Chapter 13 Niko #2
I probably would still hate things like this if I didn’t associate them with Ollie, now.
There are tons of students in here, all of them helping with setup for the formal. People are on ladders hanging up white paper lanterns and shimmery tinsel, others are hanging things on the wall, or setting up tables in one portion of the room.
I spot Oliver on the far end of the room, under a tall window. He’s next to Weston and they’re working on unraveling tons of sets of string lights.
“Hi, babe,” I call out to him as we head over.
Oliver turns to see me.
He’s wearing a cream-colored sweatshirt that hugs the curves of his muscles perfectly, and tan pants that show off his ass in an obscene way.
Or maybe I just always notice his ass.
His eyes go wide before he furrows his brow.
“What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you, too.” I lean in and press a slow kiss to his lips, making sure it’s good even though I should punish him for the attitude.
His kisses are always good. Even if he’s only doing it because Weston is nearby.
“Came to help out with the setup,” I tell him, watching his expression shift as he realizes I’m not going anywhere.
Knew that would take you by surprise.
“We’re good. You don’t need to help.”
“Niko!” Weston says brightly, heading over to wave at me. “This is awesome. We need another hand for these lights.”
“Glad to be here. How can we help?”
Weston’s expression changes when he looks down at Sev.
Like there’s something harsh in the air between them, but he won’t acknowledge it.
“Sevan,” Weston says, giving him a curt nod. “I didn’t know you knew Niko.”
And thank God my cousin’s here.
There’s at least one person in here who can get me to keep my sanity.
Maybe.
Sev mentioned that Weston had some problems with him last year, but I have no idea how deep that bad blood goes.
They certainly don’t regard each other in any friendly way.
Sevan nods. “Yes, Weston. Of course I know Niko. You’re looking at the man who corrupted me.”
I click my tongue. “That is complete bullshit. Sevan corrupted me, and we both know it.”
He gives me a look. “How did I corrupt you?”
“I was perfectly innocent until you started stealing cigarettes and peer pressuring me into smoking them with you when we were a goddamn preteen.”
Sev rolls his eyes. “I was older than that. Peer pressuring you? You’re the one who begged me to steal them, then spent hours taking pictures of yourself smoking like you thought you were James Dean.”
I grin. “Those pictures were cool, even though I’m glad I quit. Still. Anyway. Yes, Sevan was a badass long before I was.”
He taps the armrests of his chair like they’re drums. “I was also the reason you got your first tattoo.”
“I forgot about that. The little tree on the back of my leg.”
“You were so fucking nervous,” Sevan says. “God, I could tell these guys so many secrets about you.”
“Did… did you two date?” Weston asks.
“Oh. Sevan is my cousin,” I tell him. “He was like a brother to me, growing up.”
Weston initially looks relieved, then his expression shifts.
I see the same emotion in him that I saw the first night I got to Onyx House.
He’s regretful, almost.
It all hits me at once. Weston’s still deeply sad about the fact that we were robbed of having our own childhood together. I just told him that Sevan is like my brother, but Weston and Hunter are my actual brothers, even though we never even got to meet.
And it probably hurts even worse due to whatever issues Sev and Weston have with each other.
“Sounds like you guys have had a lot of fun together,” Wes says.
“We were devious,” Sevan says. “I have the scars to prove it. Literally.”
“Well, you need to curb that devious energy right now,” Weston says in a warning tone. “We’re volunteering to set up for the winter formal, and if you start any shit, Sev, I will have you thrown out.”
Sevan glares at Wes.
“You still act like the fucking sheriff of Crimson College, don’t you?”
Wes stares right back at him. “When people fuck up good things around me, yes, I do.”
It’s like watching a Golden Retriever bark at a mountain lion. If Sev could, he’d definitely be trying to sock Weston in the jaw right now.
“Guys, come on,” Ollie interjects. “Let’s just work, okay? Untangle some lights.”
Ollie hands Sev a string of twinkle lights.
