by Emily Bow
I got dressed and slipped out of there with a muddled mind and a wave at Chance before heading back to campus.
I’d intended to get something to eat before class, and study, but Chance had ended that plan with his text, so there was no time for anything other than vending machine fare. I was kidding myself. I was no imported olive in a crystal martini glass; I was a bag of chips tumbling through a glass box.
***
“Hey, Holly, wait up.” A tall guy wearing a ballcap and tracksuit jogged over to me. He had the loose gait of a serious athlete. As he drew closer, I saw a distinct resemblance to Tyler, but his irises were a mix of blue and green. “I’m Easton Kentwell.”
I’d seen him at the convention center. All the Kentwell brothers were over six feet, but this guy was six-five, and bulked up. He looked like a hard-core athlete. “Hi.”
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Chance.”
“Some.” I didn’t know how much Chance had told his brother. I should know how much Chance had told his brother. We should’ve talked about this instead of pressing our bodies together at the dress shop. But we hadn’t.
Easton unhooked his sunglasses from the collar of his shirt and put them on, blocking his eyes. “That’s not like him.” He spoke in those hanging sentences that invited the listener to comment.
I shook my head. “I don’t know what to tell you.”
Easton seemed tense as though a runner was trying to steal second, when in actuality, we were standing on a campus sidewalk.
I wanted to text Chance. But obviously I couldn’t with his brother hovering right in front of me waiting for answers to questions he hadn’t asked. “Tyler’s engaged. And now Chance has a girlfriend we’ve never heard of. Both from the same sorority. I want to know what’s going on.”
Truth be told, I was a little offended at Easton’s attitude. Chance and I were dabbling in a fake relationship. I shouldn’t have to deal with his real brothers and their issues. “This seems like something you should talk to Chance about.”
Two guys walked by and their steps slowed as they caught sight of Easton. “Easton Kentwell. No way, man. Great arm, man.”
“Thanks,” Easton said.
They drew closer, and the shorter one said, “Dude, I couldn’t believe you transferred. We’re freaking lucky to get you as one of our pitchers.” The younger looking one held out a ballcap and a pen. “Do you mind?”
Easton autographed the brim and handed the cap back.
This seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to get away. I gave a small wave.
“Wait up, Holly.” Easton easily caught up to me.
One of the guys shot a picture. Normally, I’d think the fan’s enthusiasm was over the top. But from the looks of Easton, he’d make pro and that signature would simply be one of many he signed during in his career.
“How’d you meet Chance?”
I was the champagne girl at a charity event honoring him so my friend Bitsie could break up your other brother and his about to be fiancée. That would sound awesome. “I’ve got organic chem. Got to dash.” I started walking.
“No.”
That stopped me. “No?” I don’t know who this guy thought he was, but I wasn’t on his team. “Lucky for me, I’m not your catcher. You can’t brush me off.”
Easton snickered, and his shoulders eased. “You’re feisty. Chance likes that.”
“Chance is a big boy. He doesn’t need you playing offense…defense?”
Before he could answer, Zoe, one of my sorority sisters, ran up to me. “Holly!” She ran her gaze over Easton. “Introduce me to your friend.” She licked her lips. “How tall are you?”
Easton gave her a dismissive gaze. “You’re hot and all, but I’m trying to talk to Holly. If you don’t mind.”
Rude.
“I totally get it. I’m Zoe. I’ll see you around.” Zoe gave him an admiring look. She gave me, who hadn’t been rude, a resentful glare and shoved off. Slowly, so she could still hear us.
Easton said, “As I was saying…”
We reached the organic chem building. I stopped and blew out a breath. “Look, Easton, you’re sweet for checking on your brother. But talk to Chance. You’ll find he’s quite safe from me.” He needed to worry about Tyler, not Chance. “Out of curiosity, did Madison get the same grilling?”
Easton pulled off his sunglasses and I could see the strategy in his cool bluish-green eyes. I could see why he was a successful ballplayer. He’d lead his team to victory, even when he had to be ruthless to get that win. “I had a bead on Madison from day one. I’m working on that.”
