13. Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Margot
While I don’t necessarily want to be lingering at the party after that talk with Alex, I know Danika just got her night started so I move to settle into an empty chair in front of the fire pit. It’s a beautiful spot and yet almost always left empty during these parties. Not that I’m complaining, I think, as I pull my novel out of my bag. I get a sudden flashback of the last time I sat here with Alex and my cheeks start to warm but not because of the heat in front of me. Quickly, I shake the vision away, opening the book to where I last left off.
“This seat taken?” After a few minutes, my zen is interrupted by a somewhat familiar voice. Looking up, I see Ryan, the boy that I danced with last week. A small grin forms on my face as I shake my head and he sits down in the seat next to mine.
“I appreciate a girl who does what she wants,” he says. When I look at him with confusion, he laughs, gesturing toward the book in my hands. “Reading during a party.”
I giggle, inserting the bookmark back into place and putting the book inside my bag again. “Hey, sorry about just leaving you in the dust last week.”
Ryan scratches the back of head in a nervous gesture. “It’s all good. I didn’t mean to step on any toes if you and Alex are–”
“Oh, we’re not anything,” I interrupt, probably a little more forcefully than intended but the comment hits its mark when Ryan’s small grin becomes a full on smile.
“Cool,” he says. “Alex isn’t exactly my friend, but I don’t want to get on his bad side either way.”
I cock my head, giving him a questioning look. “If you aren’t his friend, why do you come to his parties?”
Ryan laughs, nodding his head toward the packed house behind us. “Everyone comes to these parties. Unfortunately, I have to admit Kappa Alpha is more popular than my fraternity so these parties tend to be more packed than ours.”
I’ve never been privy to fraternity life before meeting Alex but now I feel like it’s everywhere in my life. “Which frat do you belong to?”
“Delta Epsilon,” he replies, taking the last sip in his beer bottle. I freeze, having just heard that name upstairs in Alex’s bedroom. Is that why he was so upset seeing me with Ryan last week at the party? Now that I know the logistics of the prank, it’s probably best that I don’t cozy up to Ryan, as cute and nice as he is. Alex is right, he can know I’m connected to the Kappas afterward but beforehand, I wouldn’t want to give him any reason to doubt my reasoning for coming to their house for the interview.
Although, Alex did mention that I would need to reach out to Ryan to ask for the interview. Now would be as good a time as any to make that connection, especially after he just offered up all that information about his fraternity.
I perk up a bit as the idea forms in my mind. But first, play dumb for a bit. “Oh, you’re in DE? Do you know who the president is?”
Ryan’s chest puffs up a bit with self-importance. “I’m the president, actually.”
“No way!” I feigned as much shock and interest as I could. “I’m actually on the campus newspaper and I’ve been trying to find the president of Delta Epsilon to ask if I could do an interview of your fraternity.”
“Really?” he asks, skeptical.
“Yeah, actually, that’s why I was here last week - to ask Alex for an interview for the Kappas. He said if I wanted a good picture of the group, I should come on Sunday before the gala when everyone’s all dressed up.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea,” Ryan mutters.
Like taking candy from a baby.
“Now that I know who you are, I can see why he wasn’t really happy to see me talking to you last week. I bet he doesn’t want me to interview both frats.”
Ryan’s eyes dance with deep thought. “That makes sense.”
I nod, trying to hide my triumphant smile. I haven’t sealed the deal just yet.
“So what do you think? You up for it? I could go to KA first and then come to DE right before the gala. That way everyone is looking their best for the…front page?” I raise my eyebrows, suggestively.
Ryan grins and I know I’ve got him. Bingo.
“Sounds great, Margot. Let’s do it.”
I beam for more reasons than one. There’s a slight twinge of guilt in there as well but it’s not like I’m really lying. I am interviewing them and I am writing an article for the paper. Just…not exactly what they are going to expect.
“Awesome!” I squeal. Ryan smiles and for a second we’re both just standing there grinning at each other. It’s…nice? Awkward? Both? I’m not sure.
“Maybe we should exchange numbers so we can coordinate the interview and stuff.” I nod, handing him my phone where he puts in his number and then calls himself.
“Do you want a drink? I’m going to get a refill,” Ryan asks. I shake my head as Ryan gets up. A few seconds after Ryan leaves, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. When I pull it out, a text from Alex greets me.
good chat?
