Page 7 of Palm South University: Season 3

“Humor me. Just ask her.”

Ashlei opens her mouth, likely to shut me down again, but then I spot Erin behind her as she zooms by, clipboard in hand.

“Better yet, I’ll ask. Excuse me.”

I slide past Ashlei before she has the chance to stop me and fall in step with Erin.

“Hey, Dictator Xander.”

Erin’s face screws up in confusion as she whips around to face me. When she realizes who it is, she pauses, but only for a second. If I would have blinked, I’d have missed it.

“I don’t have time to talk, Bear.”

“I see that,” I muse, walking with her as she continues barking orders at every girl we pass. “How was your summer?”

“I just said I don’t have time to talk.”

“Come on, just five minutes.”

She huffs, propping her clipboard on her hip and coming to a halt. “My summer was fine. Recruitment has been busy, but fantastic. We’re going to have the best pledge class this campus has ever seen. I’m all signed up for classes, my immune system is being pushed to its limits but I’m overdosing on vitamin C, and yes, I cut my hair. I think that just about covers it, right?”

Erin starts walking again and I chuckle, jogging to catch up with her. “My summer was great, too. Thanks for asking.”

“Can we do this another time?” she asks, distracted by the long list on her clipboard. She turns to head for the chapter room but I reach for her, gently catching her elbow.

But gentle or not, the touch triggers Erin in the absolute worst way.

She jerks back, eyes wide and fists clenching together as she drops her board. It clatters to the floor and I hold my hands up, palms open, and take three steps back.

Erin watches me, swallowing hard, and the fear in her eyes is like a nail gun to my chest.

“Sorry,” I say softly, bending to retrieve her clipboard.

She takes it with shaky hands, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine.”

I give her a pointed look. We both know she’s not fine, but she’s clearly not ready to talk about what happened last semester, so I opt for distraction, instead.

“You should come to the O Chi house tonight, let loose a little.”

This time it’s her who deadpans. “It’s the night before Bid Day, Bear. I’m not going to a fucking party.”

“Come on, you know half your sisters are going to sneak out and be there, too. You guys need a break. The hard part is over.”

“I’m not going,” she says, her answer final. “And five minutes is up. I’ll see you around.”

With that, she slips right back into her role as Recruitment Chair, and further from the girl I was afraid she’d never be again.