Page 47

SO THERE ARE DETAILS?

MILA

“What did you do to my brother?” Patience narrows her eyes.

I set my phone against the counter so I can fix my ponytail. “Nothing. What are you talking about?”

Patience, Violet, and Teal decided tonight was the best time for a video call, and luckily, Alex isn’t back in his room yet. So I hurried, got dressed, and tried to make myself look not freshly fucked before answering.

“He texted me just now.” Patience’s eyebrow hitches. “ Unprompted . He wanted to know how I’m doing.”

At least if he’s texting his sister, it means whatever he went to do for Declan must be going well.

“Is he not allowed to text you? He’s your brother, Patience. He cares.”

“Exactly. He’s my brother. I know him, and he never asks me how I’m doing unless I ask him first. He’s shit at showing his feelings, and he’s never this happy. Something’s up.”

“Not to mention…” Teal pulls her phone closer to her fa ce, and the light shines on her multicolored hair. There’s more blonde in it since she’s been in Paris and hasn’t been messing with the ends. “Whose bathroom are you in right now, Mila? It looks a lot like the one Declan has at Sigma House.”

“Kole’s has that same tile pattern in the shower,” Violet points out from where she’s sitting next to Patience for our video call.

I look over my shoulder. I wasn’t thinking when I decided to take the call in here. Or maybe, deep down, I didn’t care. It’s not like I plan on hiding what Alex and I are doing when they get back in a couple of weeks.

Maybe it’s better they find out now. Besides, no one looks surprised by how they are smirking.

“Alex and I started a thing.”

“A thing?” Teal smirks.

“We’re figuring it out. Messing around?—”

“Gross. That’s my brother, and I swear if you go into any more detail, I’ll stay even longer in LA.” Patience covers her ears and shakes her head, while Violet, Teal, and I laugh.

“No details. Promise,” I say, and she unburies herself. “But back up a second. What do you mean ‘ even longer’ ? You’re not coming back?”

“I never said that.” Patience straightens up, smoothing her fingers down her shirt like she does when she’s feeling guilty about something. “I’m staying in LA a few extra weeks until the apartment rental runs out because I’m helping Professor Gray with a project.”

“The professor needs your help with something, huh?” I rest my elbows on the counter, grinning.

“He needs help with a project.” Patience frowns. “That’s it. ”

“Should we ask Violet if you’re full of shit?” Teal smirks.

Violet opens her mouth to say something but stops when Patience knocks her in the arm. There’s definitely more to that story, but we’ll have to wait to get it out of Violet when Patience isn’t around.

I’m just happy to see Patience and Violet getting along. Maybe spending time with Violet and Kole has helped Patience’s view of Sigma House. It would make things easier when she finally does get home. Especially considering her brother seems to have no intention of leaving the fraternity.

“You’re going to give us all the details eventually,” I say to Patience, who immediately wipes any emotion off her face.

“No, I’m not.”

“So there are details?”

“Wait—” Her mouth opens. “I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“I hate you.” She glares at me.

“You two can’t hate each other. You’re basically sisters now,” Teal says as an arm, presumably Declan’s, wraps around her shoulders. “Mila Lancaster has a certain ring to it.”

“No one said anything about marriage.”

Although Alex did, and I brushed him off because we’ve just started dating. Not that I hate the idea, either, the longer I sit with it.

I’m so fucked.

“She’s thought about it.” Teal grins.

“I have not.”

“You have,” Violet agrees.

Patience doesn’t say anything, but her smile has faded into something that holds a bit more worry than anything. She knows Alex like I know him. He’s unpredictable. And even if I know he’d never hurt me, I don’t know what a relationship with him looks like in the long run.

“Alex and I are dating, not getting married.”

“So there is a label?” Patience is the one to ask the question.

“Yes, there’s a label. As of this morning, he’s my boyfriend, and well… I think I love him.”

I know I love him, but saying it out loud still makes me feel vulnerable.

“I’m happy for you, Mila.” Violet’s eyes soften.

“Me too.” Teal smiles. “And I called it. Remember when I called it?”

“I remember.” I roll my eyes.

The girls get quiet, and my focus moves to Patience.

“I’m happy for you guys,” Patience says finally. “There’s no one I’d rather be with my brother. I mean that.”

