as he trails kisses down the front of my shirt before reaching my belly, pressing wet kisses against my skin. I suck in a breath and tighten my fingers in his hair.
