Page 122 of River of Deceit

“For tonight’s prix fixe menu, we have a vintage merlot that pairs exceptionally well,” the server says. “But I can ask the sommelier to give specific recommendations, if you’d prefer.”

Vintage merlot.Prix fixe.

I only know what these things mean because of Blaze, and they still make me nervous.

The first time I’d seen the bill at one of these restaurants, I’d nearly choked, but Blaze hadn’t even glanced at the total before handing over his credit card.

Well. His father’s credit card.

Sometimes I wonder what Blaze would do if he was left to his own devices.

He’s charismatic enough, charming enough, to get what he wants anyway.

I let him confirm to the server that the merlot will be fine, we tell the server which of the menu choices we want, and the server excuses himself from the table.

“You’ll let me taste some of yours, right?” Pandora says to Blaze. “I love steak, but I’m so curious about the vegetarian entree too.”

Blaze purses his lips at her, and I can already see him refusing, the way he always does. Blaze doesn’t share. Blaze covets his own things.

But Blaze relaxes, and says, “Yeah. But only if you share your dessert. I couldn’t decide between the crème brûlée and the île flottante.”

He easily could’ve decided to get an extra portion to avoid sharing entirely; the restaurant would’ve accommodated him, regardless of what their typical policies are with the set menu. The fact that he’s willing to trade bites with her has me feeling strange and unsettled.

When did she become someone he’dsharewith?

He barely even shares with me.

I watch him through narrowed eyes, but he doesn’t backtrack or change his mind.

“Do you have a proper kitchen in your frat house?” Pandora asks. “We could bake some desserts together sometime. River, too. He’s actually decent at cooking.”

“Yeah, we have a kitchen.” I turn my attention to Pandora. “A kitchen you aren’t allowed in after… I don’t know… an incident involving a knife? I’m a little fuzzy on the details,” I drawl.

Pandora waves her hand dismissively. “Whatever. We won’t tell Declan. What would they do if I showed up? Kick you two out?”

Blaze laughs along with Pandora. “Zayden wouldn’t dare,” he says with a smirk. “He’s got such a hard-on for my family.”

He may have a hard-on for Blaze’s family, but that’s not going to exemptmefrom his displeasure. He couldn’t kick me out, but he can — and probably will — make things hell for me for a few days.

I won’t tell Blaze, of course, because he’d lose his shit and try to fight my battles for me. It’s bad enough that everyone already thinks I’m his bitch. I don’t need to make it worse.

I take a sip of my water, watching the two of them.

They fit together in a way that I can’t explain. They’re both beautiful, of course, and they’re both wealthy and prominent in their own right.

I want to be a part of this, and I am not going to let my dissimilar upbringing keep me from that.

“How many people actually know about your family?” Pandora asks. “My stuffy roommate has no idea who the Pavones are, or she’d have asked to be transferred out. I don’t think Carly or Reaper know either. Well, Carly for sure doesn’t know.”

The mention of Reaper has something hot flaring up in me. I don’t want to think about the way she’d been touching him in the quad even though she’d ended up going with me instead, back to the frat house.

My eyes drift to her chest, to the scabs from the cuts I’d left behind.

Blaze shrugs. “No clue. Some of the brothers, probably, or they wouldn’t have wanted to join Kappa Alpha in the first place. The ones with families in the same line of business.”

“A bunch of sycophants,” I mutter, then I look at her before carefully asking, “Is that why you’re interested in being around Kappa Alpha guys?”

Because she’s interested in the connections she could make, or… Does this have something to do with the girl River had shown us? Rachel Turner? I haven’t been able to find out anything more about her, and as far as I know, neither has Blaze.