My insides chilled, and I was glad he wasn’t talking about me. I knew Chance suspected Madison wasn’t all that, and he was right. Easton’s eyes said he had no doubts about Madison.
What he was going to do about his suspicions was the question. I softened my voice and put my hand on his big arm. “I promise I won’t hurt Chance. He’s not that serious about me. I couldn’t hurt him if I tried.”
I don’t know if he heard the sincerity in my words, but he dropped his sunglasses back in place, concealing his feelings. “Chance set up that scholarship for me, you know. He’s set up several others as well.”
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t know.”
“Right. Because Chance wouldn’t say so. He doesn’t blow his own horn.”
“He set up the scholarship for you? Why does a Kentwell need a scholarship?”
Easton scrunched up his face. “Not for me myself. For my team. Chance ensured that the players who I want onboard can afford to be here. If they choose to come. We made the plan when we transferred. We executed the plan. We succeeded. That’s what we Kentwells do. We win. So fair warning. Don’t be the one to get in our way.”
I made a clicking sound. “Got it. Now I have organic chem, so don’t get in my way.” I turned on my heel and went into my building.
***
Back at the house, I tied a red and green plaid bow around Valentina’s Christmas present and stuffed the gift into her stocking. Secret Santa was going to be so fun this year. Then I climbed the stairs to senior hall, tapped on Bitsie’s door, and went in when she responded. “Hey, can we talk?”
Chapter 16.
Bitsie had cut four inches off her chestnut hair, and she had new bangs. Her hair was now the same length as Madison’s hair. The bangs were the only difference.
“Cute ‘do.”
Bitsie ran an uncertain hand over the ends, smoothing pieces. “Thanks.” Her chestnut hair was several shades lighter brown than Madison’s espresso-colored hair. I itched to tell her not to dye it, but I’d be overstepping and calling her on her style copying. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about Chance.”
“I can’t believe you’re dating him. Do you know what you’re doing?” Bitsie’s face got super judgey. An odd look for a girl plotting to steal another’s fiancé.
“Nope.” I pressed my lips together. I didn’t want to tell her the truth, and I didn’t want to lie either. That put me in a weird position. “It’s not serious.” That was true.
Bitsie tilted her head. “Yeah, because he’s a temporary kind of guy. I don’t get it. It’s not like you to go after a player. I mean, he’s hot. He’s a Kentwell. I really get the attraction, but…”
I rubbed my temple. “Bitsie…”
There was another tap on the door. A frowning Madison stepped in before Bitsie answered. “I thought I’d find you here.” She frowned at Bitsie’s flattering haircut. “That looks much more sophisticated, Bitsie. But they need to cut about two more inches off. Have them angle the front sharper. And add a couple highlights around your face and lowlights in the back. That will be better.” She turned her attention to me. “What kind of crap were you pulling at my bridal appointment?”
My stomach rolled.
Bitsie gazed between us and crushed a pillow to her chest.
Guilt crept through me,
but I shrugged like I had no clue why Madison was asking me such a question.
“You have been nothing but a problem this whole month. You need to check yourself and end this bull puck.”
Oh, goody, that was three, no, four people telling me what to do today. Six if I counted my professors. “Or what?”
Bitsie swiveled her head between two of us. “What’s going on?”
“None of your business, Bitsie,” Madison said. “And don’t get me started on you.” She held up her index finger and her middle finger and squished them close together. “You are one inch from being on my wrong side. Every time I freaking turn around, you’re there. Both of you. I’m surprised you didn’t wheedle your way into my appointment too. I haven’t had a real problem with you for three years. You do not want to change that.”
Valentina popped her head through the open doorway. She grinned at us. “Madison? You wanted to meet me up here?” She sounded a little too thrilled at the honor of being in the senior zone. “What’s up?” Valentina was my little sister assigned to me when she joined. As she faced Madison, she was like an adorable bunny dangling over a boa constrictor’s cage.
