by Lexi Lawton
He sighed. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“C’mon. Let’s go to the gym. You can take your anger out on the weights.” Finn clapped Xander’s back.
With a nod, he followed Finn toward the campus fitness center. After changing into his gym shorts and a T-shirt, Xander stretched his legs and cracked his neck before rolling his shoulders to loosen them up. Then he stepped onto the treadmill next to Finn. He set the incline to two and jacked the speed up to eight. Then he ran his ass off. The monotony of running in place and the sounds of others working out nearby soothed him, helped to dissipate the anger that still had a clutch on his muscles.
Beside him, Finn increased his speed to ten. Xander eyed him and then increased his speed to eleven. Before he knew it, they were racing against each other, seeing who could go the fastest, get the most miles, burn the most calories. Sweat beaded on Xander’s brow and trickled down his back. He lifted his shirt, using it to wipe his forehead, and that’s when he saw her.
Kylie.
His heart raced even faster. She was walking with Celeste toward the front of the fitness center. Kylie wore a tank top and a pair of yoga pants. She very clearly wasn’t wearing any panties, and her ass was so round, so firm. His shorts tightened. Memories flooded his mind, of how she’d looked last night with her wild hair and sparkling eyes as she shook her body, and he faltered, his steps slowing despite the consistent speed of the treadmill.
“Oh shit!” He grabbed at the sides to stop himself from face-planting and then slammed his palm against the red stop button. Thankfully, the treadmill came to a complete, abrupt halt. Kylie’s smile widened, and then she laughed. The sound wrapped around him, making him forget his embarrassment.
“Smooth.” Finn decreased his speed. “You all right?”
Xander gasped for breath and wiped his forehead again. “Yeah.” He wished he’d thought to grab a bottle of water before starting his workout. Getting off the treadmill, he rubbed his sweaty palms on his shorts and approached Kylie. “Hey.”
A faint smile still curved her luscious lips. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip. I should’ve kissed her last night. “Nice save. I thought for sure the treadmill was going to win.”
He shook his head but couldn’t stop his smile. “What can I say?” He shrugged. “I have no shame when it comes to trying to impress a gorgeous woman.”
A sexy blush crept up her neck and over her cheeks. He’d never seen anything more beautiful. He flexed his fingers, the urge to touch her nearly consuming him.
“Yeah, you proved that last night with those dance moves.”
“Wow.” He laughed. “And here I thought I’d impressed you.” He cleared his throat. “So, my frat is having a party Thursday night. You and Celeste should come.”
“Um, yeah, okay. Sounds fun.”
He grinned. “Great! I’ll see you Thursday night, then.” Of course, if he had his way, he’d see her a lot before the party, too.
“Definitely.” She looked down, then back up at him. “Can’t wait.”
He winked and then turned on his heel to go find Finn. There was just an hour before his next lecture, and he really needed to shower beforehand. Knowing he had to kiss Brad’s ass in order to be involved in house activities, he couldn’t afford to miss a single class—especially now that he knew Kylie would be at the party.
…
Xander yawned as he walked up the steps to RAT house. The first day of classes was always exhausting, but today had been excruciatingly long. Between lectures and making a stop at the bookstore and his meeting with Brad and trying to figure out what study groups he could fit into his schedule, his brain was fried. His legs ached, and his eyes burned with the need for sleep.
All he wanted was to complete his assignments and crash. He opened the door and stepped inside. “Dad?” He blinked, convinced he was seeing things. “What’re you doing here?”
“I was in town on business and figured I’d take my son to dinner before I head home,” he said. He stood from the couch where he’d been chatting with Finn. “You’re free, right?” Even though it was phrased as a question, Xander knew it wasn’t.
“Uh, yeah, sure.” In the three years he’d been in college, his father had only visited one other time. A knot formed in his stomach. This wasn’t going to be pleasant. “Let me take care of my stuff, and then we can go.” He headed upstairs to drop his bag in his room and change into a clean shirt.
