“Anyway, they were paired up by Pi Beta Epsilon and Rho Epsilon Beta. They’re each other’s house sweethearts.”
Denny gags. “No freakin’ way.”
“How do you know that?” I ask, surprised because the kinds of girls that become Pies don’t wait tables at a diner.
“I used to be a Pi.” Lex’s tone turns wooden. “I need to get moving.”
Denny doesn’t let her go. “Were you close? Would you talk to Addison?”
“I don’t?—”
“He’s a sex offender which means Addison, as well as the rest of the female population on campus, is probably at risk.”
My brow furrows at Denny’s whisper.
But Lex’s answer has me stilling. “I know.”
“Oh, Lex!” Denny tries to maneuver them into a hug, but the other woman backs off.
“Not me.”
That was about as believable as a rainbow on a rain-free day.
Lex doesn’t stick around to explain further, so I tug on Denny’s hand and bring her closer to me.
“What was that about him being a sex offender?”
“Not officially.”
My frown darkens. “Explain.”
“Something happened last year to a female student. Dyers and his friend were involved. The friend got shipped to another school, and Dyers got to stay here. Nobody’s talking about what went down. But they were punished for ‘misconduct.’”
The instant surge of my blood pressure can’t be healthy, but the rush of hatred I feel for that dick is all-encompassing.
I might be a real shithead with women. Since messing around in middle school, I let them know from the jump that I was only interestedin sex so it was on them if they expected more. But I never, ever dreamed of forcing them into doing shit.
Not only because I didn’t need to, but because hockey culture can be toxic as fuck. If anyone knows that, it’s me after listening to Dad bleat on about how the pros get in over their heads with the stunts they pull.
And as much as I love the game, I hate that side of things. Probably because Denny has never been quiet about how much it sucks to be a woman in this world.
“Zach?”
I take note of her concern and immediately feel guilty. Jesus. If anyone’s concerned, it’s me. Especially after she put a target on her back.
“How sure are you of this? Is it just gossip?”
“You know me well enough to figure out I wouldn’t spread something I didn’t think was true. Callan told me.”
Green’s becoming my favorite color.
I know it’s something I need to get under control. I know it’s something that she’ll grow tired of if I don’t get a handle on it, but fuck, it’s hard.
For every year I wasted on not making her mine, the petty part of me wants to covet.
And Denny’s too independent for that.
It’ll push her away if I’m not careful?—
