“She has a point,” Ainsley agreed. Again with the out-of-ordinary alliance with Kenna, who she usually argued with for the sake of arguing.What the fuck is going on with those two?Them getting along actually unnerved me. It was scary, like trouble leading trouble. Nothing good would come out of a blooming friendship between them. The campus, let alone the world, wasn’t prepared for an Ainsley-Kenna girlmance. That was totally a thing, right? Like bromance? If it wasn't, Ainsley and Kenna just coined the term. Or more like they were on their way.
Something about espionage brought even the strangest of people together.
Josie and I shared a look as if she were having the same thought. I could see theWTFin her eyes.
I gave her a slight shrug.
Before I could talk myself out of leaving and realize this entire plan was shit, I got up and rummaged through my closet for the appropriate attire.
What does one wear for a night of sleuthing?
It was nearly midnight, and a part of me wanted to text Micah. Were he and Brock on their way to the designated location? What would go down? Was Sterling planning something for Micah? A way to hurt him? Was Micah walking into a trap? If he was, he wasn’t strolling in blind. Micah wasn’t stupid enough to think Sterling wasn’t setting him up, but still, worry set in whether I wanted it to or not. Regardless of my anger at Micah, I didn’t want anything to happen to him.
I was willing to break into Sterling’s house and risk going into the enemy’s den. Micah wasn’t the only one who could protect someone. I wanted to not care, to forget years of caring about him. My heart didn’t regard logic.
“I knew there was a reason I brought these pants,” Ainsley said, pulling me out of my head. She checked her ass out in the mirror, admiring a pair of seriously stellar black leather pants. Not exactly the most practical attire for breaking and entering, but we weren’t your average criminals, so it weirdly made sense.
“God, this brings back memories.” Kenna grinned as she slipped on a hoodie, and I noticed a slight paint mark on the cuff of the sleeve. I was pretty sure she was fucking enjoying this.
We were never on time… except for tonight. Somehow, we managed to get dressed in record time.
The four of us stepped out of the dorm in head-to-toe black getups, and I couldn’t tell if we looked like strippers getting ready for a shift at the club or a gang of suspicious weirdos that campus security was about to bust for lurking on campus. I kind of felt badass, and for the first time since the Carter debacle, I understood how Josie and Kenna felt the night they fought back, standing up to the person who took away their right to say no.
It was my turn.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
MADS
Sneaking around in the dark toward Greek Row with three other girls was easier said than done. Someone always had something to say. Usually utter nonsense. Someone constantly had to remind the others to shut the fuck up. And that led to the giggles. At this rate, it was guaranteed we’d get busted.
And yet I didn’t give two shits. Just as long as we came up with something worthwhile.
The grass was soft under my boots as we moved from yard to yard. “Remind me never to enlist your guys' help the next time I decide to break into someone’s house,” I griped.
“Who forgot the flashlight?” Ainsley hissed after stumbling over a rock that bordered a flowerbed. She glanced over her shoulder, glaring at the ground as if the concrete had jumped out at her.
“We don’t have one,” Kenna reminded. “Besides, it would defeat the purpose. We’re supposed to be undetectable.”
Midnight wasn’t late for a college, particularly on a Saturday night. Someone was always awake at all hours, having a little too much fun, puking in the bushes, or stumbling home in the streets.
“Could you guys chill?” I said in a loud whisper. “We’re almost there.”
Josie jumped as a sudden beam of lights shot down the road. “Oh shit, a car!”
“Hide!” Ainsley shrieked, and like a bunch of scared cats, we dashed away from the edge of the yard, scrambling for cover.
Josie and I ducked behind a tree and waited as the car rolled past. Music blared from the stereo.
Kenna and Ainsley shoved off the ground from where they’d been squatting behind a row of bushes and brushed pine needles off their clothes and hands.
“Do you think they saw us?” Ainsley asked, pulling a twig out of her hair.
“Even if they did, they probably think we’re drunk,” Kenna reasoned, slipping the strap of her bag back over her shoulder.
We were only three houses away from Chi Sigma. So damn close.
“All right, let’s go before I lose my spunk. Maybe we should stick to the shadows, stay away from the road,” I suggested.