He pulled out his cell phone and sent a group text to his brothers. Dad’s in FL. He visit you guys?
Tanner: Nope.
Ryder: Nope.
“Fuck.” He flopped down on his bed and replied. Well, he’s here. Guess I’m in trouble. Again. Send help.
Tanner: Stop being a diva. You’ll be fine.
Ryder: Don’t worry. We’ll say something nice at your funeral. There was a laughing face with tears emoji.
Tanner: lol.
Xander laughed. Assholes. He added the middle finger emoji, then hit send. He slipped his phone into his back pocket and headed downstairs. “Okay, I’m ready,” he said.
His father gave a quick nod, then opened the door. “Where would you like to go?”
“There’s a new café downtown. I hear they have a killer soup and sandwich combo, and everything’s homemade.” Not that he could eat; his father’s unexpected visit had turned his stomach in knots.
“Sounds good.”
Climbing into his father’s rental car and buckling his seat belt, Xander asked, “When are you heading back to New York?”
“My plane leaves at ten thirty.” His father left the campus and headed to the café. It was a quick, five-minute drive. “I could have taken an earlier flight, but I wanted to stop by and see you.”
“Well, don’t I feel special.” He grinned.
“Yeah, you’re special all right.” His father smiled faintly in a teasing manner.
The knot in Xander’s stomach loosened. They parked and walked into the café. The decor was modern and quaint. A waitress walked by, smiling, and said, “Sit wherever you’d like. I’ll be over in a jiff.”
His father led the way to a table, and they sat. Menus were tucked behind the napkin dispenser, and Xander grabbed one. “You’re buying, right?”
Dad laughed. “Yes, I’m buying.”
They were silent for a few moments. Xander bounced his leg and glanced around. His father wasn’t the type to beat around the bush, so the fact that he hadn’t said much caused Xander’s mind to race. Once he settled on what he wanted to eat, he closed the menu and folded his arms on top of it. “All right, what’s the real reason for this visit?”
Closing his menu, his father rubbed his hands over his face. “Your mother’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks.”
“Yeah, I know.” He and his brothers usually went in on a big gift for her, and he’d been meaning to call Tanner and Ryder to find out what they were planning to do this year.
“I’m throwing her a surprise party, and I know it would mean a lot to her if you boys were there. The party will be on Saturday, so you guys can fly home Friday after classes and leave Sunday.”
Xander nodded.
“I’ll pay for your plane tickets home.”
Wow. He sat back, eyes wide with shock. Since they’d gotten their trust funds, his father rarely paid for things, except the essentials, like college tuition and health insurance.
The waitress arrived at their table. “You ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes?”
“No, I think we’re ready.” Xander’s father nodded at him to go first, then reopened his menu.
“I’ll have the roast beef deluxe combo, please.”
Jotting it down on her pad, she nodded. “What kind of soup would you like with that?”
“Oh, I’ll have the onion soup. Extra mozzarella. And a Mountain Dew.”
She turned her attention to his father. “And for you, sir?”
“That sounds good. I’ll have the same.
” He smiled.
“Great. I’ll be back with your drinks, and your food will be out shortly.” She spun on her heel and walked away.
“Mom’s going to love the party,” Xander said. Then again, his mother loved anything that involved getting the whole family together.
“That’s what I’m hoping. Aunt Mel is helping me plan it.”
“Do Ryder and Tanner know?”
“Not yet.”
Xander narrowed his eyes. It was odd that he’d be the first to know. As the oldest, Ryder was normally the first one to be told anything, and then he’d relay the information to him and Tanner. That only confirmed his suspicions—there was more to this visit. “I can tell them if you want. We need to figure out a gift for Mom, anyway.”
Dad nodded thoughtfully. “Good. Look, Xander, I was a little hard on you this summer.”
And there it was. Xander crossed his arms and waited. He focused on his breathing, hoping it would calm his racing heart. But nothing could cool the heat rising up his face.
