Page 52 of Caged

“Don’t worry,” one of the women chuckles. “We all are.”

“I’m Kasey,” she offers. I study her long, blonde hair that flows in waves around her shoulders. Even with her face partially obstructed, it’s obvious she’s stunning.

“Yes, of course, Kasey!” I say, repeating her name more for my benefit than hers. Even more embarrassing is the realization that Kasey is my Grand-Little and part of my sorority lineage. I really need to do better.

“This is Morgan and Lilly,” Kasey says, referencing the two other women. They each give me a cute wave.

“We were so obsessed with you during rush by the way,” Morgan gushes. “Everyone was. You just seemed so cool and confident.”

“It’s true. You’re the reason why I wanted to join DG. That, and you’re freakishly beautiful,” Kasey adds.

I huff a laugh. “I’m not. You should see my best friend Gabi. She’s abroad this semester, but she’s the textbook definition of beautiful.”

“No, Monroe, you are like so hot,” Lilly says. “Morgan and I were both there the day during rush that Kieren brought you those roses.”

“Oh my God,” Kasey exclaims. “It was all anyone would talk about!”

“Is he your boyfriend?” Morgan asks. “Is that why you wear a different mask from the rest of us? Because you’re his?”

Despite Kieren shoving me into this room mere minutes ago, I can’t stop myself from grinning with pride when I tell her, “Yes.”

“He’s gorgeous,” Kasey fawns. “Does he share you?”

I cock my head in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Like, at these things. Does he share you with other guys?”

“Umm, no,” I respond. An uncomfortable feeling twists in my gut. “Do your guys…share you?”

“Yeah, but I mean, thank God, because I don’t really like the guy who nominated me that much. Actually, last time I ignored him entirely,” Kasey says.

The other two girls giggle. “Yeah, you did!” Morgan jeers. “You went off with Barrett and Trevor and poor Wesley was so fucking pissed!” Morgan and Kasey laugh uncontrollably, and I find it within me to laugh along despite my unease.

“And are you… cool with that?” I ask cautiously. “The sharing? Or, the group stuff, rather?”

“God, I love it,” Lilly breathes. “I love it all. I love the attention. I love how these guys treat you like goddesses.”

“Same. Oh my God, last Ceremony, I fell asleep in Barrett’s bed, and when I woke up the next morning, he was going down on me! He got me off twice and then took me to get pancakes!” Kasey squeals.

I try to make my conspiratorial laugh sound genuine. “So, you like it then?”

“Obviously we can’t talk about it because it’s like a secret society and all that,” Morgan begins in a matter-of-fact tone, “but let’s just say people kind of know about it thanks to you know who and everyone is so envious.”

“Everyone wants to be a Sigma Little Sister,” Lilly agrees. “Not only are you like royalty around campus, but you also get to have the most unreal sex, like guaranteed unreal sex, every weekend, and not even have to work for it, or feel, you know, like you’re a slut.”

“And the guys are so hot,” Morgan concurs.

“Barrett is so hot,” Kasey smiles.

I try to focus on their banter but all I can hear are the words‘so hot’.

“You have a crush,” Morgan says in a sing-song voice, giving Kasey a playful nudge.

“Wait, what do you mean ‘you know who’?” I ask, circling back to the snippet of conversation stuck in my brain.

Morgan shakes her head. “I shouldn’t say anything. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

I let the thread drop, deciding the less I know, the better. I don’t want these women to think I’m here as a spy.