My breath draws in and I look up toward the house, seeing the silhouette of Alex standing in the doorway, his phone clutched in his hand. Looking up at him, I tap the side of my nose twice with my index finger, indicating I did my part of the secret job. I can’t see his face but the outline of his shoulders shake briefly in laugher before he disappears down the hallway.
Pulling myself up from the deep chair, I grab my bag and head back inside to find Danika and Sydney, hoping they’ll be ready to head home soon.
“Mars!” Danika hits me with the nickname that’s typically used by Arden only so I know she’s really feeling the alcohol tonight. Dani drapes her arms around my shoulders in what I can only assume is meant to be a hug but really seems more like I’m carrying her. Sydney saddles up beside her, seeming out of breath.
“I tried to rein her in, but–” Sydney starts but doesn’t need to finish as I nod in understanding.
“Ready to go, Danimal?” I say with fake enthusiasm, using our own special nickname for when she gets a little too out of control.
Danika kisses my cheek with a fat smack before turning toward Sydney and doing the same. “I love you guys,” she sighs, resting her head on my shoulder. I’ve got one arm wrapped around her waist and the other pulling up my phone to call an Uber because there’s no way I’m dragging her ass all the way home.
As I’m typing my destination, I feel the heavy weight of Danika pulled from my grasp. At first, I think she’s fallen, but instead, I see her ass in the air and her body being fireman carried by Alex Prescott.
“Let’s go. I’ll drive you guys home.”
“You’ve been drinking,” I protest.
“No, I haven’t.” He calls behind him as he walks toward the door without a glance back to see if we’re following. Sydney and I exchange a look before running after them.
Alex’s jeep is parked directly in front of the house. Sydney runs ahead to open the back door, slide into the seat and help him maneuver Danika into a laying position since she’s now completely passed out. I climb into the passenger seat and Alex walks around to the driver’s side.
He starts the engine and for a moment, it’s the only noise that fills the vehicle. I’m not sure what he’s been up to the whole night, but for some reason, I trust him when he says he hasn’t been drinking. Maybe that could be the reason why his jaw is so clenched right now. He didn’t get to have fun at his own party.
“Nice car,” I say to break the ice.
Alex lets out a chuckle, his jaw loosening a bit. “Thanks.”
I can feel Sydney’s sly smile from behind me as she watches Alex’s and my every move. It’s a small blessing that Dani is asleep, there’s nothing that would stop her from saying whatever she wants and embarrassing the hell out of me. That’s why Sweet Sydney balances us out. She’s the perfect middle ground between Dani’s crazy and my uptightness.
We arrive at the house in mere minutes by my directions and Danika stirs as Sydney shuffles her awake. I move to open my door, but a large, firm hand on my knee stops me.
“Margot, can you wait for a minute?” Alex asks, and he seems…nervous?
“Thanks, Uber man,” Danika sputters and Alex just laughs, shaking his head.
“I’ll be right in,” I say to Sydney, who looks between us for a second before nodding and heading inside to put Dani into bed.
As soon as the back doors close, Alex sighs, running his hand through his hair.
“Is everything okay?” I’m not sure what’s got him so worked up.
“I was out of line last week.”
It takes me a minute to remember what he’s talking about but when the lightbulb goes off, I open my mouth to protest. Alex doesn’t let me get another word in.
“Ryan is a DE guy and for some reason seeing you with him…” Alex trails off, and I’m having difficulty putting together the pieces that are missing from his comment. Is he saying he’s jealous that I was talking to Ryan?
“Alex, I—”
Alex draws in a breath before cutting me off. “It’s just not a good look for you to be seen with a Delta when we’re about to pull this prank. It could risk everything.” His eyes suddenly shudder and it seems like he wants to say something else, something more, but he doesn’t. He straightens his back, pulling his hand from my leg as if he just realized it was still there. I hadn’t forgotten it was.
I blink. “You don’t want me to talk to Ryan…because of the prank.” It’s not a question. It’s a realization. Of course that’s what he’s thinking about. How naive could I possibly be to think it had anything more to it than that? We’re in a mutually beneficial work arrangement. We should be focused on making sure both our plans go off without a hitch.
Alex doesn’t respond but his dark eyes bore into mine. Even in the blackness around us, I can still see a slight twinkle in his gaze.
“You know the only reason I talked to him tonight was because it was the perfect opportunity to ask for the interview…” I say, resolved.
Alex nods, solemnly. It confuses me because I thought this was what he wanted but still…something in his expression looks sad.
