by Ruby Vincent
“Can you boys tell each other and Val that I’m not interested in Logan.” Sofia crossed the room and plopped on Ezra’s lap. “He’s cute and sweet, but he’s not for me.”
“Since when is cute and sweet not for you?” I reached out and pushed her hair behind her ear. “You deserve sweet and cute.”
She gave me a lopsided smile. “I know I do. It’s just that Logan is... too nice. It’s not fair to compare every guy to Zane, but he was sexy and worldly. He was the kind of guy that held open my door and handcuffed me to his bed.”
Ezra shifted. “Maybe I should let you guys talk alone.”
I clapped my hand over his mouth. “When did you decide Logan was friend-only material?”
She shrugged. “I guess a few days ago I realized if there was going to be a spark, I would have felt it by now.”
Soft kisses tickled my palm, spreading goose bumps up my body. The kind of guy that handcuffs and holds open doors. A guy like Ezra.
“I understand. The right guy is worth waiting for.” I nudged her arm. “But don’t say no to the floating sex vacation just yet. You might meet someone you like by then.”
She nudged me back. “You might give in to a spring break celebration with your sorority sisters by then. We’ll see who wins out.”
I heaved a sigh. “No one is winning anything if we don’t get through midterms. Pass me my psych book, please. Ezra can quiz me in between kisses.”
“Yes, please,” he agreed beneath my hand.
Sofia went back to packing and I resumed studying. The torment was nearly over. I had two exams that day and one the next day, Friday. Afterward, Sofia and I would hop in a car with Mai, Keily, and Palmer and drive up to the ranch.
That night, I went from room to room packing. Not having my own bedroom worked fine for the guys. In my case, it meant my things were scattered all over the house.
I followed the melody pouring down the hall to Ryder’s bedroom. I poked my head inside.
“Don’t mind me,” I said. “I’m just here for my pajamas.”
The tune stopped anyway. Ryder closed the piano. “Val, we need to talk.”
“Do we? About what?”
He jerked his head at the couch.
Ryder gave his old room to Adam, but his new one was no less magnificent. Our bed sat on a raised platform accessed by carpeted steps. Next to it was the book nook. This was Adam’s favorite spot for the love of curling up with Ryder in the armchair while he read him to sleep.
Beneath the bay windows, his piano had the spot of honor where it caught the morning light. Some days I’d wake up to his playing and my sleep-fogged mind would mistake the man bathed in sunlight as an angel.
Ryder didn’t have a lot of pictures or posters around the room, with the exception of the photo of me that he put on the piano. It was a close-up shot of my face partially buried in a pillow. My hair fell over my eyes, but my smile couldn’t be hidden.
He loved that photo for what the camera didn’t show. The fact that I was naked and he was inside of me when he took it.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. We climbed on the couch and Ryder opened his arms for me to get comfortable.
“You know what’s wrong. All of this stuff with you, Ezra, and the Sams. Why are you still pledging?”
Sighing, I rested my head on his chest. “Because we don’t know what’s going on yet. The Sallys and the other Sams could be just as clueless to what Aiden did as the rest of us. Sof and I like the sorority. We want to get in.”
“What you wanted was a normal college experience,” he said. “Kidnappings and secret basement meetings are far from normal.”
“I will have a normal college experience after we find out what happened to Sawyer. He may be in real trouble and no one is looking for him.”
“And you have to be the one to do something about it?”
“No, the police will do something about it. We just have to find proof.”
“Nothing I say will convince you to drop this, will it?”
I scooted up and kissed his chin. “Ezra asked me for help, so... no. Nothing will stop me.”
He held my gaze for a silent stretch. In his eyes, I saw the battle rage. His need to protect me and his faith in his brother.
“Then tell me how I can help,” he said.
“I will.” I curled my hand around his neck and closed the distance between us.
We shared a kiss that lit the flames of my desire. Packing went straight out of my head.