“You’re a smart kid, and you’ve got a bright future ahead of you. But you need to start applying yourself more.”
He groaned. “I know.” He’d heard this same spiel every day for three months this past summer.
“I won’t lecture you again, but I want you to know that if you need help, I’m here.”
“Does this mean you’re not going to take away my trust fund?”
“No.” He shook his head. “As your mother and I told you before, flunking out of college is a serious deal, and it’s not something we’ll tolerate. There need to be consequences for your actions.”
Xander clenched his jaw and looked away. He didn’t agree with his parents’ choice of punishment, but he hadn’t argued with them. He knew better. “For the record, I’m not flunking out of college. I failed three classes.”
“Yes, and now you have to repeat those classes, which means you also have to pay for those classes again. It’s an unnecessary expense.”
He shifted in his seat. His father had worked on Wall Street his entire life, and he was very smart when it came to money. It was a skill he’d instilled in all of them from an early age.
“You know, I should make you pay for those classes.” He wagged his finger in Xander’s direction.
“Fine, I’ll pay for them. Whatever.” The knot in his stomach tightened again, causing his appetite to vanish. “I’m a fuckup, okay? I get it. You don’t need to keep telling me.”
“Alexander.” His father’s disapproving sigh had him frowning.
“Sorry.”
“You’re not a fuckup. You just got a little lost last semester, but I know you can straighten out. Right?” He raised a brow. “Maybe distancing yourself from that frat isn’t a bad idea, either.”
His father thought RAT house was too much of a distraction and a waste of time, and from the start he had disagreed with Xander’s choice to join. It grated on Xander that his father had been right—the fraternity was a huge distraction. But it was also his home away from home.
Deciding not to engage in that argument, he said, “I’m joining study groups and looking for a tutor. I promise it won’t happen again.”
“That’s my boy.” His father winked and patted Xander’s hand. “But I meant what I said. If you need my help—for anything—you call me.”
“Thanks, Dad.” He smiled. This time it was genuine.
Chapter Eight
“Do I have to go?” Celeste flopped on her bed and whined.
Kylie stared down at her. “Are you serious? I went to that stupid activities fair with you, and I’m going to the Sigma house mixer with you on Sunday. You owe me.”
Sitting up on her elbows, Celeste groaned. “Yeah, but a frat party? It’s just going to be a bunch of drunk people hooking up.”
“Okay, first of all”—she held up one finger—“you can’t possibly know that. And second, what do you think being in a sorority is? You’re the one who wants to immerse herself in Greek life. I thought for sure this would be something you’d be excited to do.”
“Sororities are more than parties and drinking.” She stuck out her tongue. “It’s about sisterhood and making lifelong friendships and helping our community.”
Sighing, Kylie shifted on her feet and put her hands on her hips. “You’re really not going to go with me?”
“I’m exhausted,” Celeste whined. “I really don’t want to get all dressed up to go out.”
“C’mon. Please? I told Xander we’d go. Plus, Finn will be there.”
At that, Celeste’s face lit up, and she smiled. “Now that is a very compelling argument. You should’ve led with that.”
Kylie laughed. “So…does that mean you’ll go?”
With another groan, Celeste let herself fall onto her back again. “I don’t know.” She draped her arm over her face. “It’s been a long week.”
She sat on the bed and pulled Celeste’s arm away from her face. “Please?”
“Why is it so important I go? I know damn well Xander only invited me because he wanted you to go.”
Speaking of Xander… She’d barely heard from him all week, and she’d only seen him in the one class they had together. The thought of missing his frat party had her heart plummeting and her stomach coiling. If she didn’t see him at the RAT party tonight, when would she?
“Didn’t Finn ask you to go?” Kylie asked. Desperation clutched her chest. The idea of walking into a frat party alone caused her to break out in a cold sweat.
Celeste shrugged. “He mentioned it the other night.”
