She shot me a smirk, and I was about a second away from spewing the contents of my stomach onto the plush carpeting.
Her brows puckered at my reddening cheeks and snapped her mouth closed, then slid to the end of the mattress. “Oh my god, whathappenedbetween you two? Spill the tea already.”
I shook my head. Talking about Killian’s betrayal was like ripping my own heart out with a plastic spoon. I’d already been through it once, and I just couldn’t bear the thought of reliving it, even in past tense. Still, I owed her something… she deserved it.
“We grew up together,” I finally muttered.
“What? Killian Davenport grew up in Podunk, Arizona?”
I nodded, my teeth clenched so tightly I was scared I’d crack a molar. “His mom remarried and moved to the east coast when we were in high school.”
“And you guys were close before that?”
He was my best friend, my protector, my heart… my everything. I wrapped my arms across my chest, trying to hold myself together. “We just knew each other for a long time.”
“And what happened? You look like your favorite puppy just got run over.”
I shrugged as heat burned the corners of my eyes. I blinked back the tears, refusing to cry about Killian fucking Davenport. Never again. And definitely not in front of my roommate, who would think I was some fragile, insecure girl. “We just grew apart. He left, end of story.”
“You’re a little liar!” She waggled her manicured fingernail at me, a deep ebony with silver sparkles. “But it’s clear there are major feelings there. Clearly unresolved ones. I’m not going to pry, because it’s no one’s business but your own, but if you ever want to talk about it, I got you, girl.”
The tight set of my jaw melted into a half-smile, and tears threatened, but this time, out of appreciation for my new friend. “Thanks, Cordi.”
“And, because I live by the girl code, I swear never to allow that man’s huge cock anywhere near me.”
I choked on a laugh as she thrust her hips suggestively.
“Even though I’ve heard many tales of not only its incredible size but also its unbeatable skills.”
“Gross,” I mumbled.
“It’s probably for the best anyway. Word around Sorority Row is he’s kind of a control freak. He’ll fuck you from here to December, but it’s under his terms. No strings, no commitments. And in case you didn’t know, I like to be the boss in the bedroom.”
I squeezed my eyes shut to chase away images ofmyKillian fucking stuck up sorority girls. Shaking the nauseating thoughts aside, I focused on the screen in front of me. My Killian didn’t exist anymore. He died the day he chose his stepfather over me.
“Shit!” I stumbled a step before my hand shot out, and by some miracle, I remained on my feet.
A table full of mean girls cackled as I staggered by. Whipping my head over my shoulder, I shot them the middle finger. When I turned back, Micah was waving me down from across the dining hall, and the blossoming anxiety of finding a table within the mass of rowdy students instantly melted away. Usually when we met up for dinner, we’d meet outside, which avoided the awkward meandering.
Nothing but evil glares were typically shot in my direction. Mostly from the girls.
The guys, on the other hand, either ignored me, or eye-fucked me so badly it made my skin crawl. And it only made the girls hate me more.
“There you are, pre-med.” Micah shot me a sweet smile and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. “I thought you got lost in there.”
“Almost did, under all the snide glares.” I ticked my head at a particularly hateful blonde. “Like that one. I swear she just purposely stretched her leg out as I walked by, and I almost face-planted in the middle of the cafe.”
Micah dragged a French fry through ketchup and popped it into his mouth, casually glancing toward the still-glaring mean girl. “Oh, that’s just Lorelei. Ignore her. She’s become a total bitch the last year. I don’t know what’s going on with her. She never used to be this bad.” He let out a low whistle. “She’s probably jealous because you’re paired up with her boy toy for that Geology class you were telling me about.”
“Her and Killian are hooking up?” God, I hated how my voice hitched up a few notches.
“On again, off again.” He shrugged. “Who can keep track?” Taking a big bite of his cheeseburger, he chewed thoughtfully. “I almost forgot to tell you. There’s a big event coming up at Sigma Delta, a fancy ball or some shit. If I survive all the hazing crap before then, will you come as my date?”
Heat flared across my cheeks, and I had no idea why. Micah was my friend. I often found myself thinking about how safe and sweet he was, and even though I’d totally mentally friend-zoned him, I had a feeling the zoning wasn’t mutual.
I munched on a fry to buy myself some time. “Um, I thought you joined the frat to dig up dirt on your missing friend and all the other shady shit that goes on in there.” The guilt of keeping my mouth shut the night of the masquerade party still ate away at me.
“I did. And I figured what better time to snoop around than when all the brothers are wasted.”