“You busy?” I whispered.
I felt his grin against my lips. “For what we’re about to do? Never.”
“THIS IS GOING TO BE so much fun.” Keily danced across the lawn and shook her ass at a group of Sams. “Get ready to pay for me to lounge in my bikini sipping mai tais on the way to the Bahamas.”
The boys whooped.
“I consider that a good cause,” one of them shouted.
“Forgive her,” said Mai. She stepped over the threshold, carrying the cooler like it was nothing. “She’s never been on a cruise. Suddenly, she’s loving Leighton for making us train the last several weeks.”
Mai, myself, and the other pledges were on the porch organizing our backpacks, food, drinks, pillows, and everything else we needed for the weekend.
“Is that why we’ve been working out? For this weekend?” I asked. “What are we going to be doing?”
“Pat said there’s an obstacle course,” Palmer spoke up. “That’s the big challenge. If the most girls make it through first, we win.”
“That actually sounds fun.”
“All right, ladies.” Our illustrious leader came out of the house flanked by three sisters. Once again, they coordinated their outfits and left the pledges out. Pink and black striped shirts flashed the words “Sallys Dominate” to everyone.
“The sisters already know, so this information is for the pledges,” said Leighton. “There are two bunkhouses and the main house. The bunkhouses have bathrooms and showers, but the kitchen is in the main house. You can go in and get food whenever you’re hungry and you’ll have to because no one is cooking for you. Our day starts early at six a.m., so don’t make the mistake of partying all night. Any questions?”
We shook our heads.
“Great. Let’s get these cars packed up and head out.” She pointed at Mai. “You and Reagan have vans, so we’re putting the coolers and packs in your cars.”
“All of this? But I’m taking Val, Sofia, Palmer—”
Leighton held up a hand, cutting her off. “Whoever doesn’t fit in your car will ride with me. I’ve got four empty seats.”
“Ooh.” Blair leaped over the cooler and grabbed my arm. “Val and I will ride with you.”
“So will I,” Sofia threw in.
Keily skipped up the path. “Me too, Leighton.”
“That’s settled.”
I shot big eyes over Blair’s head. Sofia nodded imperceptibly. I knew we were having the same thought.
The pledges heeded their orders and packed up the vans. Twenty minutes later, I was sliding into the passenger seat of Leighton’s blue convertible.
“This is a nice car,” I said. “My boyfriends wanted to get me one just like it.”
“Did you turn them down?” she asked.
“They have cars, plus my mother-in-law’s car, plus the two cars sitting in the garage that Ryder abandoned when he traded up. I’m not hurting for a ride. They like to spoil me, but I have to draw the line somewhere.”
“Do you?” Leighton flicked my earring. “But only at cars.”
Her teasing pulled a laugh out of me. “Cars and lots of other things too, but not diamonds. Never diamonds.”
Sofia stuck her head between us. “Val’s decked out in a different flavor of bling every day. You should have seen her at Evergreen. The only person on the planet to make a yellow uniform look good.”
“Second person on the planet,” I corrected. “Sofia looks amazing in everything.”
�
��You two are disgustingly cute,” Keily said. “I’ve known Mai and Palmer since kindergarten and I don’t like them that much.”
We busted up as Leighton pulled out of the parking space—all except for Blair.
“Did you just say mother-in-law?” Blair asked. “You’re married to one of them?”
“No. I just call Caroline my mother-in-law because I love her. She’s done so much for me and my son.”
Keily was next to push her face between us. “Is it rude to ask how it works for you guys? I’ve been dying to know.”
I shrugged. “I never had a boyfriend before them, but I’m sure it’s like being in any other relationship. We fight and argue like everyone else. We do little things to show we care. We plan our future and look out for each other. Most people do that with one person. I just do it with four.”
“Well said,” Leighton replied.
