Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Mixer - Wyatt
“So where’s your girl?” Chase asks, pausing to take a sip of his beer. “Why isn’t she out with you? And more importantly, why isn’t she bringing her hot friends here to hang out with us? Or hot artistic swimmers?”
“I wasn’t aware Grace was a dating service for your sorry ass,” I say, leaning back in the booth. We put in the minimal amount of time at our fraternity mixer tonight before bouncing to go to Milo’s. Grace is over at Phi Sigma for their mixer, and whenever I think about it, I get annoyed.
Not because she’s at a mixer with her friends. But because Asher Ryan is her football buddy and I have a feeling he’s going to be all over her tonight. The football team has a bye this week, so for once he’ll be there.
And paired with Grace.
I pick at the old cardboard coaster underneath my glass of water. I trust Grace. We messaged each other a few times today, the last time after hockey practice. We have a date planned for tomorrow night.
She was a little reserved today—I had to pull out of her what happened at her Cove Style meeting, which was super weird. I think more on the last message Grace sent. She was ... flat. That’s the best way to describe it. She just said she had to go and would talk to me later.
I swallow. I’m a confident guy. I know she has feelings for me, and I’m secure in that. But there’s a small part of me, which I fucking hate, that worries about Asher because he wants her. Asher is the quarterback of the football team, an academic All-American, and genuinely nice guy.
Except for his bullshit in trying to get Grace for himself, I think.
Then another small part of me I hate even worse comes to the surface.
What if Ryan is everything she deserves, and she sees that?
I’ve never had a girlfriend. I have this weird-ass shit with my dad and my passive mom who is checked out.
When will Grace realize she has the better option right at the snap of her fingers?
What if her off vibe with me this afternoon is the beginning of a change in her feelings about me?
“Fuck,” I suddenly curse, hating myself for allowing these insecurities to creep in.
“Care to share your thoughts with the class?” Nolan quips, taking a sip of his beer.
“I can answer this,” Austin says, grinning. “Grace is at Phi Sigma tonight with her sorority. And Asher Ryan is her football buddy.”
Dickhead.
“Ah. So you think Ryan will put the moves on Grace?” Chase asks.
I don’t say anything, which says everything.
“Bro, don’t worry about it. Sebastian will take care of her,” Austin declares.
“Speaking of Sebastian, I’m surprised he’s still there,” Nolan says.
“Don’t be stupid, he’s still there because Ryan must still be there,” Austin says.
I clench my jaw.
“Incoming,” Austin says, shifting his attention over Chase’s shoulder.
I follow his gaze. Two hot girls are making their way to our table. One is blonde, the other brunette, both with long hair and tanned skin, and dressed in tank tops and short shorts.
“Oh, I’d hit either one,” Austin murmurs.
“I bet you would.” I snort.
“Fuck off, Jacobs. Before Grace, you’d be trying to hit the blonde one.”
Before Grace. That seems like a stupid, weird time in my life, being without her.
I don’t want to go back to it.
“Hey,” the blonde says, standing at the edge of our booth. She levels her gaze straight at me. “You play on the OCU hockey team, don’t you? Wyatt Jacobs?”
I smile. She’s standing in front of three OCU hockey players, but she’s zeroed in on me. Sebastian always says it’s because I have the kind of hair that chicks like. Whatever.
“Yeah.”
“I’m Mia,” she says, extending her hand to me.
“Wyatt.”
Introductions are made around the table. Her friend’s name is Sasha. We yell at each other over the sound of the music and bar chatter, and Mia tries flirting with me. About two seconds in, I flip over my phone. “Excuse me,” I say, sliding out of the booth.
“Are you coming back?” she asks, putting her hand on my bicep.
I smile at her and remove my arm from her grip. “Yes. But just to be clear, I have a girlfriend.”
She laughs. “So? Where is she? If she’s not here, it’s not a problem.”
“No, she’s not here, and it definitely is a problem because I’m not an asshole. So if I come back—and I’m just being upfront—it’s not for you. It’s just to hang out with my friends.”
A flush colors her cheeks. “Got it.”
I nod and head over to the bar, leaning against it and watching some Friday night college football game that’s on. I glance down at my phone and see Sebastian has messaged me.
SEBBY: Dude. Asher is glued to her. And your girl looks sad.