Madison clasped her hands behind her back like a warden in a black and white film. “I heard you worked over twenty hours last week at your job.”
Our sorority limited us to twenty hours of outside work. Anything more, they argued, would interfere with school.
“They needed more Christmas help,” Valentina said cheerfully. “Worked out for me because I needed some Christmas gifts.”
“I’m very busy with my own things—sorority, schoolwork, wedding.” Madison drew out the word wedding and showed Valentina her ring. “Every task takes hours.” She pivoted and displayed her ring for Bitsie and me. “You cannot imagine planning a wedding. I expected more help from my sisters, but I haven’t seen hardly enough. You need to get your freshman girls to step up.”
Valentina blinked. “Okay, sorry, I thought we had been helping. We’ve sent the Save-the-Dates, followed shortly by the invitations. Corrine booked The Spot for the bachelorette party. We have the rose petals bundled. We’ve even finished addressing the thank you cards.”
“Oh? Five things.” Madison made a clicking sound. “Do you think that’s all it takes to put on a wedding?” Madison shook her head. “I’ll overlook you breaking the rules with your twenty-two hours. This time. Because I’m generous like that, and of course I appreciate all the things you freshman do for us seniors. Things that will be done for you when it’s your time around. But if it happens again, I won’t be as lenient. Holly can explain the stress I’m under. Holly can explain how that pressure is going to force me to be stricter with all of you. Freshman and seniors alike. Because if Holly were here guiding you, and not places where she shouldn’t be, like my bridal appointment, she could have warned you when you hit twenty hours that you needed to hand that timecard in. But Holly wasn’t here, therefore, I blame her and not you.”
Valentina frowned and covered her mouth with her hand as if to stop herself from saying something back to Madison.
Valentina worked an outside job. Our dues weren’t cheap. I understood. And I didn’t want to lose wonderful candidates like her because of costs. Nor did I want them quitting because of unreasonable demands made by a power-mad president.
Madison threw up her hands as if we were impossible. And she left.
A normal outraged human being would snap the door shut, although our sorority did not allow slamming doors.
Madison closed the door with the terrible slowness of a coed in a horror movie trying not to alert a monster.
The lack of sound was worse than a slam.
“What’s up her…” Valentina started.
I interrupted her by holding up my pinky and waving her over to Bitsie’s bed.
We sat crisscross facing each other in a conspiratorial triangle. I extended my arm. “Sisterhood secrecy.” They hooked onto my little finger and we shook. I dropped my hands back to my lap. “Chance knows about the matchmaking.”
Bitsie popped up and started pacing. “OMG. You didn’t. You can get kicked out. I can’t believe you told him.”
Her anxiety crawled onto me. She was so stressed, I didn’t dare tell her Chance had overhead me telling her about the matchmaking, which meant she was implicated too. Maybe if I’d come forward at that very first meeting when the Kentwell matchmaking plan had gone into effect, we’d have been excused. But I hadn’t, and now we were both on the hook for breaking confidence. “No. No. He knows his mother. She’s been pressuring him. It’s her thing. So when he met me, he thought, because I was going to the wedding events too, that we could go together and get his mother off his back.”
Bitsie chewed on her thumbnail. “Sounds like he likes you, but he doesn’t want to say it.”
My heart pitter-pattered, but I didn’t think so.
“Makes sense.” Valentina squealed. “You made a hot love pact. But a fake one. And now you get to date Chance Kentwell. Nice one, Holly. You’re my hero.”
As a big sister I was not giving her the best example of honesty, integrity, and all the things our chapter valued. I frowned and rubbed my temple.
“You don’t understand, Valentina.” Bitsie gave up on chewing her jagged fingernail and grabbed a file to round off the end. “Madison had plans for Chance. She wanted him to hook up with one of her favorite sorority sisters. It’s one thing if he fell for Holly and asked her out. Quite another, if Holly intentionally destroyed Madison’s scheme.” Bitsie paused and switched the nail file to her left hand to do her other nails. She looked at me. “You better hope Madison ends up in Ireland.” Her lips twisted. “Not that Madison doesn’t deserve a few hiccups.” She nodded at Valentina. “I’m with you, Valentina. Holly, you are my hero.”
