Page 37 of Play Dirty (Villalargos University #1)

Chapter Thirty

Shiloh

I spend most of the day texting back and forth with Nico before getting ready to head out to the sorority house.

Tatiana never stopped by today, but I did get a text from her that she will meet me there.

I wonder if she’s still pissed, but truthfully, it doesn’t bother me as much as the words baby doll do replaying in my head.

Spraying my Sol de Janeiro body spray onto the base of my neck, I look myself over one more time before deciding I'm ready. Today, I’m meant to spend the night at the house with the rest of the girls, but I plan on sneaking away.

I shake off the dreadful shame crawling its way inside me. I smooth out my black skirt.

I opted for a simple tennis dress with built in shorts and a criss cross back piece.

Simple and comfortable for tonight's activities, which include a chef cooking our weekly Sunday dinner and watching the movie pick of the week.

The girls decided that it would be Jaw Breaker.

Grabbing the brush, I smooth out the swoop of my bangs to the side, making sure not a single hair is out of place from my low side bun before heading out the door.

I arrive just in time, and the house smells like garlic and seafood. My stomach growls from hunger, and the main area is buzzing with chatter as the girls huddle together. “The hunt was so fun.”

“Right, I think I got the guy I wanted.” I recognize the new girl as the one who made the untasteful comment pertaining to Nico. She wants to play? I’ll show her how it’s done. Walking towards the girls, who look at me as if I’m some goddess straight from Olympus. “And who was that?”

The blonde girl doesn’t answer, but the brunette beside her does. “Player 11, dead girl’s boyfriend.”

I cross my arms in front of my chest, “Really?”

She smiles. “Yes.” The girl’s lie rolls out smoothly from her pink glossed lips. She bites the tip of her nail, making a sultry look, trying to make her claim over a man who, I’m sure, doesn’t even know she exists.

“Mmmm…” I muse, stepping closer, my finger picking a loose curl that frames her face and twirling it.

“I would find it believable if he wasn’t fucking me during the hunt.

” The room falls silent, her smile morphing to a thin line.

“There’s plenty of fish in the sea, little petal, but that one is mine. ”

No one bats an eye or even breathes as I release her curl and turn my attention to Allison, who walks in with bags of snacks for tonight's movie. “Did I miss something?”

“No, I was just telling the girls the importance of ownership and truth.” Allison nods, not really buying into my bullshit, but no one dares to question a crowned one.

I hate how moments like this make me realize that I’m my father’s daughter, but maybe that’s what it will take to destroy him from the inside.

I make my way towards the balcony, needing room to breathe in anything besides the smell of food mingling with expensive perfume. I should feel triumphant, but instead my chest aches. Something's off. The words are still echoing in my head, ‘baby doll.’

The night air is thick with the scent of salt and seafood, and the breeze kisses my skin, doing little to calm the heat crawling beneath my skin. My finger tingles, a phantom feeling of my finger curling around the lock. I should feel powerful. Instead, I feel haunted.

Leaning into the gold porch railing, I press my palms into the cool metal and tilt my head towards the sky, pretending to count stars. Trying to distract myself, feigning that I’m not unraveling.

“Shi?”

I blink and turn. Tatiana steps from under the porch light, dressed in a baby blue halter dress, curls up in a messy bun, and gold accessories highlight her olive skin. She holds a red cup in her hand; her eyes seem darker tonight, wide and worried.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She just shrugs and steps forward. “I was hoping to see you alone.”

“Is that so?” I raise a brow, “You still mad at me?”

“No,” her voice is low, she brings the cup to her lips taking a sip before adding. “I’m just scared.”

That gets my attention, shifting fully towards her.

“Scared? Of what?”

My stomach knots, watching as she hesitates to tell me. Her pouty lips tremble for a second before they go still. She lifts her gaze, and something about her face makes my stomach twist.

“I think Nico has June’s phone,” she says, leaving me shocked.

Why would he have her phone? The cops should. The question begins shuffling inside my head, but all I do is look at her like she just dropped a bomb. The words take a moment to digest, and still, all I can ask is: “What?”

“I saw it,” she fidgets with her cup. “I recognized the case immediately, but he put it away quickly when I approached him.”

I bring my brows together, biting my lower lip. “Wait, when? Are you sure about that?”

My best friend looks at me with disbelief. “Today, I went to confront him to stay away from you, Shiloh. You don’t even like him. He’s messing with your head just like he did with June.”

What? No.

I don’t want to believe this, but the look on her face tells me it’s the truth, or at least she truly believes what she saw. But why would he hide that from me? I try to make sense of it., Maybe he found it, maybe she left it at his house the night they argued and never came back for it.

But why hide it?

“Why would he keep that from me?” I whisper, instantly regretting saying the words out loud. Tati places a hand on my shoulder, “I don’t know.” She answers, and fuck, I believe her. “But I’m sure that’s not the only thing he’s hiding.”

I look at her sharply.

She blinks. “I just mean… he was with her. And now he’s with you. Don’t you think it’s weird?” Before I can respond, my phone buzzes in my side pocket . I lift the side of my skort, and a chorus of notifications spills from inside as I pull out my phone.

Tatiana looks down at hers, both of us locked on the screen.

The Pulse Blo g

My heart drops as I watch the video with no sound. June rushes out of the library, fixing her school uniform with a grin on her face, and behind her is Asher. My hand flies to cover my mouth. I glance up at Tatiana, who’s already looking at me, like she’s expecting me to say something.

“I have to go.” I manage to say.

I turn and leave before she can follow, bumping into someone as I walk through the house, not caring to stop or apologize.

My legs move on instinct, fast and focused, my wedges clicking against the tiles as I grab my keys and rush out the door.

The air suddenly feels too cold… pulling out my phone, I text the only person who can calm my mind.

Nico.

where are you?

No reply.

My heart beats faster. Blood is soaring through my ears. Heat simmering beneath my skin.

I pick up my pace.

If he really has her phone, what else could he be hiding?