I smiled at her. As far as sorority presidents go, Leighton had been a great one. I appreciated the little things she did for sisters and pledges alike. As well as her understanding when I had to put Adam before pledge activities. At the top of her list of good qualities, she did not express an ounce of judgement over my relationships. To be fair, none of the other girls said anything out loud, but I was well-trained in the awkward silence. Leighton never gave off those vibes.
I really hope you’re not a part of whatever happened to Teagan and Sawyer. Because it turns out I like you.
Keily hummed. “Can I admit something?”
“You will anyway,” Blair said under her breath.
“I’m talking to two guys right now and I’m thinking I’ll give Val’s brand of dating a try. They’re both cute and they say they’re cool with it. Why not?”
I laughed. “I’ve inspired a revolution.”
“What about you, Sofia?”
“Ooh. We’ve gotten to the portion of the drive where we talk about boys,” Sofia said. “Sorry to disappoint but there is nada happening in my bedroom lately. Besides, breaking up with one guy wrecked me. I couldn’t imagine three or four guys dumping me.”
Keily hissed. “You have a point.”
“I couldn’t do it either,” Blair added. In my rearview, I saw she addressed the window. “Even if I wanted to, my boyfriend wouldn’t go for it.”
“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend,” I said.
“He’s home in New York.”
“The distance must be hard for you.”
“Yes.”
“Tell us about him.”
“He’s handsome, smart, and I miss him every day. What else is there to say?”
Her reflection in my mirror said as much as her clipped response. She did not want to talk about him.
I let it drop. Sofia and I knew enough about her already. This car ride was a chance to peel away Leighton’s layers.
“And you, Leighton?” Sofia asked. “Are you seeing anyone?”
She sighed. “I don’t have time between classes, clubs, and being president. It’s alright though. I’m not big on relationships.”
“You’re not? But you’re always saying the relationships we make with the Sallys are everything.”
“Romantic relationships,” she corrected. “The picket fence, kids, and husband aren’t in the cards for me. It’s not the future I want, so I don’t get serious. My hookups are fleeting but the bonds I make with the Sallys are forever.” She smiled into the rearview mirror. “You girls will see. There’s nothing like having fifty sisters who’ll do anything for you.”
“Does that mean we’re in the final six?” Keily tried.
“Now that would be telling.”
“Are you guys hungry?” Sofia asked. “I packed some sandwiches in my bag.”
“Yes.”
“Sure.”
“I’m starved.”
“Fair warning,” she continued. “It’s an apple, turkey, and brussels sprouts sandwich. I had no choice. I made them at home and Dad can sniff out the unhealthy stuff like a bloodhound.”
“Pass.”
“No, thanks.”
“I’m not that hungry.”
Sofia swatted my arm. “Eat my sandwich, Val. It tastes better than you think.”
“Sofia, I love and would do anything for you, but I will not eat that sandwich.”
Leighton swatted me too. “You guys are too mean. I’m sure it tastes delicious, Sof. I’ll have one when we get to the ranch.”
“Thank you.” I heard the crinkle of food being unwrapped. “We have an hour to kill,” Sofia said. “Want to play a game?”
“How about ‘would you rather’?” Keily offered. “I love that game. I stump everyone.”
That worked as well as any other game. Sofia and I needed to keep Leighton talking. We didn’t expect her to reveal any deep, dark secrets, but at least we could get to know her better.
“You first, Keily,” I said.
“Okay. Would you rather win ten thousand dollars or let your best friend win one hundred thousand dollars?”
“Best friend,” I said.
“Best friend,” Sofia agreed.
“I would rather win,” said Blair.
“Best friend,” Leighton said.
“Best friend for me too,” Keily threw in. “All of them would share it with me, so win-win.”
I admit none of those answers surprised me. Someone ask something really difficult.
“My turn,” said Sofia. “Would you rather marry someone you love or marry someone who loves you? Just to be clear, in both cases it’s not reciprocated.”
“Oh, that’s a tough one,” Keily said. “It’s soul-destroying being with someone who doesn’t feel the same, but then, who would want to spend their life with a person they don’t love?”
