Page 42 of River of Deceit

Blaze motions to the hallway. “Okay, okay, we’re done goofing around here. Let’s get that paperwork and showRiver what he might miss out on if he decides to go with a different frat. You definitely don’t want to touch the Eta Epsilon losers.”

Pandora mouths the Greek letters like she’s trying to figure out which ones they are.

“No need to worry about that,” River says. “You’re my top choice.”

Yeah, well. Kappa Alpha was my top choice too, and they’d still almost rejected my bid. It was only after Blaze threatened to drop them if they didn’t accept me that I was let in.

We all follow Blaze as he gives a mini tour of the house. “This is the ‘ballroom,’ where we usually host parties,” he explains.

Pandora nods earnestly and tells River, “This is where all the underage drinking happens.”

Blaze rolls his eyes, but he gives her his most charming smile. “Which means you got to drink for free once already. But only because nobody realized you were underage, of course. Nobody here would ever break the law like that.”

“Nope,” I say breezily, trying to steady my mood. “None of us would ever.”

I hate that I feel so off-kilter right now.

River smirks. “Yeah. I’m sure.”

Blaze continues the tour, pointing out the different rooms of the frat house. Kitchen, living room, dining, rec room, group study room…

“There’s space for around twenty guys to live here,” Blaze explains as he leads us upstairs.

I’m beyond grateful that he leads us back to his own room instead of mine.

Once we’re there, it’s easier to relax. It’s my safe space, even more so than my own room, and I settle on the edge of the bed as River and Pandora follow us inside.

“Nice room,” River comments. “Does everyone get a place like this?”

“Yeah, if you pay for a single room,” Blaze says. “You can sharewith another newbie brother if your finances aren’t cutting it, though.”

“My finances are fine,” River says, and I resent him for being able to say as much without even finding out how much rent in the frat house is.

Pandora sits at the edge of the bed and runs her hand along the nice sheets Blaze uses. “Is the boring stuff out of the way?”

Blaze raises his eyebrows at her. “Should you be acting so casual with me?”

“Why? Is that against the rules, too?” Pandora asks sweetly.

In Blaze’s room, in the frat house, she shouldn’t be quite so willing to mouth off to him. Every other woman would be cowed after what we’ve put her through already.

“What are the rules?” River asks, stepping up close to Pandora.

River’s presence has to be why she’s acting so flippant.

Blaze sizes River up, then says, “Asch will get a handout about the rules for you.”

A handout I’d already had a copy of in my room, until he’d made me get rid of those.

“They’re downstairs by the foyer. It’s got the whole schedule laid out for the newbies. Rush week, pledging, all that. Why don’t you two go down there, and Asch can answer your questions. Since he'll be your big brother,” Blaze continues.

We could’ve grabbed those on the way up. I get that he wants to get rid of River, but I bristle at being excluded as a result.

You aren’t safe with her, I think, but Blaze hasn’t magically learned to read my thoughts in the past twenty minutes.

“Yeah, sure,” I say. “C’mon, River. We’ll go find them, and I’ll answer any questions you have.”

River eyes Blaze. “I think it’s better if I stay up here.”