Guess I’m about to find out.
4
MATTEO
It’s fun havingmy own secret plan when Alexei’s keeping so much from me about this mission we’re on. But I’m proud of my impromptu idea, and I want to see the look on his face after I pull it off. When we arrive at Alpha Alpha Mu, some of the guys we recognize from school let us in, and when we reach the third story, he shows me to Spencer’s room.
“And where’s Malcom’s?” I whisper.
“Second floor, end of the hall.”
“Head down to that bathroom we passed. Wait for me and then go in and do what you gotta do.”
“You have to get him away from the room so I can get in.”
I grin. “You doubt I can pull this off?”
He raises his hands in surrender, then asks, “And how are you gonna check to make sure I don’t take anything else?”
I don’t feel like that’s a question he’d ask if he was up to something shady. Alexei’s such a mindfuck. I caught him stealing from Gage, but then he was pleading for me to rat on him. I can’t make heads or tails of this, but one thing I know: this notebook must have something he desperately wants. Buthow could some frat’s notebook bring a guy to tears?
As if that wasn’t bewildering enough, our walk over here was such a messed-up mix of confusion and playfulness. One minute we were talking about his hot ass, and then he brought up my face. My goddamn face. The bane of my existence.
“Maybe I’ll do a strip search when you get down to Malcom’s,” I tease.
Alexei’s eyebrows pop up. “Back to needing to see this hot ass again.”
And suddenly, in the middle of this fucked-up shit, I’m fucking grinning.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it.” I rest my hand on his shoulder. “Now get on down the hall and let me work my magic.”
He heads to the bathroom, and I go to Spencer’s room, taking a moment, considering once again why I’ve agreed to this. It’s not too late to back out. Instead, I knock.
There’s some shuffling inside before the door opens. Spencer’s just in sweatpants, his eyes bulging when he sees me before a smile sweeps across his face. “Teo?”
“Sorry. I must have misunderstood.” I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket. “I was looking for Malcom’s room.”
“It’s on the second floor.”
“Where, exactly? Is it the room below yours?”
He laughs as he sizes me up, the eagerness in his expression and the smile on his face assuring me I’ve got this in the bag. As much as I may hate this face, it certainly has its advantages.
“I can show you.” He grabs his wallet, then guides me down the hall. I keep behind him, and as he heads down the stairs, I turn toward the bathroom to see Alexei peering out. He smirks, and I know I impressed him, but I don’t know why that’s got my chest swirling with excitement.
Spencer escorts me to Malcom’s room, and I tell them Alexei’s on his way, and while Malcom talks to me about some games he’s considering, Spencer grabs drinks from the fridge before making himself comfortable beside me on the sofa. Spencer’s not a subtle guy, full of laughs, batting those pretty lashes. He knows I’m straight, but it doesn’t keep him from trying.
It’s not ten minutes before Alexei joins us, acting slick and offering a wink, which I take to mean he got what he needed. Spencer joins us for a game ofNightfire, and we order pizza. That we’re all having such a blast almost makes me forget why Alexei and I were really there, but only almost.
On our way back to the dorms, the frat house now a good distance behind us, I finally press. “So…?”
“Got it. Thanks for that.”
“Were you impressed with my plan?”
“It’d be much cooler if you didn’t make such a big fuss about it.”
“I shouldn’t have to. You should be making the fuss for me.”