Valentina covered her lips. “What’s he like? Does he know baseball? I bet he’s a good kisser. Is he a good kisser?”
“I haven’t kissed him. Our relationship really isn’t like that.” I ignored the memories of the many butterflies that took flight when I got near him, me on his lap, his hands on me in front of the mirror.
“Look at her face,” Valentina said.
“You’re still a human woman,” Bitsie said. “Come on.”
Heat flushed my face. Both girls giggled.
I opened my palms. “Yeah, he can be awesome. He smells really good. And he’s nice. And his brothers keep checking on me as if they’re worried I’ll take advantage of him.”
They giggled again.
“But he’s also really hung up on the fact that Madison won’t make a stellar sister-in-law.”
Bitsie’s face grew more somber. She pointed to the door. “What sparked Madison’s rant? She should be walking around here on a cloud. She’s marrying Tyler.”
I swallowed. “Chance keeps testing Madison and the thing is…I’ve been helping him.” I covered my cheeks with my hands, although all my insides had settled. It felt good to unburden myself. “And I’m torn. Because I feel like the most disloyal sorority sister ever. But on the other hand…”
“On the other hand,” Bitsie said. “Madison is about to promise to love, honor, and be faithful to Tyler for the rest of her life. And we all know that she’s not going to do that. She always goes back to her bartender. But we’re supposed to stand in the church at Christmastime and celebrate as if we believe her vow of until death, they do part.” Bitsie’s voice took on a note of pain. “Poor Tyler.”
Valentina stared at her. “Oh. I didn’t know. You’re in love with Tyler?” Valentina leaned forward and hugged Bitsie. “I’m so sorry.”
Talking to them had solved nothing, but I did feel better.
I simply needed to ease up on activities that made me feel worse.
***
Chance texted. “Vanilla or chocolate?”
“Is this a sex question?” Yeah, I was flirting with my fake boyfriend. Come on, he was handsome, fun, and mine…
temporarily.
Chapter 17.
Chance texted, “Tasting wedding cakes with the not-so-happy couple.”
How did he get roped into those things? Was that normal? “Ah. You enjoy that.”
“Join me.”
Two dangerous little words. If only he meant them. He probably wanted to buy me a bigger cake than whichever cake Madison had picked out, simply to dig at her.
“Can’t. Must study. Med school admissions officers encourage that.”
***
The doorbell at the house rang out our sorority song, and the yellow delivery light flashed. I checked my phone. Not for me. I set my anatomy textbook aside and went to the top of the stairs with some of the other girls to watch.
Madison stood in the foyer holding a tasteful red and green Christmas posy.
“Ohh. Pretty,” one girl said.
Bitsie shut her eyes and slipped away.
We all made some version of an oohing appreciative noise, and I went back to my room. Before I flipped my book back open, the yellow light flashed once again. Two deliveries in one night were unusual this time of year. Now if it were Valentine’s Day, they’d be flashing every few minutes. I checked my phone. Oh.
Delivery notice.
I went down the steps to find out what had come for me, and who had sent the gift. I looked out the window. Roses. My heart leapt and then flattened.
The arrangement was the size of…well, if a blue whale and an elephant had a baby. That ginormous bouquet had one purpose—to overshadow Madison’s.
Valentina stood at the doorway talking to the delivery guy. She giggled. “I need backup.” Two other girls, Emilia and Arabella came from the recreation room and helped her take the basket from the delivery man. They did a grunting side-step until they reached the foyer and shoved the basket beside Madison’s delicate posy.
Madison looked on, frowning. “You can’t leave that there.”
“I’m not carrying it upstairs,” Emilia said and left.
I reached the landing.
Arabella waved the card at me. “I think your suitor doth love too much.”