“Marry someone I love,” I said. “I’d win them over in the end.”
Leighton chuckled. “I like that, Val. Take what you want and make it happen. But I’ve got to say, someone who loves me. I could rely on their faithfulness and loyalty, and that’s what matters most in a relationship.”
“That’s a good point,” said Keily. “I pick someone who loves me too.”
“Someone I love,” Blair said.
“Someone I love,” Sofia agreed. “Blair, it’s your turn.”
“Alright.” My perfect view of her granted me the chance to see her slight smile. She’d recovered from her earlier mood. “Would you rather have freedom or safety?”
“Damn,” Leighton said with a laugh. “You ladies don’t mess around. I’m going with freedom.”
We all said the same.
Blair tapped my shoulder. “What’s yours, Valentina?”
“Would you rather know when you’ll die or how you’ll die?”
A chorus of hisses went up.
“Yikes,” said Sofia. “Definitely not when.”
“But what if I find out I’m hit by a car,” Keily said. “I’d be a twitchy, paranoid mess whenever I went outside for the rest of my life.”
“Unless you peacefully die in your sleep,” said Blair. “I wouldn’t mind knowing if that was my fate. I pick how.”
Sofia and Leighton said how. Keily chose when.
“I’m going with when,” I said. “I want to know how much time I have left with the people I love, so I make every day count.”
“Wow, Val,” said Sofia. “Why do I feel like you’re winning a game that can’t be won?”
I laughed. “Leighton’s turn.”
“I’m under pressure to come up with a good one after yours. Let’s see.” Leighton actually stuck out her tongue as she thought. “Would you rather save the lives of five people you love or a thousand people you don’t know?”
Silence blanketed the car.
“If there was an award for stumping us,” I muttered, “you win.”
“You don’t have to answer.” Leighton was relaxed as she weaved through traffic. “It’s a hard one.”
“No, I’ll answer,” said Sofia. “It’s awful but... I’d save five people
I love.”
“Me too,” said Keily and Blair.
I sighed. “I would too. Wow. This question is similar to a few from the test you gave us. It was just as hard to answer then.”
“The test is brutal,” Leighton stated. “But we don’t give it out to be cruel. Questions like that tell us how you think and what kind of person you are. Even the tricky math questions. Are you someone who takes what they know and applies it as best they can? Or do you give up and skip the question entirely?”
I found myself nodding. In a way, it made sense.
“And you?” I asked. “How did you do on the test?”
“Eighty-five percent.”
Keily whistled. “That’s why we call you Madame President.”
Leighton cracked up. “Don’t be too impressed with me. I’m a philosophy major. Questions like ‘What do we owe our fellow man?’ are ones I love to wrestle with.”
“What do we owe our fellow man?” Sofia put in.
“Blair asked if we would choose freedom or safety, but I say people are owed both. We should be able to live the lives we want and do so free of violence and abuse. A woman should be able to walk through an alley at night and make it home safely. A child should live in a home where they are safe, fed, and cared for. Sadly, we cannot expect these things, but people deserve them.”
My gaze drifted to the window. She is right... but this is not that world.
“It’s getting kind of heavy,” Keily spoke up. “Let’s play something else. ‘Guess the song’ is easy. Whoever shouts out the name and artist first is the winner.”
“What do we win?” Blair asked.
“How about we don’t have to eat Sofia’s sandwiches and the loser does?”
“Hey!”
Just like that, the pall washed under our giggling. The hour-long drive passed quickly with music, games, and more questions ranging from silly to scandalous. Leighton played and joked with us. She belted along to the radio and didn’t hesitate to answer Kiely’s “How many people have you slept with?”
When we pulled up to the white-bricked, two-story, ranch-style home, I hopped out and ran to Ezra.
He was standing among a group of brothers next to their van. He saw me coming and opened his arms to catch me.