Chapter Two
Theo
Deacon’s door hit the wall with a dull thud.He shot upright in his bed, all red and riled. When he saw who was barging into his room, he gave pause.
“What’s up, man?” he grumbled.
“I’m here to ask you the same. I just got through carting a screaming, writhing girl from your room.” I leaned a shoulder on the doorjamb. “An explanation would be nice.”
He swung his legs over the side of his bed, rubbing his eye with the heel of his hand. “Bitch wanted more of this. I was through with her. She didn’t like it. Went crazy.” He shot me a cocky smirk. “What can I say? I’m irresistible, apparently.”
I jerked, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re telling me you had that girl?”
He cocked his head. “Not much of a boon. Buy her a few drinks, and I’m pretty sure she’s the kind of girl anyone can have.”
I didn’t believe a word Deacon was saying. Not because he couldn’t pull. He absolutely could. He was smarmy as hell, but he came with a family name that meant something to a lot of people. He had connections, and he had ready cash.
Money wasn’t hard to come by for most of the students at Savage U, but Deacon was on a different level. Even girls who had trust funds waiting for them when they graduated looked at Deacon as a ticket to the next echelon. Or they really wanted a ride on his sick-ass yacht—his words, not mine.
The reason I didn’t believe Deacon was because I didn’t want to. I’d be sorely disappointed if that wild little tiger I’d just held in my arms would stoop to Deacon’s level. Surprised too. I didn’t know anything about her, but the two times I’d encountered her gave me every indication she wouldn’t touch Deacon even if her life depended on it.
“Yeah? I didn’t catch that vibe from her.” I shrugged. “I could be wrong.”
Deacon’s nostrils flared. “Yeah. While you were caught up with your little girlfriend all last year, I was getting to know our skater townie friend. I think I know her vibe a lot better than you, man.”
My jaw instantly hardened. “Don’t go there.”
“I’m not going anywhere. You were busy doing your thing last year. Shit happened you don’t know about.”
“Mythingwas wrestling. Mythingwas waking up at five to train. Mythingwas tracking everything I ate down to the crumb. Mythingwas nightly runs even when I was exhausted. Don’t act like I was off having fun. You know better.”
He drew his knee up on the bed, facing me fully. “I’m not fighting with you, Theo. I remember all that shit. My point stands. You weren’t around much freshman year, whether you were with Abby or training. So yeah, things changed, events occurred, don’t be surprised you weren’t kept apprised.”
My gut twisted. He knew he was not allowed to say that name. She was not to be mentioned in this house or in my presence.
I charged on. There was no way on earth I’d let Deacon know how much hearing her name still bothered me. But fuck, I was here, in this frat house, because of her. Every damn day I spent here was a reminder.
“I don’t know what you did to that girl but keep it out of the house. I don’t need to be dragged into your mire, Deac.”
He raised his chin. “You trying to tell me who I can fuck in my own house?”
“Nope. I’m telling you I don’t want to have to haul a girl off you so she doesn’t kick your ass. That’s what I’m telling you.”
He snorted a laugh. “That crazy bitch hit me with her skateboard. Shocked the shit out of me, no lie. That was the only way she got a swing in. She comes at me again, I’ll swing back. I have no qualms hitting a chick if she asks for it.”
I shook my head. “Don’t say shit like that to me.”
“Why?”
I threw my arms up. If it were up to me, I’d have nothing to do with Deacon Forrester. He’d call us friends. I wouldn’t. The more time I spent around him, the deeper my disdain grew. That was the thing, though. I was stuck with him, at least until I graduated. Our fathers were friends, and as much as it pained me, my father held a good deal of control over my life. I’d pissed him off enough last year. Rocking the boat wasn’t an option right now.
“Why? Why shouldn’t you talk about hitting women in front of me?”
He laughed. “Not women. A specific crazy bitch who hit me first. What, am I supposed to stand there and take it?”
“No. You’re supposed to not do shit that makes a woman whack you with her skateboard.” I slapped the jamb, done with this conversation. “I gotta go get a workout in.”
Deacon nodded, relaxing back into the pillows at his headboard. “Family dinner at the T tonight. You need to show.”