Page 93 of Palm South University: Season 2
“AND THAT’S WHY I’M PROUDto announce that the newest president of Alpha Sigma by an overwhelming vote is Adam Brooks.”
The chapter room erupts in cheers, Jeremy going especially wild and hooting loudly over everyone as I stand and make my way to the front of the room. It feels like I’m walking in slow motion, trying to take it all in and feeling like it’s impossible to do.
Ever since I rushed Alpha Sigma, I’ve been busting my ass to make us a top fraternity on campus again. We once were, especially in the 90s, but we fell off along the way. It hasn’t been easy and the job is far from done, but now, I’ll have more resources to make the difference I want to make. I finally let myself smile, wishing my grandfather could be here to see me. I’m doing it. I’m making something of my organization, of myself.
Clay forces a smile as he shakes my hand. I know he hates this, passing the crown to me, but in a way I think he saw it coming. He had to. He’s graduating in just a few short weeks, so it really shouldn’t bother him, but it does. I grin smugly, pulling him in to clap him on the back as the cheers continue. I hold him there a moment, squeezing his hand tighter than necessary.
“If you ever so much as fucking look at Cassie McBee again, you’ll need reconstructive surgery to get back that fake ass smile of yours. Understand?”
Clay is normally cocky, but I catch the swallow he forces down as he pulls away. He doesn’t meet my eyes, just motions toward me with both hands and a smile facing our brothers, making the room go crazy once more. Something tells me I won’t have to warn him twice.
After a short speech and photo of me along with the new executive board, my brothers disperse, slipping back into finals mode as we all prepare for the end of the semester. I should feel elated, I should want to go get celebratory drinks, I should be making calls—but there’s only one person I want to talk to right now. One person Ineedto talk to.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I type out a quick text to Cassie, praying she’ll actually respond. We’ve barely talked since Spring Break. I came back on such a high, which makes no sense because all I had done was complicate whatever relationship we have further. We kissed, it was amazing, but what does that really mean? Apparently, to her—nothing. She was back in Grayson’s arms as soon as we returned. I wondered why she wasn’t returning my calls, but Family Weekend answered that question for me. I may not deserve to know what that night meant to her, but I have to ask anyway.
My phone pings with a text from her saying she’s at the KKB house and to come to the back kitchen door. Steeling myself, I tuck my phone back in my pocket and start the walk down Greek Row, words I want to say scrolling through my mind like movie credits the entire time. But when I knock softly on the back door and she lets me in, her soft red curls pulled in a low ponytail over her shoulder and her legs exposed in a tiny pair of plaid sleep shorts, everything I planned to say leaves me instantly—like a candle flame snuffed out by a lid.
“Congrats,” she says first with a genuine grin before pulling me in for a hug, like she hasn’t been ignoring me for weeks. I’m almost too shocked to hug her back, but slowly, my arms wrap around her and I hold her tight against me, inhaling the tropical scent from her hair. She always smells like paradise.
“News travels fast.”
She giggles, pulling back and crossing her arms over her chest, framing the small bit of cleavage exposed by her tank top. “Come on, how long have you been at PSU? You know better than I do.”
“True story.”
“Well, I wish we could have a shot to celebrate, but, you know, house rules and all.” She points a thumb over her shoulder. “Want a root beer?”
I laugh. “Do youhavea root beer?”
Cassie rolls her eyes as if it’s obvious. “Of course. It’s my favorite drink.”
“Interesting. Well in that case, make it a double.” I like that it’s easy between us right now, especially after the tension during Family Weekend. Still, I’m not just going to slip back into the friend zone. I have to talk to her about what happened.
She chuckles, arms still crossed until she reaches the refrigerator. Pulling out two tall glasses and filling them to the top with the foamy dark liquid, she slides one down the counter to me as she lifts the other to her own lips. The bubbles stick at the corners of her mouth for just a moment before she licks them away.
“I forgot how much I love root beer,” I say, taking a sip myself.
Her eyebrows shoot up and she points at me over her glass. “See? You’re welcome.”
As our smiles settle, I grip the glass a little tighter. “I didn’t come here to celebrate.”
“I figured,” she responds, eyes on her own hands. “Listen, I get it. It was Spring Break, we were both drinking. It’s all good.”
I cock a brow, setting my glass down on the kitchen island. It’s Sunday night and the house is mostly quiet, save for the faint sound of giggling coming from the rooms upstairs.
“It wasn’t a mistake, Cassie. It wasn’t an accident or a drunken decision. Ever since I kissed you at the concert last semester, I’ve wanted to do it again.”
She wants me to apologize for the kiss. She thinks I regret it. I don’t.
“How can you say that?” she asks, green eyes wide. “You were with Skyler.”
“I know, I know.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, not really knowing how to explain what I need to. “It’s not that I didn’t care for her—that I don’tstillcare for her. But I also care about you. And that night on the beach, it was like the biggest moment of clarity for me.”
Cassie drops her glass to the counter and brings her fingernails to her teeth, nibbling, eyes on the tile floor.
“You can’t do this, Adam. I mean, what are you even asking me?” Her voice is shaky when she finally speaks.
“I don’t know.” I sigh, knowing none of this is coming out right. But what do I really expect? I was dating her Big Sister just a few short weeks ago and now, what? I’m going to ask her to be with me? “I guess I’m just saying that I get what you said at the Fratalina Wine Mixer now.” I shrug, lifting my eyes to hers. “You confuse me, too.”