I gave Miles a ride home. As soon as I pulled up to our house, he jerked up. “What? Another party tonight?”
He looked my way, but I was getting out of the car. “Wade and some girls from class were going to study. I’m not sure if Darren was joining them. I’m guessing the studying turned into drinking.”
He let out a curse, getting out too. “Of all nights for me to lose my phone.”
“You lost your phone?”
“Yeah. If you see an extra phone around the place, it’s probably mine.”
He started for the back door, and I went with him until I veered for the door that was my own entrance.
“You’re not coming in with me?”
I shook my head. “I’m partied out.”
My stomach was still churning a little, but not bad enough where I needed to numb it. I was craving some alone time, and a change of clothes.
“Hey, uh.”
I unlocked my door, and opened it, but paused, holding it open.
Miles winced, before closing his eyes. “Fuck it. I’m sorry, but… I’m wading in. You and Gavin…”
“There’s no me and Miller.”
He was already nodding before I finished. “I’m aware of that. All of the guys in his frat are aware of it, and they were ribbing him before you showed up tonight.”
I deflated. Just a little. “They didn’t bet him to get in my pants, did they?”
“No. Nothing like that, but you know who Flynn Carrington is?”
I shook my head.
“Senior. One of the head honchos in the frat.” He motioned to the back of his head. “Dark man-bun.”
“Oh. Yeah. I met him tonight.”
“Sorry. I, just, you got your stuff about getting personal, but this is kinda serious.”
“It’s fine, Miles. I’m sorry for snapping at you that one time. Just can’t handle questions about my past, that’s all.”
He blew out a breath, looking relieved and his head bobbed a little. “I saw Carrington watching you when we were leaving. He didn’t like that I was going with you, and it’s just a thing. Guys can tell. He–Flynn–he’s got a lot of power in the frat. His dad’s, like, a senator or something, but the guy’s a dick.”
“Miles, just say it.”
“I’m just saying that I could see a situation where Miller will be talking about you when you’re not there, and Carrington’s going to hear. And he could be the guy that says something, making it into a whole different thing. Like betting him to get in your pants or something.” He stopped talking for a second before his eyes flashed something grim. “I didn’t like how he looked at you. You know. I mean, some girls are clueless, but you’re not. You know. He looked like a predator.”
I felt the word in my throat, and it was hard to swallow around it.
Fuck, though. Fuck.
“I’m thinking it’s time we both have a break from the Alpha Mu house.” I amended, “Another break, in my case.”
His grin was sad. “Yeah. And, man. Glad that’s done.” He gestured to the house. “I’m either going to pass out or get a second wind.”
“See you tomorrow.”
He gave a wave, going through his door. I went through mine, and stood just inside, digesting what he told me because fuck. Fuck! Fuck! Was it me? Did I ooze something that attracted drama?
Was I like my mom?
11
CRUZ
My phone was buzzing when we got to the hotel that night.
I checked my texts, taking a seat in the lobby. As soon as I got up to the room, who knew what I’d be walking into. Taking a call up there sometimes was useless. Atwater ran naked through a bunch of connecting rooms one time. Other times, Wes would already be sleeping.
There were a bunch of texts from my teammates, from classmates. Miles Gaynor. Other guys. Girls, but no Mara. I knew our deal. I’d loved our deal when she presented it at first because I didn’t need a girlfriend. Hockey took too much of my time, along with my family. Girls tended to need attention and I didn’t have it to give. I got the benefits of sex without the other needy shit. It was a win win, at least for me. I didn’t know why Mara was how she was. We’d been doing this thing since the end of September, but man, I kinda wished we could amend it a little so we could be friendly at times. I got her worries. Well… I didn’t. She never explained why she didn’t want to be friends, but that wasn’t a stretch. Friends meant feelings could get involved and with sex already involved, I knew the dangers. Though, if anyone could pull it off, it was Mara. She had a steel wall around her heart, I swear, but the girl was cool.
Laid back. Funny at times. There was never any grief.
Fuck it. The most she’d do is tell me not to text her.
Me: Hey.
Mara: Hey. Sorry about the L.
Me: We’ll get ’em tomorrow.
Mara: Not trying to be mean here, but what are we doing?
I chuckled.
Me: Texting.
Mara: Why, tho?
Me: ?
Mara: Don’t mess with me.
Mara: Plz.
I frowned at that. That wasn’t like her.
Me: Ok. I was messing with you, but what’s with the plz? You okay? For real.
I hit send, and a couple seconds later, my phone came alive.
Mara calling.
Whoa.
I stood, answering it, “Hey.”
“What is this?” She sounded hella frustrated before adding, “I’m not trying to be a bitch, but I can’t play games right now. What’s your endgame with this?”
“With texting you?”
“Yes,” she bit out. “And asking if I’m okay. Like, do you actually care? For real? Or is this just some new head game because I really like what we have and if you’re starting to change the rules, just…don’t. Please.”
I was taken aback, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure what or how to respond to that. Noticing the front desk worker watching me, I said, “Hold on.”
I went outside and moved down a little from the entrance in case anyone recognized me. “Okay. For full transparency here, I just wanted to text you. I thought the worst that would happen is you’d get pissed and tell me not to do it again. As for head games, I don’t do that shit. We’ve been messing around for three months and three weeks, and I don’t know. I kinda feel that if any chick in a situation like ours who could handle a little texting would be you.”
“You want to be friends?” Her voice got a little quieter. “You want to know random things about me, that I like laundromats? Things like that?”
“Maybe texting buds? I mean, we don’t want to get too carried away.” A pause. “Laundromats, huh?”
“Fuck off.”
But she was laughing as she said it. That made me grin. Talking to girls was like walking a minefield. I wasn’t sure where to step. One wrong direction, and kaboom.
“I know your policy on personal questions, but for real–you okay? Something happen tonight?”
I was waiting, bracing, if I said the wrong thing.
She didn’t say anything, not for a few seconds and a few more. I was sweating at this point.
Finally, in a quiet tone, “You know Flynn Carrington?”
Gut check.