Secrets and Deception

For Keeps Series Book One

By Alexa Kane

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This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Published by Alexa Kane

Copyright 2020 by Alexa Kane

All Rights Reserved. ©

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

The author acknowledges all song titles, song lyrics, film titles, film characters, trademarked statuses, brands, mentioned in this book are the property of, and belong to, their respective owners. The publication / use of these trademarks is not authorized / associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Author’s Note

Because of its explicit sexual content, mature themes and bad language, this book is suitable for readers over eighteen years of age.

I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Author’s Note

Chapter 1 - Eva

Chapter 2 - Eva

Chapter 3 - Eva

Chapter 4 - Eva

Chapter 5 - Mason

Chapter 6 - Mason

Chapter 7 - Eva

Chapter 8 - Mason

Chapter 9 - Mason

Chapter 10 - Eva

Chapter 11 - Jason

Chapter 12 - Eva

Chapter 13 - Jason

Chapter 14 - Eva

Chapter 15 - Jason

Chapter 16 - Eva

Chapter 17 - Jason

Chapter 18 - Eva

Chapter 19 - Jason

Chapter 20 - Eva

Chapter 21 - Jason

Chapter 22 - Eva

Chapter 23 - Eva

Chapter 24 - Jason

Chapter 25 - Eva

Chapter 26 - Jason

Chapter 27 - Eva

Chapter 28 - Jason

Chapter 29 - Eva

Chapter 30 - Jason

Chapter 31 - Eva

Chapter 32 - Jason

Chapter 33 - Eva

Chapter 34 - Jason

Chapter 35 - Eva

Chapter 36 - Jason

Chapter 37 - Eva

Chapter 38 - Jason

Chapter 39 - Eva

Chapter 40 - Jason

Chapter 41 - Eva

Chapter 42 - Jason

Chapter 43 - Eva

Chapter 44 - Jason

Chapter 45 - Eva

Chapter 46 - Jason

Chapter 47 - Eva

Chapter 48 - Jason

Chapter 49 - Eva

Chapter 50 - Jason

Chapter 51 - Eva

Chapter 52 - Mason

Chapter 53 - Eva

Thank you very much for reading

Chapter 1

Eva

Evangeline Van Der Woodson.

As soon as my name is called, I walk across the stage to receive my high school diploma. I have officially graduated and after one last care free summer, I will be joining my best friend at the University of Washington.

I can’t wait!

I’ve been looking forward to this moment since Jayden graduated two years ago, life hasn’t been the same around here since he left. He promised to come back and visit all the time, but last summer he spent most of his break tripping around Florida and Mexico with his new friends from college.

I asked if I could come and join him on holiday and meet his friends but instead, Jayden came home for three weeks, it was weird, it’s like he doesn’t want me to meet any of his new friends. He has always been protective of me, especially around other guys, but I’m going to meet his friends sooner or later, he can’t keep me hidden away forever.

Once the formal part’s over, I make my way towards my parents and my Uncle Dennis. My mother makes it to me first, she nearly topples me over with the force of her hug, at 5ft 4in we are both the same height and roughly the same size, so she shouldn’t be stronger than me, but damn that hurt.

She is blubbering too much about her baby girl, high school and college to really understand what she is saying. Next to congratulate me is my father, although he is a lot gentler with his hug than my mom, he even manages to form a proper sentence. I am so proud of you sweet heart, you are going to do great things, I love you.

I love you too dad, now it’s my turn to get tears in my eyes. I love my parents, I know all children love their parents and reckon they have the best parents ever, but mine take the cake.

My dad is quite a bit taller than my mom at 6ft but she always seems to be tucked away under his arm. Their story is like something out of a fairy tale, high school sweethearts who married straight out of college, the only bump in the road was that I was the only child they were able to conceive. I always wished for a sibling but in a way, Jayden has filled that hole.

My mom always jokes about the two of us ending up together but that’s never going to happen. We love each other, sure, but not like that.

Never like that.

Uncle Dennis lifts me up in a bear hug, congratulating me. Growing up he has always been around, he is my father’s brother and they are incredibly close, they even work together at my father’s company. I hope to join them there one day too.

I scream with joy when my eyes land on my best friend, Jayden Bradley. I wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to make it today. He lifts me up, spinning me around, making me giggle and scream like a little girl.