“Thank you, Patience.”

I can imagine how hard it is for her to say that, especially with all I’ve learned this summer about her family. And since her parents seem to hate me, it means something to have Patience’s blessing, whether I need it or not.

Declan pops into the frame enough for me to see him whisper something in Teal’s ear, and her cheeks turn bright red.

“I should go.” Her voice squeaks at the end.

“Please do.” I laugh. “I really don’t need to see whatever he just said to you.”

“Bye, Teal.” Violet smiles.

“And bye, Declan,” I add.

He leans in enough to wave before he ends the call .

“And I thought you and Kole were bad.”

“They are.” Patience grimaces.

“Oh, come on, we try to keep it quiet when you’re in the apartment,” Violet argues. “And you’re barely here, so how would you know?”

“I know enough—too much—about my friends’ sex lives.”

“Speaking of…” The door behind them opens, and Kole strides in, wearing his signature black hoodie and jeans.

On anyone else, it would be understated, but on him, it’s a downright threat.

Violet glances over her shoulder, and when she turns to face the camera again, she’s blushing.

“I’ve got to get back to campus anyway.” Patience crosses her arms over her chest.

“I don’t blame you. I’ve got to go anyway.”

Violet rolls her eyes. “Fine, but I’ll see you soon.”

“I can’t wait.” My attention moves to Patience. “And I’ll see you soon, just not as soon. Have fun with Violet away. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Patience glances away to hide her reaction.

Something is definitely going on with her.

With a final goodbye, we end the call, and then it’s just me in the silence of Alex’s too-large bathroom. It’s half the size of my bedroom at the dorm, and the floor is heated. It’s over the top and absolutely ridiculous, but I love it.

Walking over to the bag I brought when I arrived earlier, I find the hoodie that matches my sweats and pull it over my T-shirt. It’s been so long since I’ve let myself be comfortable in clothes that I barely recognize myself when I glance in the mirror.

Tucking my hands into the pocket at the front, I settle into the warmth. Into my bare thigh rubbing the fabric, when I’m used to wearing a knife.

I don’t need it here with Alex.

I’m safe for the first time in my life.

Scanning the counter, I lift the soap dish and breathe it in. It smells like oranges. Like Alex. My chest tightens, and even if he’s only been gone an hour, I miss him.

I set it back down and decide to distract myself by finding the kitchen. I could use water or a snack, and since there’s no party at Sigma House tonight, I don’t feel the need to hide.

I slip out of Alex’s room, and the hallway is quiet. But that’s not unusual for upstairs. When I reach the bottom, a few members linger around. They only give me a glance before looking away.

The same guys who used to flirt with me the second I walked through the door now avoid me. Either Alex said something, or they’ve seen us together enough to know better than to try anything.

I find my way to the kitchen, which is empty because all anyone cares about at this time of night is booze and coke, and they’ve got plenty of both in the back den.

Opening the fridge, I fish out the water jug and fill my glass. Condensation drips down the front of my sweatshirt as I take a large sip. I didn’t realize how hot or thirsty I was until I started drinking.

The cool chill of the water burns my throat, but I finish it. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand, I take a deep breath, and it feels like the first one I’ve taken in years.

Things finally make sense.

I came here for answers, and I have them. I accept them.

The man who killed Remi is dead .

I can move on.

A sound comes from a door at the opposite end of the kitchen, so I set my glass in the sink and slowly walk over to it. Someone is tapping on the other side, and it reminds me of that first comment I made at Montgomery that got Alex’s attention.

The back of my neck prickles when I reach the door, and instinctively, my hand moves to my thigh, but my knife isn’t there.

It’s okay , I tell myself. It’s Sigma House. Alex is here.

Somewhere .

My hand pauses on the handle. Maybe I should leave well enough alone. The fraternity is a labyrinth of rooms, and I’m not welcome wherever I please. But something about the sound coming from the other side draws me in.

I swing the door open and am met with a staircase that circles downward. There are no voices below, but curiosity gets the better of me as I start to make my way down it.

The stone steps are cold against my bare feet. And when I reach the bottom, I’m met with another door. I try the handle, but it’s locked.

Just as I’m about to turn and head upstairs, the hinges creak with the door opening.