Zak
ZAK
Humming to myself, I jog down the stairs. As much as I would have loved to have stayed in bed another day with Jaime, she needs to speak to her parents, and I need to go to class. I already texted one of the brothers who took the class I missed yesterday and got his notes, but I can’t afford to fall behind. Even if economics isn’t what I want to do with my life.
A fucking lacrosse coach.
It might not even be an option, but it’s something I honestly hadn’t thought of and . . . I don’t hate it. The more I think about it, the more I can see myself helping kids develop their skill, cheering them on. I’m not sure whether I’d want to work at college level or younger, but it’s definitely something I’m going to speak to Coach Pearson about after class today.
I’m so lost in my own thoughts, I don’t see Alex standing by the kitchen, his arms folded, until I almost smack right into him.
“Hey!” I say, stepping back with a grin. “What’s up, man?”
Alex’s blue eyes sear into me, his jaw locked. He looks pissed at me. Fuck. What have I done?
“I saw Trey this morning,” he says. “Said there was a lot of noise coming from your room last night.”
My mouth falls open, my skin heating a little as I shrug. “I got laid. And? Let’s not pretend that whoever shares a wall with you doesn’t have to invest in earplugs. Speaking of which, you should buy shares.”
Alex’s expression doesn’t shift, and I jostle my book bag on my shoulder.
“Who was it?” he asks, although I can tell he already knows the answer.
When I walked Jaime out this morning, we didn’t run into anyone, but that doesn’t mean shit. There are eyes everywhere with very few secrets amongst Wolves.
“You know who,” I say, my own mood shifting. “What’s the problem, Alex?”
He glances around, making sure we’re alone, but still lowers his voice as he steps closer. “The problem is, , she’s fucking using you.”
My back stiffens, every muscle in my jaw clenching, as I stare down at him. “What?”
“You’re so blinded, you can’t see it,” he continues, reaching up to put a hand on my shoulder.
I step out of reach and shake my head. “You haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.”
“Think about it,” he says. “She dodged you for years, stringing you along. And now she only comes to you when she needs something. She called you the other night because she was upset, didn’t she? Why did she come to you yesterday? Where is she now?”
My jaw works, my fist tightening around the strap of my bag as I stare at my best friend. “Shut your mouth, Rainer.”
Alex’s face falls. “I’m just worried about you. She runs to you and then pushes you away after she gets what she wants. Is she coming back later? Are you two an item now? Because if you are, I’ll be the first to congratulate you.”
He pauses and I know he’s waiting for me to tell him that we are. That we’re together and everything he just said is complete bullshit. But it’s not. We’re not together. I don’t even know when I’ll see her next.
“Fuck you, man.”
Alex opens his mouth to speak, but I have no desire to hear whatever shit he’s about to spew, so I barge past him and head to the front door.
Jaime’s speaking to her parents today to try to figure out a way to get her internship back. What we didn’t talk about was what that meant for Louis. I kind of assumed after the last twenty-four hours, that she was going to join me in trying to find a way to extract herself from this fucking marriage. Now, I’m not so sure.
If he agrees to let her follow her career, will she still go ahead with it? What does she see for us? Is she just going to ditch me after graduation? Or am I supposed to tag along and be her bit on the side—her dirty little secret while Billionaire Ken is out of town.
The thought knocks me sick, and I suck in deep breaths as I jog down the path toward the common. Even after what we shared last night, and once this morning, it was never on the cards to discuss what we have. I’d kissed Jaime and sent her off toward the Hive with a smile on my face, like a fucking idiot. Scowling at the common in the distance, I kick at the pebbles and decaying leaves, my mood now completely soured.
A ringing in my pocket has my heart skipping, and I fish out my phone hoping it’s Jaime and not Alex trying to apologize for being an epic dick. But it’s neither.
“Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“You okay, ky baby? You sound blue?”
I huff a laugh. “How could you possibly tell that from four words, Mom?”
“I’m your mother. I know things. And don’t try to change the subject. What is it?”
Tilting my head back, I squint at the sky. It’s bright blue with not a cloud in sight, although the air is still very much crisp with winter. “Girl problems, Mom. Don’t worry about it.”
Silence falls between us and I can practically hear all the things she wants to say to me. She doesn’t push it, though.
“Did you just call to check up on me?” I ask, when the silence continues. “Was it just your mom spidey senses tingling?”
She laughs softly. “No. I was actually calling to ask if you’d be my date to the Spring Mingle. I got another invite.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Is that normal?”
“I’m not sure,” she admits. “A few people mentioned it wasn’t their first Mingle, but with two in a row, I can’t help but feel it might be positive.”
“It’s more than positive,” I scoff. “Mason Smith is practically giving you a deal.”
She lets out a long breath. “I really hope so. You’ll come, right?”
My stomach twists. Can I do that again? Be in the same room as her and Billionaire fucking Ken? Can I smile and chat with her parents, knowing they’re strong-arming her into giving up everything she wants to farm out heirs?
“?”
I sigh. “When is it?”
“March first.”
“Lacrosse season,” I mutter. “I’d have to check with Coach, because it would mean taking the whole weekend.”
“It’s a Friday, if that helps? You could be back Saturday morning?”
And play like shit. “Sure, Mom. Let me look into it.”
“Okay. Love you. Bye!”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
Slipping my phone back in my pocket, I come to a stop at the bottom of the steps to Emmett Franklin Hall where my class is. As much as the thought of seeing Louis again turns my stomach, I have no idea what things will be like then. It’s barely seven weeks away. Will Jaime still be engaged to him by then? What if she’s not? What if she chooses me? I can’t imagine Mason Smith would be very fucking happy about it. Shit. What if he refuses to do business with Mom because of it?
There’s so many ‘ifs’, they make my head spin. And none of them are things I can change. The ball is forever in Jaime Smith’s court, hers to pass back to me when she feels the need. Alex’s concerned face flashes in my mind and I swallow at the harsh truth of his words.
I don’t think Jaime is knowingly using me. She’s not that kind of person. I know she’s not. But I have to admit it does feel like she is. Sucking in a breath, I start up the steps. It doesn’t matter what I think. It only matters what happens. And that’s up to Jaime.
If she calls me, comes to the Den, whatever, then maybe we can navigate our way through this minefield together. If she chooses him—if she hides from what we have between us again . . . I honestly don’t know what I’ll do.
I told her I’d catch her, but what can I do if she won’t jump? How long do I stand here with my arms open, hoping she’ll choose me? Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I push open the door to the lecture hall and slump into a seat at the back. I guess I’ll just have to wait and find out how long it takes until I break.