He nods to himself, his fist tightening on his drink.
“Shit. I guess it’s possible that I dropped it somewhere between the party and the dorm on my way home.” The guilt is heavy and real. But it was so dark in that house and I was not in control of my faculties at all. It could be anywhere really. And that’s not even considering the likelihood that someone just picked it up and pocketed it.
“I’m so sorry,” I finally blurt, irrational tears welling up in my eyes. “Oh god, I feel awful.” My voice trembles slightly. I feel like I’ve been careless, and not just with an object. “I know you said it was fake, but I hope you didn’t spend much on it,” I tell him. “Can I buy a replacement? Do you remember where you got it?”
He watches me for a moment before the tension in his shoulders eases and he gives me a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it. Like you said, it was fake.”
“I’ll order something cheap online,” I tell him. “Or maybe I can make it over to an antique store in the old downtown.”
He nods again, and under the table, his hand wraps around my thigh and squeezes, turning my insides warm. It’s a touch that is for no one else’s benefit but ours. “I’m sorry this week has felt so off,” he tells me.
“It’s okay,” I say softly.
“I wanted to talk to you about walking home so late by yourself,” Bennett says quietly. “I’m going to start meeting you at the end of your shifts.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I tell him, even though I am way too eager for a reason to spend more time with him after the last week. “I always have my cell phone on me.”
“Don’t fight me on this.” His hand is still on my thigh, not as high as it was, but the contact still has me a little lightheaded.
“Okay, fine. My next shift is on Monday night.”
His eyes trace my lips, and I nearly lean in to kiss him, because that’s what married people do, right? We’re in public. It would be no different than any other public kiss we’ve shared.
“Ah, Clover, there you are.”
The voice pulls my attention from Bennett, and Tate is standing there, his hands braced on the end of our table. His brown eyes practically sparkle, and he looks right past Bennett, only giving a quick glance to Briar and Daisy. “Ladies.”
I clear my throat, and Bennett’s grip tightens, the tips of his fingers digging into my thigh.
“Tatum Farris,” Bennett says, his voice dry and taunting.
“Ben, I didn’t even see you there. Only have eyes for this one, I guess,” he says with a nod toward me. “Oh! Clover! Is this skirt chaser the lucky man? This guy really knew how to get around last year. Put the rest of us to shame.”
My mouth opens, but it takes only a second to regain my composure and force a smile despite how unsettled I suddenly am.
“But that’s all old news, I’m sure. You’re a married man now apparently. Shocking, honestly.” He chuckles. “Might need to send out a little dispatch to the female population of Wexley so they know you’re off the market. I can think of two dozen women at least who will be very disappointed to hear the news.” He looks back over to me. “He really has kept you a secret, hasn’t he?”
Shame unfurls in my belly. The idea of being a secret that Bennettwants to keep buried, combined with him having a whole life last year that I know nothing about, is quickly filling me with anxiety. My appetite disappears and my throat feels like it’s becoming more and more narrow with each breath.
“Tate, don’t you have some incel support group you’re late for?” Julian asks lazily.
Tate ignores him. “Clover, I meant to tell you. We found a ring at the house after the party. In my bed, actually.”
Bennett stiffens beside me, and everyone’s attention turns to me.
I glance over to Daisy and Briar. “I passed out for a bit before you guys came back for me.”
Tate snorts. “Nothing to be ashamed of, sweetheart. Bennett here has been in beds all over town. In this place alone, I could probably count a few.”
I smile, teeth grinding, through the embarrassment and the subsequent anger. I am furious that I’m supposed to be married to Bennett and somehow the entire campus knows him better than I do. Including that girl at the house party I went to with Daisy who practically curled around him like a snake. The image of him in our bed with other girls draped all over him. It adds fuel to the fire.
“You said you found a ring?” I ask sweetly. “Can you send me a picture of it?”
“Sure,” he says, glancing to Bennett. “I’ll text you.”
“Good luck with that Bailey & Parsons application,” Bennett says.
Tate’s mouth flattens into a thin line, and he gives a short nod before leaving. The silence at the table is heavy as we continue to eat.