He is gorgeous, tall with clear baby blue eyes and blonde hair that falls close to his ears, he has a nice tan year round which gives him a surfer appeal that girls seem to go crazy for. The fact he has never set foot on a surfboard, doesn’t seem to bother them.

Sometimes I think it would be easier if we did like each other that way, but then I am reminded of the time we kissed when I was thirteen, we both started gagging and spitting afterwards.

Yep. Definitely better to stay friends.

Congrats Eva, I’m proud of you, he leans down to kiss me on my forehead and that’s part of the reason I think everyone is waiting for us to announce ourselves as a couple, we are pretty affectionate with one another but that’s just how we are.

Thanks Jayden, although I wasn’t sure if you would make it or not. I don’t like to let on how disappointed I am that he is never around anymore, I understand we both need to move on at some point but I miss my friend.

Yeah, I was always coming, I just wanted to surprise you. His smile gets bigger as he grins at me, I’m here for the whole summer.

What?! That is about the best news I have gotten all day. We’re going to have the best summer ever.

I wanted to spend some time with you, plus my parents have been on my case about spending so much of my breaks with my friends, he deadpans.

Glad to know that I’m not the only one missing him.

Oh, I see, so I’m a consolation prize, I’m trying to be serious when I respond, but he can see straight through me.

Yes, a very sexy consolation prize, who is going to take me to all the parties this summer and introduce me to all of her hot friends, he’s grinning at me cheekily.

But you know all of my friends, I screw my nose up. He already had sex with one of my friends last summer and I don’t need him sleeping with anyone else I know. Yuck.

Sure, but I haven’t fucked all of your friends yet.

He takes off which is lucky as I was reaching around to smack him. I take off, running after him but don’t do very well at catching him, he was always faster than me. Plus, I’m wearing heels. He ends up hiding behind my parents and using them as a barrier.

My mother just laughs, used to our antics, What are you two doing?

Nothing- at the same time Jayden says.

Eva was telling me about a graduation party one of her friends is throwing, do you mind if we go?

Big fat liar.

Of course not, have fun and stay safe, I will see you two later.

One more round of hugs later, all the while glaring at Jayden and we are off to have the best summer of our lives.

***

Justin Cooper is dancing behind me, grinding himself against me and I can feel his erection digging into me. We have been sort of dating this last year and I ended up being cliché as hell and gave him my virginity after prom.

A fact that I left out of my weekly conversations with Jayden, he can be super protective over me and doesn’t think anyone is good enough to date me, let alone sleep with me.

All of a sudden, I am ripped away from Justin by an angry looking Jayden, What the hell, Eva? he looks super angry.

I look behind me to see that Justin has taken off, the coward. I was dancing, thought that was obvious, my voice is dripping with sarcasm.

"He’s not good enough for you, stay away from him. In fact, stay away from all these fucking assholes. I will help you find a nice geeky college boy that likes to take things nice and slow." I roll my eyes before storming off in search of a drink.

Maybe these last few years at high school by myself has been a good thing, no one would have dared come near me with Jayden hanging around.

A few hours and no sign of Justin later and I am ready to go home, I search the party for Jayden hoping that he has left my friends alone, I wouldn’t put it past him to sleep with one of them, again. I find him outside on the porch, talking on the phone, what I hear intrigues me so I stop and listen.

Mason, bro, you know I can’t come…my parents want me here for the summer…no! No, don’t come here, it’s boring here, you would hate it. Well that’s interesting, he never once mentioned me. I lean against the doorframe with my arms crossed over my chest.

Jayden notices me a few seconds later and is quick to get off the phone. Um, how long were you standing there?

Long enough, I feel like I should be offended. How come you didn’t mention me on the phone…and why don’t you want your friends to come here?

He seems frustrated and rubs his hands over his face before he responds, I didn’t mention you because I haven’t told anyone about you.

What the fuck Jayden?! I’m instantly on edge, completely furious with this asshole standing right in front of me. I am his best friend in the whole fucking world and he’s hiding me?

That’s fucking bullshit.

Look, it’s not what you think. My friends fuck anything with a pulse and you’re well…hot…they’re going to try and fuck you. I stomp my foot like a child, he is such an idiot.

Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with you? I’m going to meet them after the summer anyway when I start college, have you thought about that? He pales, dumb shit obviously didn’t think this through.

