Page 23

23

I ’d never understood the phrase “rage blackout” with such clarity before. Granted, I was sleep deprived, but I couldn’t fathom a worse scenario. With growing panic, I tried everything in my limited repertoire to recover the files, but with no luck.

My chest constricted until I had trouble drawing in a breath, so I leaned back and concentrated on providing my body with air. I still had my portion of the presentation and something like sixteen hours to rebuild what I’d done already. It couldn’t possibly be as much work the second time.

With a groan, I pushed the laptop away and debated if this was a situation I was supposed to bring up with Reece. I’d seen the way he’d tensed when he thought Kane was threatening me. What would he do if he knew Kane had already done his damage?

“Everything okay?” a deep voice asked.

I nearly fell out of the chair, but it was only Mase, looking like he wished he’d stayed quiet. “You really do need a bell.”

“So I’ve been told. I’m only here for a water, so if you’re okay…” He trailed off and glanced hopefully at the refrigerator.

Say the word. Mase had offered to move all my stuff in an hour. Maybe I could ask for hypothetical help without getting Reece involved.

“How much do you know about computers?”

He frowned and speared a hand through his hair. “Enough. Why?”

“I seem to have lost a couple of files I need. I’m hoping you know more than me.”

Mase sighed and pulled a chair up next to me, turning the laptop to face him. “What are the file names?”

I rattled off the names I’d been using and prayed.

“These are the ones you’ve been working on?” he asked gruffly.

“Yes. I really don’t want to have to redo all the work.” My fingers clasped together in my lap as his flew over the keyboard. I couldn’t follow what he was doing, but he clearly knew exactly how to fix my problem with no hesitation.

He paused and tilted his head. “When did you go for a walk?”

“What?”

“Earlier. You said you went for a walk while they were fucking around in your room. What time?”

I frowned, unsure why he wanted to know, but if he needed the information to get my files back, I’d do my best. “Around two. I wanted a coffee.”

A growl rumbled in the back of Mase’s throat, and my eyes widened. Seconds later, he spun my laptop back to face me.

“Everything is back where it belongs, and you didn’t lose those files. Kane deleted them.” He slanted a pissed off glance in my direction then shook his head. “You already knew.”

I opened my mouth to explain, but Mase got up and prowled away from the table. “Don’t bother. I don’t want to hear whatever reasons you have for protecting that asshole.”

Indignation shot me out of my seat. “I’m not protecting him —I’m protecting Reece.”

Mase paused in his beeline for the basement. “Not my business, but you should consider trusting Reece. Including his reactions. I won’t lie to him though, so maybe don’t keep it a secret for too long.”

I sank down as my rebuttal caught in my throat and Mase retreated downstairs without his water. Who was he to question if I trusted Reece? I did trust him. I’d come here, hadn’t I? The relief I felt at the restored files was overshadowed by the sudden horrible doubt flooding my mind.

Secrets sucked, and I didn’t like them—especially now—but I had a good reason. Without proof of any kind, it would be my word against his, and we’d all seen how that match-up played out. Reece wouldn’t care. He’d go after Toby.

As much as I loved the prospect of Toby in pain, I didn’t want Reece punished for it. I should probably wait until I’d calmed down and I was less eager for vengeance so I could convince Reece not to respond.

Tomorrow. I’d tell him tomorrow once I finished the project.

Guilt had me tossing and turning all night thanks to Mase and his big mouth. Boo finally had enough and jumped down with an annoyed meow around dawn. Reece grunted and curled his arm around my waist, securing me against his side.

Somehow he always knew when I was about to climb out of bed. This time I didn’t let him distract me. My presentation was only a few hours away, and I wanted to use the time to go over my notes, maybe practice the talking parts.

Carefully, I slid away from him and tiptoed downstairs. The sun was just starting to come into the kitchen, and I expected to be alone. Instead, Mase sat on the couch playing a hockey game with intense focus.

I yawned and headed for the fridge. “What are you doing up?”