Sev finally rips his gaze away from Weston and grabs the lights. “Perfect. I can’t do any real physical labor, but I can untangle strings. Easy work.”
Oliver’s already walking off again, as unapproachable as he’s been all week.
I watch his ass as he walks away, and I get a pang in my heart seeing him leave.
I fuck you.
Then dream about fucking you.
Then you avoid me like the plague.
When I head to his side, he’s staring down at his phone, frowning. I step next to him and glance at the screen. He quickly moves it away like he doesn’t want me to see what he’s doing.
“What was that?” I ask him.
“Nothing. I’m going to go help with hanging the lanterns.”
I grab his arm as he starts walking away and I pull him back, keeping my grip on his wrist.
“Talk to me. You’ve been doing this all week.”
“Nothing to talk about.”
He’s still holding his phone in the other hand and in a quick movement, I reach and snatch it out of his hand.
He lunges to grab it from me, but I’m faster.
I turn and look down at the screen, and my chest tightens.
I see Callum’s fucking username on the screen.
It’s private messages between him and Oliver on Insta, and my spine goes cold reading even one of the messages.
CallumXvX: It would be so easy. Snap ur fucking neck if I see u in another pic with him.
OliverAshford: You’re a sick freak, and you need to leave him alone.
CallumXvX: U don’t even know who ur talking to, pretty boy.
Oliver wrenches his phone from my hand.
My blood is like fire when I look at him.
“This is what you’ve been keeping from me? Is this why you refuse to be around me?”
Oliver runs his fingers through his hair, pulling in a deep breath. “I don’t want to be around you because there’s no reason for it. What are we going to do? Talk about our future plans in an arrangement that ends in January?”
I realize I’m still grasping Oliver’s wrist, tighter now after reading Callum’s texts, like I’m worried something’s going to happen to Oliver right now.
I loosen my grip and move to lace my fingers through his again, holding his hand.
He lets me hold it, presumably because he wants the other guys to see. Weston and Sevan are both still untangling string lights, but facing away from each other, like they refuse to even look in each other’s direction.
“How long has Callum been threatening you?”
Oliver bites his lower lip. “I fucked up a few weeks ago and replied to one of his comments on your post. Ever since then, he’s been a little… insane.”
“Weeks ago? What did you say to him?”
Oliver finally meets my eyes, and I see regret settling on his face. “I told him to leave you the fuck alone. I deleted the comment quickly, but he saw it. Clearly.”
“Jesus Christ, Oliver. You should have told me. I have to do something about this.”
“I don’t want you to do anything differently,” he protests, a flash of worry crossing his eyes.
“Is that what you’re worried about? I’m not going to bail out on the fake relationship, Ollie. But Callum is a fire I should have put out a long time ago.”
“I don’t want you to interact with him,” Oliver says suddenly, gripping my hand hard.
Everything clicks into place slowly, right in front of my eyes.
“Are you worried about me?” I ask.
“Worried you’re going to get involved with that fucking psycho again—”
“You’re worried about me,” I repeat, the idea dawning on me like it’s a completely novel concept. “Ollie.”
I lean in and kiss him, purely on instinct.
There’s no hesitation or hostility in his kiss. He relaxes against me, finally, for the first time all week, and as I kiss him I feel him exhale.
“Can’t have you dead if I want you to be my date for the parties,” he says softly as I pull back, looking him in the eye.
“Callum can’t do a fucking thing to me. But if he lays a finger on you, I will kill him. Without a second thought.”
Already, I know what I need to do.
Oliver isn’t going to like it, and that’s why I’m not going to tell him I’m doing it.
But this needs to end.
“Block Callum on every app,” I tell Oliver. “If he makes other accounts, block him on those, too. His mind will fixate on someone else eventually.”
I’ll make sure of that.
He pulls in a slow breath, looking up at the ceiling, then back at me. “I’ve been looking forward to this formal all year. I just want to have fun tomorrow.”
I slide my hands around his waist. “You’ll get to have fun.”
No one is going to ruin this event for Oliver.