“Is there anything else?” I ask, my hand reaching for the door handle but my eyes still on Alex. His jaw ticks when my hand hits the handle.
“No, sunshine. That’s all I wanted to say.” He looks over at me with a lazy smile that completely contradicts his demeanor from just a second ago. The whiplash is confusing, but I don’t dwell on it.
“Okay,” I say, opening the door and sliding out of the seat. “See you in class Monday then.” I don’t give him a chance to reply before I close the door. The temperature has dropped a few degrees since we left his house and I wrap my arms around myself as I rush toward the lobby door. I don’t look back at Alex’s car, but I know he doesn’t drive away until I’m safely inside. In fact, I don’t even know if he drove away after that or if he sat outside for a little while longer. Content to just sit and wait. Not quite sure what for.
Opening the living room curtains, I’m greeted with a groan from the otherwise lifeless lump on the couch.
“Evil,” the blanket mound moans. “Devil girl.”
“Morning, honey!” I cheer, much more brightly than usual. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t completely rib my best friend while she’s aggressively hungover? “You know you have a bedroom, right?”
Sydney’s door opens and she laughs while Danika whines, shifting her pillow over her face to block out the sun.
“Headed to the gym. You need a ride to campus, Margot?” Sydney asks as she heads into the kitchen and pulls a water bottle out of the fridge, tosses it to me and then grabs another for herself.
“God, yes, please. Take her with you,” Dani sighs under the pillows.
Rolling my eyes, I drop the water bottle onto Danika who grunts but then mumbles in gratitude. “Yeah, just give me a minute to change and grab my things.” In another five minutes, Sydney and I are out the door and headed to campus. The drive is pretty short but a nightmare to walk, so I’m eternally grateful to my roommates who also act as my personal chauffeurs whenever I need them.
“Do you want me to drop you off by the library?” Sydney asks, pulling onto campus.
I shake my head. “The newsroom. I’m meeting with Nathan to talk through the podcast.” Sydney pulls up to the Lincoln Building and we say our goodbyes before I close the door and she pulls away to park by the fitness center.
As I walk into the building, I bump directly into a large, muscular body.
“Nathan, hey,” I say with relief. “I was just coming inside to meet you.”
He smiles. “I know, but I figured it’d be easier to have this meeting in the campus recording studio so we can really map out how this is going to work. What do you think?”
“Oh good idea,” I reply, and we walk in companionable silence across campus to the media building, which just so happens to be directly next to the fitness center. Could’ve gotten Sydney to drive me all the way there , I think for a second. As we walk by the gym door, Nathan tells me a story about something he did this weekend and I’m so engrossed in his tale that I don’t notice the door swing open and a group of sweaty, chuckling men exit.
“Sunshine?”
Alex is drenched in sweat, his hair a deeper shade of brown than I’ve ever seen. He walks toward us, his freshly exercised muscles straining against his tight gym shirt. He looks back and forth between Nathan and I with narrowed eyes before his gaze finally lands on me.
“What are you doing on campus?”
I hitch my thumb toward Nathan, who’s standing a little taller than he was a second before. “Nathan is my friend from the newspaper who’s going to help us out with the podcast.” I turn toward Nathan. “Nathan, this is Alex, our star.”
“Nice to meet you, man,” he says, extending his hand toward Alex who takes it quickly and shakes it once before they both drop.
“Nathan and I are going to look at the studio and make a plan of action for production. I’ll tell you about it during our meeting on Monday.” I dismiss Alex, grabbing Nathan’s arm to pull him along. We make it another ten steps down the path before Alex shouts my name from behind us.
Nathan and I pause as Alex jogs up to us. “I’ll just come with, that way you don’t have to play telephone, sunshine.”
I look at Nathan, who cocks his head toward me at the nickname. I only roll my eyes in response. I take a step closer to Alex and away from Nathan.
“Okay, listen. I actually think it would be great if you come because I probably won’t understand a lot of this technical jargon but Alex, I mean all the offense when I say…you smell like absolute ass.”
Alex gives me a blank stare and I think for a second that I might’ve genuinely broken him. But then he lets out the most boisterous laugh and I can’t stop the grin that escapes my clutches as well.
“I’ll head back to the gym and shower there quickly. Meet you guys in the studio in ten minutes.” I nod, letting out a resigned breath through my nose and head back to join Nathan as Alex jogs back toward the fitness center.
“Is he coming?” Nathan asks as we continue walking in our original direction.
“Yeah, just going to take a shower first.”
