I continued the reps, raising and lowering my arms. “No, not yet. We haven’t had much time to talk.”
“Didn’t she spend the night?”
I grinned. “Do you and Josie talk all night when she’s in your bed?”
His lips twitched. “Touché.”
We got into a routine, working through our reps. Twenty minutes later, Brock dabbed the ends of the towel hooked around his neck over his face. I grabbed my water off the floor.
“You have something else planned. I can see it. What is it, Micah?” he pressed.
Sitting on the edge of a bench, I took a long drink of water before answering. “I’m going to rush for Chi Sigma next week.” I had decided before Brock showed up. It was my way in, to get information that outsiders wouldn’t have and the private investigator might not have access to. Drunk guys liked to talk. I needed to be there when the lips loosened.
Brock’s brows bunched. “You’re really going to join a fraternity?”
Thanks to my father, I pretty much hated everything about Chi Sigma, and the fact that I was breaking my personal vow to never have anything to do with the fraternity my father loved and held in high regard meant something. I hadn’t been kidding when I claimed I would do anything to keep Mads safe, even at my own expense. “It’s the only way I’m going to find out what the fuck he wants with my girlfriend.”
“Just promise you’ll be careful, and don’t do anything stupid,” he warned, being the serious leader he was.
Unable to suppress the one-sided grin, I said, “I can do one or the other. Not both.”
Brock heaved a heavy sigh of acceptance. It was the best he would get from me, and he knew it.
Sterling would quickly learn he was messing with the wrong girl.
CHAPTERSIX
MADS
“That’s my shirt,” I heard Kenna snap as I opened the door to our dorm room.
The headache I’d been dodging pulsed at the sides of my head. Half tempted to walk out unnoticed and find a quiet corner in the library, I chewed on my lip. This might only be the first week of school, but that didn’t mean our professors took any mercy on us. I had assignments due on Monday, and although I had the weekend ahead of me, I also knew I wouldn’t get much studying done.
Grayson and Fynn were coming up tomorrow night to hang out Friday and Saturday. That meant parties, late nights, and general fun. I needed fun after the week I’d had, which meant homework now since I had two classes tomorrow.
Ainsley shoved her laptop and a few other belongings on her bed into an over-the-shoulder bag—black, of course, because that was literally Ainsley’s signature color. “Right, because every black crop top in this place is yours,” she hurled back at Kenna, giving her the scrunched-eye glare that looked like a cat with the way she applied her makeup—dramatic and stunning. Ainsley might not like to be the center of attention like Kenna, but she liked to draw attention with her appearance. Perhaps that was why the two of them didn’t get along; when they were both in a room, they competed against each other for all eyes.
Kenna hovered at the foot of Ainsley’s bed like a feisty hummingbird about to peck Ainsley’s eyeballs out. “Not every one, justthatone,” she barked like it was a reasonable explanation.
I stood in the doorway, still gnawing on my lip and debating whether to get involved or just let them hash it out.
“Since when do you ever wear anything black? You’re like a walking pink Barbie,” Ainsley retorted, securing the snap on her bag in place.
And the saga between Ainsley and Kenna continued. It had been seriously stupid to think having these two live together in close quarters would somehow make them closer—friendlier.
Still not saying a word, I glanced at the top in question.Topwas a loose word to describe what Ainsley wore. I was going more like a bra or bralette. Cropped was stretching it. Neither of them noticed that I stood in the doorway.
Kenna made a huffing noise of outrage. “I don’t know if I should be insulted or flattered. Coming from you, probably the latter.”
Ainsley rolled her mossy green eyes. “Take it however you please, but I’m not a thief.” She tugged on a sheer black button-up top that hung over her green and dark gray plaid skirt. On Ainsley, the ensemble was cute and edgy, just like she was. Maybe that was what had Kenna in a tizzy.
“What do you call borrowing without asking?” Kenna asked snootily. We might have been related, but that didn’t mean I always condoned her behavior. Everyone familiar with Kenna knew how much of a brat she could be.
Facing Kenna so they were almost nose to nose thanks to the two-inch platform boots Ainsley wore, Ainsley snapped, “If you have a problem with me, take it up with our RA.”
This was going well. Perhaps it was time I intervened and tried to diffuse the escalating situation.
Ainsley hiked the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “I don’t have time for this. I have class.” Stomping around a fuming Kenna, she finally noticed me. “Oh hey, Mads. See you later,” she muttered, rushing out the door without a second glance.