“Oh yeah? How do you know this?”
“Just the way he looks at you when you’re together. He hasn’t said anything, but I can tell. I mean he wrote the damn letter.”
I smiled.
“He said come over after we’re done. Are you two going back home?”
“We were going to go out, but we can walk with you. It’s getting late.”
“Perfect,” I said. “You two are the best.”
Derek the frat-fuck walked up as a finished my sentence.
“They’re the two biggest fuck ups on campus. That’s what I’ve heard.”
He cackled with laughter, obviously drunk.
“Get out of here,” I snapped. “You’re an asshole.”
“Watch it,” he said. “I still owe you one.”
Teddy stood up, puffing out his chest.
“She asked you to leave, asshole.”
Our waitress returned with our pizza.
“No fighting in here,” she said. “Take it outside.”
“Let’s go,” Derek said, thumping his chest with his fist. “I’ll fuck you both up then take her home with me and fuck her up in another way.”
“You’re not even making any sense right now,” I said.
“Fuck you too,” he said, slurring the single syllable words.
“I’m calling the cops,” the waitress said.
“I don’t want to be here when they show up, let’s go,” I told Teddy and Brian.
“I’m not done with you guys,” Derek yelled from the door.
Two of his frat brothers dragged him outside.
“I’m sorry,” I said to the woman behind the cash register.
“You didn’t do anything from what I saw,” she said. “Have a good night.”
“Let’s go,” Teddy said. “He better not jump us.”
“If he does, Austin will end up going to jail for demolishing his face.”
“Yeah.” Teddy chuckled. “Let’s go.”
I followed him and Brian outside. We peered down the street, one direction then the other. Not seeing any sign of Derek, we headed toward the house they shared with Austin. I had read the letter he wrote so many times, I almost had it memorized.
“Let’s go this way,” Teddy said, nodding toward the path around campus. “It’s quicker.”
“Are you sure? It’s getting late.”