My stomach clenches. Is Asher pulling some Rob kind of shit on Grace? I didn’t get that vibe from him, but I never thought he’d be the kind of guy to put the moves on another guy’s girl, either.
SEBBY: They’re still at the table talking, so that’s good.
I mean, what guy is going to make a move in a frat dining hall?
We’re all too sober anyway. But Grace isn’t acting like herself.
BTW, you owe me because now I’m stuck in this dining hall watching them like a stalker instead of trying to hook up with a Phi Mu Phi.
Also, her friend McCall is hot. Actually, a lot of her friends are.
Sofia is. But I’m with Madelyn, and OMG, she won’t stop talking. My head hurts.
Don’t panic, I tell myself as I zero in on the first part of Sebastian’s message. Just because Grace is upset doesn’t mean she’s thinking about anything to do with you. With us.
Or regretting what she’s gotten herself into when she agreed to be my girlfriend.
Another thought hits me. I reply:
Does she look upset because of Asher? Is he bothering her?
It seems like forever before Sebastian replies.
SEBBY: No. They look comfortable with each other. Ryan has his arm across the back of her chair and—
Oh fuck him, I think furiously, thrusting my phone into my pocket and not even reading the rest of Sebastian’s message. I’m so pissed. It’s one thing to talk to Grace, but putting physical moves on her?
No. Fucking. Way.
I go back over to the table, where Mia is now sitting next to Austin and Sasha is next to Chase. “Hey. I’ve got to go over to Phi Sigma,” I announce. “See you guys later.”
“Everything okay?” Chase asks, lifting a brow.
“It will be.”
I feel Nolan watching me intently. Out of all my friends, he’s the most perceptive when it comes to reading people and feelings. “I’m coming with you,” he says.
I don’t fight him on it. Sasha and Chase slide out of the booth, letting Nolan out. We make our way through the packed bar. “Wyatt. What’s going on?” he asks as soon as we’re outside.
“Asher Ryan is putting the moves on Grace over at Phi Sigma.”
“So what are you going to do? Burst in there like a jealous idiot?”
I ignore his comment, which is one hundred percent accurate, and try to calm down.
“First, I’m going to make sure Grace is okay.
I’m going to ask her if she wants to leave, and if she does, I’m going to take her home with me.
If she wants to stay with her friends? Fine.
But then I’m going to make it crystal clear to that dickhead quarterback that I’m not okay with him making moves on Grace.
Or making her feel uncomfortable. She has been through enough shit with asshole guys, and I refuse to let anyone else make her feel awkward. ”
We reach my car on the street. I’m about to open the door when I feel Nolan staring at me from the passenger side of the car. “You’re falling in love with her,” he says.
“What? I’m still getting to know her,” I retort.
Nolan grins. “Dude, you’ve been with her for almost a month now! I’m seeing a whole new side of you since Grace. Who knew a romantic existed under your hookup-loving heart.”
“Shut up and get in.”
I start the engine and we make our way back to Greek Row.
Mixers have now become parties, and music and laughter is heard up and down the street.
Groups of students are walking on sidewalks, and there’s not a parking space to be found.
It’s taking far too long, and my anxiety about Grace intensifies.
Finally, I find a parking spot a few blocks over from Phi Sigma, and we get out.
I storm down the sidewalk, with Nolan keeping up with me.
We finally reach the sprawling mansion that’s home to Phi Sigma.
Music is blaring, everyone is dancing in the backyard, and a DJ is spinning club music.
One of their brothers is at the door, checking wristbands for the party as people walk up, and he recognizes me. “Hey, hockey team,” he says.
“Yeah, I don’t have a wristband, but Sebastian can vouch for both of us,” I say. “And I’m not staying, just coming in to get something that’s mine.”
“Cool,” the guy says, letting us in.
There are people around, but most are outside dancing and partying.
I feel my sneakers stick to the beer-splattered floor as I make my way to the dining hall.
There’s a round of cup pong going on at one table, and I see Sebastian standing with his arms crossed, with Maddie next to him.
But then I stop dead in my tracks. My chest is painful, and my stomach feels like it’s frozen.
Just like Sebastian said, Asher is in here with Grace.
But he’s not sitting next to her, with his arm draped across her chair. They’re standing now.
And Asher Ryan has Grace in his arms.