Page 61 of Dark Tangled Truths
My eyes widen when I look up at him. Of course, she has a name, but I just didn’t think to ask, and no one introduced her.
Adelaide smiles and touches his arm in a friendly gesture before heading back to the kitchen. Huh. No one’s really interacted with her before. Sure, there are discreet hand signals from Adam I picked up on, but I didn’t know her name was Adelaide.
Cam holds my chair out for me, and I sit down. When he takes his seat, he pulls the napkin across his lap and looks up at my mom.
“Yes, I’ve got a few visits planned for the near future. Crowne Mawr is on my short list.” Cam takes my hand on the table. Not hiding it below.
My cheeks flush with heat like he propositioned me in front of my mom.
“It’s a good school, and with Deimos on your resume, I’m sure you’ll get in.”
Adelaide comes out with dishes and puts them in front of us. It’s a vegetarian dish I’m not familiar with, but it smells delicious.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“Do you play hockey like Damon?” Mom cuts her food and arches an eyebrow at Cam. Playing the perfect host.
“No one plays hockey like Damon.” Cam laughs. “But I do play hockey. I might even try out to sit on the bench in college.”
“I’m sure you’ll get some ice time.” Mom sounds certain.
“It won’t matter as long as I’m with my friends.” Cam smiles and releases my hand to eat his food.
Mom clears her throat and looks at me. “How was your day, Evan?”
I swallow my bite and pat my lips with my napkin. “It was okay.”
This morning was rough, but the day went by like any other day. Even afternoon rehearsal went fairly well. Hawk had pulled me into the hallway afterward and just held me for a few moments before he headed off to hockey practice.
“Is everything okay with you and Damon?” Mom asks. Her eyes watch me for any indication that I’m not okay.
I don’t blame her really. I cried a lot this morning. But that moment when he came to say goodbye helped. He didn’t explainthe significance of the helmet. I wish he had, but I understand why he didn’t.
“We think the time away from each other will help them figure out where to go next. Keep them from being too impulsive.” Cam rubs my back and meets my mother’s gaze. “But I don’t see this being more than a blip.”
Mom smiles and takes a sip of her wine. “That’s what I told Evan. It’s always hardest when you’re in the middle of it though.”
“She’s got us to support her.”
Mom dangles her wine in her fingers and cocks her head slightly. “But you’re Damon’s friends.”
“Best friends. Practically brothers.” Cam glances at me and his gaze softens. “But we all love Evan. This isn’t some sort of game or phase for us. What we have is real and worth keeping. So we’ll help them work through it.”
My chest feels warm, and I can’t look my mom in the eye right now. Yes, Damon and I are a little wrecked right now. But Hawk and Cam will hold us together, because we love each other.
CHAPTER 20
Damon
The GPS directionstake us to the arena on the edge of campus. This is where we’ll meet the coach, the guys who will be going through this with me, and the guys who will be hosting us.
“I have a hotel room for the night if you’d prefer to stay with me.” Dad opens his door and glances my way.
“Come in and meet the coach. We have a tour in the morning you can join us for.” It’s an olive branch. If Mom were alive, she would have been all over this. But if she were alive, none of this might have happened.
I’d probably be at the USHL impressing Boston colleges to pick me for their teams. What I wouldn’t have is Evan. My gut clenches at the thought. I glance at my dad. He’s been a lot more understanding about the whole Chase hit and run than I thought he would be.
There were more than a few moments in the past hours I thought about getting his take on the stalker texts. I’m certain whoever it is, they’re waiting to escalate. Maybe they didn’t give her the rose, but those texts were threatening. I’m worried about what will happen this week while I’m away, but I know Cam and Hawk have her.
