Page 65 of River of Deceit

“What’s up?” I ask. I’m tempted to peer at his phone, but I hate when he does it to me.

“Just some stuff with…” Blaze trails off. “Never mind. Go eat without me, I have to take care of this.”

I resist the urge to ask him what it has to do with, but if he’s not telling me, he has a good reason.

Probably.

“Yeah,” I say. “Good luck.”

He heads off in the opposite direction, and I continue toward the cafeteria. Thankfully, I still have one meal left for the day and won’t have to bail for the library instead of grabbing something.

Blaze would prefer it if I asked for money when things like this happen, but I have a hard enough time accepting his generosity as it is.

In the middle of the day, it’s busy, and I stop at the counter wherethey customize pasta to order. I should skip the carbs, but it’s been a long few days, and I don’t feel like going for something better.

When I go to scan my card to pay, I find myself face to face with River.

He looks tired, but that’s no surprise.

“Hey,” I greet him. “I texted you this morning.”

I’m trying to be a proper “Big Brother” to him, but he’s been making himself scarce when he doesn’t have to be at the frat house. It’s hard to be supportive when he’s not even there.

“I ignored it,” he says bluntly, scanning his own card.

“Awesome,” I say as we step out of the line. “That’s gonna look great on both of us. Come sit with me.”

River gives me a look, but he replies, “Sure, why not?”

“Contain your enthusiasm before you hurt yourself,” I tell him, my voice dry.

That, at least, gets a smirk from him. “Lead on, big bro.”

I wrinkle my nose at that, but I lead him in the direction of one of the few empty booths at the edge of the caf. I sit down, and he takes the seat opposite me.

Unlike me, he’s opted for a more sensible salad. I hadn’t been able to stop myself from eyeing his muscle. We’re built differently, but it’s clear he takes care of himself. I don’t comment on his comparatively healthier choice of food, instead taking a bite of my pasta.

“How are you doing?” I finally ask when several seconds tick by without either of us speaking.

I wishmyBig Brother had bothered to seek me out and ask me how I was doing, but no. Thescholarship studenthadn’t been worth his time. I’d had Blaze, but he’d been high on life, barely bothered by each and every grueling stage of pledging.

“You mean around your friendly pledging process?” he retorts. “Great. Can’t wait to be a Chaos brother and share the fun next year.”

“Kappa Alpha,” I correct him. “If Zayden hears you call it Chaos,he’ll flip his shit.” He looks like he’s about to make a retort, and I interrupt, “If you want to join, that’s not the best idea.”

It had been a hard lesson for me to learn. It’s one thing to capitulate to Blaze, but it’s another entirely to grovel for Zayden’s attention. I’ve never liked it, but I don’t have the weight of a strong family name to back me. Blaze can only do so much.

“At least I’m not calling it the Kappa whatevers like Pandora would do,” he replies around bites of his salad.

My mood darkens. “Whatever she would do, I suggest doing the opposite,” I say, my voice tight as I reply to him. I don’t want to think about her right now. I’ve done enough of that over the past few days since she’d shown up at the frat house, replaying the feeling of her lips on mine and her hand on my dick.

Wondering what it might’ve felt like to be inside her, too.

But I don’t trust her. The fact that she’s close to River means I can’t trust him either.

My eyes flick to the hand with the missing finger. Pandora seems to know all about his affiliation with the mob, and I have to wonder whatherassociation with them is. She’s so blasé about it.

River smirks at me. “You’re probably right, but you have to admit that she at least keeps things interesting.”