“I like the quiet,” he said pointedly.

Fine. I could take a hint, even without coffee. He could deal with me practicing. I started brewing coffee, and as the rich scent filled the house, Cole then Reece came stumbling down the stairs.

I blew on my coffee, liberally doused with milk and sugar, and raised my brows at them. “I had no idea you were all early risers.”

“We have morning skate in a little bit,” Cole grumbled on his way to the coffee.

Reece bent to kiss my cheek. “Sleeping isn’t the same without you there.”

Warmth spread from my cheek to the rest of my body. “Sorry if I woke you up.”

“No worries. Cole is right. We needed to get up anyway, and it’s nice having the coffee already made. Mase always fucks it up.”

Mase snorted. “I don’t drink coffee. Why would I know how to make it?”

Cole cradled his cup. “It’s one button. How hard could it be?”

“Sounds like you don’t need me to make it then.”

I giggled at Cole’s frown and opened my laptop to check my email before I got started. Most were trash, but at the top was a message from the university. My smile faded as I scanned the email. The bickering guys faded out behind me as my world narrowed to three soulless paragraphs from the Office of Student Conduct.

They’d summoned me for a disciplinary hearing pending an investigation into an incident at the Chi Omega sorority house. If found responsible, I’d be suspended for a minimum of one semester and a maximum of two years. As if that weren’t enough, they were looking into me and my associates.

The email didn’t say where they’d heard about the incident, but it didn’t take much to connect the dots. Amanda might have done it, but after the crap with my laptop, I’d bet on Toby taking the extra steps.

One more semester plus this week. That was all I had left of college. Toby still had his draft prospects, he had the adoration of my family and his, he had a string of women begging to take a ride on his dick. I didn’t understand why he needed to destroy my life when it wouldn’t change things for him at all.

The addition of the clause about my associates worried me the most though. I only spent time with Reece, the guys, and my book club friends. The wording was vague, but since I knew who’d probably filed the complaint, I was concerned Reece specifically had been brought into the mess. Hadn’t we made the deal partly to shove Toby’s face in me choosing his rival over him?

And now it may have backfired spectacularly.

“You okay, wifey?”

I blinked up at Reece, then smiled faintly when his question processed. “Yeah, I’m fine. When do you guys have to go?” In the time I’d been sucked into the email, they’d gotten dressed and grabbed their gear.

“Basically now. I need to be there early for that meeting with Coach, remember?”

“Oh, right.” I definitely didn’t remember, but in my defense, I’d been focused on my own issues the last week.

“Let’s go,” Mase said around a mouthful of banana.

Reece framed my face and gave me a soft kiss. “Good luck at your presentation today. You’re going to kill it.”

I nodded and offered him a wobbly smile. “Thanks.”

The urge to hold onto his wrists and make him stay so I could spill everything clenched hard in my gut. Reece grinned at me and bolted for the door calling shotgun. Cole sprinted after him. On the way out, Mase caught my eyes and raised a brow.

I pressed my lips together at his clear message. Yesterday, I’d been worried Reece might go after Toby and get in trouble for fighting, but the letter today shifted the stakes. Suspension would mean none of us graduated.

If we had to go defend ourselves, Reece absolutely couldn’t be caught beating the crap out of Toby. My mind whirled with plans to protect him from any fallout related to my problems, and the point they all shared involved me creating distance between myself and the people I cared about.

I couldn’t tell Reece what was happening, and I couldn’t move in with him—no matter how much I wanted to.

My chest felt like it cracked in two, and I drew in a shaky breath past the panic and the pain. Reece wouldn’t like me pulling away, especially when I explained why, which meant I needed to wait to tell him. After the presentation for sure, maybe later. He’d understand eventually why I needed to handle this alone.

I had no idea what happened at a disciplinary hearing—so much for my good girl status—but I couldn’t obsess over it now. No matter what else happened, I needed to focus on my presentation in a few hours.

I’d make a final decision once my mind was clear.