“See?” Kylie stood and grabbed Celeste’s hands, pulling her to her feet. “Just go with me for a little while. If you hate it, we’ll leave. Promise. Besides, aren’t you the one who said we had to experience college together?” She crossed her arms. “Well, attending a frat party is an integral part of the college experience.”
After several moments of silence, Celeste sighed and threw her hands in the air. “Fine, I’ll go.”
Kylie squealed with delight and clapped her hands. “Thank you!” She hugged her friend. “I promise you won’t regret it.”
…
Two hours later, Kylie stood against the wall and observed her first-ever frat party. It wasn’t anything like she’d expected. It was crazier. Shirtless guys with Greek letters painted across their chests and stomachs ran around shouting things she couldn’t quite understand. The stench of alcohol reminded her of home, of her father when he’d stagger into the house drunk. The atmosphere here was completely different, though. People were laughing and having fun—unlike her father, who was always miserable and angry when he was drunk. Still, nervous energy buzzed through her. The fun, easy-going party could turn volatile at any second—that was another unpleasant lesson her father had taught her.
“This is insane!” Celeste shouted over the noise.
“I know!” But her words were carried away by the too-loud beat of the dance music blaring through the house.
Celeste leaned over so her mouth was near Kylie’s ear and shouted, “You’re never going to find him in this crowd.”
She looked around. They’d only been at the house for about ten minutes, and she’d spent every second searching for Xander. After all, he was the only reason she was here.
“I’m going to go find a drink. Want one?” Celeste shouted, then mimed taking a drink.
She chewed on her cheek and glanced around again, hoping she’d catch sight of Xander. Part of her wanted a drink—just one to prove she could handle it and not become a raging alcoholic—but a bigger part of her was terrified one would lead to two and then three and then four. Just because she’d been able to control herself at Connor’s graduation party didn’t mean she could again.
“Kylie?” Celeste nudged her arm. “I’m sure I can find something other than alcohol.”
Before she could respond, a tall, dark-haired guy walked by, then stopped and turned back to face them. “Are you two really stand
ing there?”
Kylie’s heart raced in that way it did when she knew something was off but didn’t quite know what. She glanced at Celeste for some sort of signal, but Celeste stared at the guy wide-eyed. That was a lot of help.
“Uh, yeah,” Celeste said.
The guy put his fingers in his mouth and whistled around them. “We got us some wallflowers, boys!”
There was a chorus of hoots and hollers. Kylie moved until her back was flat against the wall, and she was trapped. What the hell was going on? Her gaze darted around. Where was Xander? She swallowed hard, her stomach rolling, threatening to eject the pizza she’d eaten for dinner.
“What do we do with wallflowers?” another guy shouted.
“We pick ’em!” screamed several guys in unison.
Two of the bigger guys stepped forward, grinning. The one on the right lifted Kylie over his shoulder like she weighed nothing. She screamed and then laughed when the other guy did the same to Celeste.
“Put me down!” Celeste shrieked and kicked her feet. Then she laughed, too.
Ignoring her, the tall guy asked, “And what do we do with ’em once we pick ’em?”
“We water ’em!”
Next thing Kylie knew, she was being carried through the frat house and outside. She couldn’t see a thing except for this guy’s ass, but the next moment, she was weightless, falling through the air. She screamed seconds before she hit the pool. Celeste splashed in beside her a second later.
She surfaced, spitting cold water out of her mouth. They’d thrown her in the fucking pool! What the hell was wrong with them? And what kind of frat house had a damn pool, anyway? Howls of laughter cut through her thoughts, and she realized people were standing around, watching and laughing. A few people cheered and gave her a thumbs-up.
Kylie pumped her fist in the air sarcastically, her lips pursed in aggravation. That earned her several whoops of appreciation and even a “hell yeah!” She looked over at Celeste, who laughed. Kylie swam to the edge of the pool, and a hand reached down to offer help. She stared at it for a moment, unsure if it was sincere or another joke with her as the punch line.