Fuck, you’re right, he scratches his head, thinking. Maybe you could buy some new clothes, cover up a bit more? This is ridiculous. I’m going home and he can do whatever he wants.

This is the exact reason that I didn’t tell him about Justin, if I did, he would have beat his ass tonight. He has to realize that I’m going to have sex with people and he needs to drop the protective big brother act, it’s starting to piss me off.

Chapter 2

Eva

It’s halfway through the summer and even though Jayden had to spend it here with me and his family, instead of his friends, we have been having a great time. Our days are spent either lounging by the pool or travelling down to spend the day at the beach. Most nights we have been going out partying but some nights, like tonight, we don’t feel like doing anything.

Jayden and I are on the couch in the lounge watching a movie, well trying to watch a movie. Jayden keeps fidgeting and playing on his phone.

My parents are out for the night at yet another fundraiser…they do love their fundraisers. They always say that they are an integral part of being a business owner and that we should always help people less fortunate than ourselves.

I completely agree with that sentiment and normally I attend a lot of events with them, I actually should have gone with them tonight but I wanted to stay home with Jayden and order a pizza instead. I feel pretty guilty about not going and after getting yet another elbow in my side I’m regretting my choice to stay home even more.

What are you doing? You know if you are texting a girl you can just tell me, right? He has been in a really strange mood tonight.

I’m not texting a girl, he says all pissy. I really should have gone tonight, I want to spend time with my parents before I move away, I’m really going to miss them even though I will only be a short flight away.

Then what are you doing? I ask.

He sighs before answering me, Just texting a mate. Jayden starts to get agitated and moves around a bit more.

Why does texting a mate make you so restless? He looks very uncomfortable for just texting a mate.

He wants to come for a visit, he doesn’t make eye contact with me while he talks. I have told him a million times this summer that his friends were welcome here and that I wouldn’t sleep with any of them.

So, what’s the big deal? he gives me an odd look out of the corner of his eye.

Um, I don’t think you will like him, he says. Let me guess, because he has a penis and is attractive.

Why not? I ask, trying hard to sound as annoyed as I feel.

He continues to stare down at his phone and avoids looking in my eyes while he talks. Just his father is…um, his dad runs…well…your families don’t exactly…

I roll my eyes, This is about business? Seriously?

Well yeah, with your parents being…I just thought that…you would be mad if… I haven’t seen Jayden stumble over his words so much since he asked Missy Andrews to Prom.

Jayden, if you are friends with this guy then I will like him, I don’t care who his parents are. I desperately want Jayden to let me into his new world, I would hate to get to college and have him ignore me or shut me out.

Okay, good…I should have known… he sits up straighter and this time looks at me as he starts to explain, You see when I first found out who he was I didn’t like him. I even got into a fight with him at a frat party, but then he just kept popping up in my classes and was hanging out with other guys I was friends with. He keeps fidgeting with his phone like he is nervous and I’m starting to wonder where this story is going. After a while I realized he was a cool guy and before you know it, I was friends with him, but I never talked about you and well I never told you I was friends with him.

Okay…this is getting weird, are you dating this guy or something, that was the wrong thing to say.

What? What the fuck Eva? You know I like chicks, he states harshly. He is so easy to wind up, now he is even more agitated than before.

I’m just saying, this story kinda seems like it’s going down that track. He runs his hands through his hair, clearly frustrated and I smile, enjoying his discomfort.

Fuck…okay…I will cut to the chase; his name is Mason Ha- the doorbell rings and cuts off what he was about to say. I make my way over and before I even get there, it rings again.

I’m coming! It rings a third time just as I open the door and I come face to face with two male police officers. The younger one seems like a rookie; he is fiddling with his hat that he is holding in his hands and his eyes are darting around nervously. The older police officer just looks at me with a sad expression on his face, like he has made these kinds of house calls hundreds of times, Can I help you?

Are you Miss Evangeline Van Der Woodson? he asks. I wrack my brain trying to think of everything I have done so far this summer, trying to come up with some reason they could be here.

Yes, what’s going on? I really hope they aren’t here to arrest me for underage drinking or something.

I’m Sergeant Walker and this is Officer Frank, I’m afraid we have some bad news, he looks at me with pity in his eyes.

Eva, is that the pizz- Jayden cuts off what he was about to say as he comes up behind me