I shove my hand toward my best friend’s fiancée. “Yes, we’ve met. Lovely to see you again. Whereisthe scoundrel?”
She smiles. “Of course Valen’s not here. Couldn’t come if I paid him. Though…” Olivia points to a camera in the corner of the room. “He’salwayswith us.”
I wave at the flashing red light and laugh. “Yeah, he is.”
I’d already met Evie Lynx and Amelia Joseph, two others who are important to Scout. They were in her wedding party, along with Olivia. And Ashlyn Donovan.
Aiden Cardell’s appointed. The president ofTheta.
Ashlyn strides our way with him attached to her hand like he’s annoyed with the world. Clenched jaw. Serial killer eyes. And a whiskey shoved to his lips.
Scout smiles as she approaches. “Hey. You two having fun?”
“No,” Ashlyn huffs out, and Aiden greets me with a flat look.
I grant him one nod. Just the one.
It’s not that I hatehim. He represents everything that’s wrong with this place. Privilege and prestige over hard work and merit.
Scout and Ashlyn babble about something with the same snark in their voices. Aiden finishes his drink and shoves it at some guy like he’s too good to hold an empty glass.
“But yeah…I’m pregnant!”
My attention is brought back to the room when Scout makes the exclamation to her friend.
Ashlyn smiles with genuine joy. “That’s amazing!”
Aiden leans in and wraps his arms around his woman, then peeks up at me. Seriously, yet softly, he says, “Congrats, man. Well done.”
I smirk. I don’tneedhis praise. But I’m polite. For my wife. “Thanks.”
“And they want us toprocreatesoon, too. Did you get a wellness bracelet?” Ashlyn’s asking Scout.
Scout nods and flashes hers. Aiden and I simultaneously glance at each other’s wrists. My Rolex is the only thing on mine. And his holds some custom-looking watch. He and I meet eyes for a second. Only a second.
And in that space, something shifts.
We hold a silent conversation.
He sees danger in what the girls are gabbing about. And so do I. He’d die for the girl in his arms. And I would for my wife.
Even if I thought that the fraternities were at war? It dawns on me.
This university? And its games?
It’s a trick.
They’ve kept us wide apart. But the truth settles in like a cold weight in my gut.
I think we’re on the same team.
But we can’t talk openly. Nothere.
As if Aiden’s coming to the same realization, his blue eyes hold mine for another beat.
“Want to dance?” Ashlyn asks us, and we aim for the room across the foyer.
Lights are low here, with pink and purple lasers randomly flashing as the DJ booth bumps a deep bass. Anxiety makes my heart thud as hard as the beat. I don’t know how to dance. Never learned. Never cared.