Nathan sighs in apparent relief. “Oh, thank god.” We both laugh as we enter the campus media building and head up the stairs to the recording studio.
In record time, Alex finds us in the studio, showered and smelling minty fresh, which I greatly appreciate. The minute he finds us, he pulls up a chair right next to mine and listens to Nathan explain how the sound board works. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was genuinely interested in this project and not just here to do me a favor.
The more Nathan talks, the more worried I get that it’s going to scare Alex away. He shows no indication of wanting to bolt, but this is already turning out to be way more work than he’s asking me to do for him. The guilt is eating me alive but I’m pulled back from my negative thoughts when Nathan calls my name.
“Huh?” I ask, blushing from being caught not paying attention.
“I was just asking if you’re going to need camera space for two people or just one,” Nathan asks, his eyes glancing toward Alex.
When I turn to look at him, his eyes are open and pointed directly at me. The conversation we had in his bedroom moves to the front of my mind. You need to be there, too. On camera. Talking with me. His words echo in my head. He should know from my speech in public speaking class how poorly I do in front of people. But, joining in front of the camera, giving him what he wants could help lessen some of the guilt I’ve been having about asking him to do this.
I glance through the glass wall over to the recording room that’s already set up for two people. It could be kind of fun and since there won’t be a real audience—besides Nathan—there’ll be less pressure on me to perform in front of a live group of people. I might even be able to forget that we’re recording and just enjoy talking to Alex. There have already been a few times where I’ve caught myself genuinely enjoying his company.
When I look back at Alex, his eyes are gleaming with challenge.
“Two.”
“What’s that, sunshine?” Alex asks, his hand behind his ear in a mocking way.
I shove his arm. “You heard me, jackass.” His chair swivels around as he laughs.
Nathan glances at us both. “Two it is.”
We spend another hour in the studio with Nathan who shows us the booth and how to sit close enough to the microphone to be heard but not too close that our voices get muffled. Alex makes more than a few inappropriate jokes throughout the morning but all in all, it’s a productive work session. When Nathan gets a call from his roommate, he excuses himself with a quick goodbye and a promise to meet again next Saturday to record the first episode.
After Nathan leaves, Alex continues to swivel around in the chair as I put my notebook and papers back inside my backpack. I check my phone to see a text from Sydney telling me she left campus more than an hour ago. Bus it is, I sigh.
“You headed home now?” Alex asks, bringing the revolving chair to a stop.
“Yeah,” I reply, putting my phone back into my pocket and hoisting my bag onto my shoulder. Alex stands from the chair and grabs his gym bag from the floor.
“Let’s go, then,” he says, casually walking out of the room. I follow him out of the building and give him a wave as I start to walk in the opposite direction but a pull on my wrist brings me back to face him.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Home,” I reply, confused.
Alex looks toward the parking lot behind us. “Is Sydney still here?” When I shake my head, Alex uses the grip he has on my wrist to pull me toward the parking lot where his jeep is parked. “Let’s go, sunshine. There’s no reason for you to take the bus when I live five minutes from you.”
While my instinct is to politely decline his offer, taking the ride would save me about twenty minutes and be infinitely more comfortable, seating wise. With a sigh, I pull out of his grasp but continue walking with him toward the black car.
“How did you know that Sydney was driving me?” I ask as we both slide into our respective seats.
“I saw her at the gym. Figured you guys came together when I saw you outside with Nathan.” Alex pulls out of the parking lot and onto the side street. At first, the ride is silent and I peer out the window at the scenery I’ve seen hundreds of times.
As we pull onto my street, Alex finally breaks the silence. “You know, I have to say I’m excited to start this project with you.” The sincerity of the comment throws me off guard and I whip my head around to meet his eyes. He’s looking at the road but a ghost of a smile dances across his features.
And, in that moment, I realize I am genuinely too. I’m excited to start this project and it wasn’t because of the New York Times or because I wanted so much to win that internship. It was because of Alex. Because of the way he has put me at ease in situations that should’ve been stressful, the way he’s made me laugh even when something shouldn’t be funny, even the way he stares at me sometimes that makes me wonder what he’s really seeing. Plus, that nickname. I couldn’t help but smile when I think of it now.
He pulls up in front of my building, putting the car in park and finally meeting my eyes. “Me too, frat boy.” Alex rolls his eyes but matches my grin with one of his own.
I thank him for the ride and we say our goodbyes. As I walk toward the door, I actually find myself feeling excited for public speaking class. What is the world coming to?