Page 55 of The Betrayal You Serve

11

Letty

"This is an intervention," Ella says, marching into my room with Violet hot on her heels.

"No, no, no, no. I've already said I'm not going tonight."

"Yeah, and we're ignoring you and dragging you out of this room."

"No, I'm—" My argument is cut off when they each grab an arm and drag me from my bed.

"Get your sexy ass in the shower. We'll pick an outfit for you." Violet slaps me on my backside and pushes me toward my bathroom.

"No, I—" I try again but one look at the determination on their faces when I glance over my shoulder, my argument dies.

"You've only left this room for classes this week. You need to get out before you go crazy."

She's not wrong.

"Please," she begs, getting this sappy look on her face that she knows I'm not going to be able to deny.

"Fine. But if he's there, I'm leaving."

"Deal," Ella says with a smile but I don't believe her for a second with the conniving glint in her eye. "Now quick, we don't want to be late."

Rolling my eyes at my friend as she excitedly bounces on the balls of her feet, I close the door to my bathroom and start stripping out of my clothes.

By the time I emerge a few minutes later wrapped in a towel with wet hair and a face free of makeup, I find them both on my bed waiting for me with a drink each and a pitcher of margaritas on my desk.

"Starting without me?" I ask, heading straight for the empty glass and pouring myself a very large portion of what I can only assume is a strong drink, seeing as every drink either Ella or Vi make are. "Oh my God," I cough as the tequila burns my throat. "Is this neat?"

"Not quite. Good, right? Should loosen you up a little."

"I'm not getting drunk."Bad things happen when I get drunk.

"Not suggesting you do. Just have one, let go a little and enjoy yourself.”

They sit on my bed gossiping about all sorts as I pull on the outfit they helpfully selected for me—a black and white tartan, pleated skirt and a black sweater that shows a sliver of my stomach. I wouldn't usually put the two together because of the amount of skin I'm going to be exposing but I don’t have it in me to argue with them.

I blow-dry and straighten my hair and let Ella do my makeup before we head out.

After two very strong margaritas, my body is warm, my head is buzzing nicely and I can't help thinking that they might have been right. I need this. I needed to get out of my room and get some air.

"We didn't think you were ever going to emerge," West says as him, Brax, and Micah all watch us approach with hunger in their eyes. I know that Ella and Vi are adamant that nothing will ever happen within their little dorm family but looking at the guys eat them up, I can't help but wonder if they have very different opinions on the situation, especially Micah as he all but drools while staring at Ella in her little black dress that leaves very little to the imagination.

"It was worth it, don't you think?" Vi asks, twirling around. Her flared skirt flies out giving everyone in the room a view of her thong-clad ass.

"Ugh, put it away," West jokes.

She flips him off. "Come on. You'll never get laid hanging around here with us."

"Ain't that the fucking truth," he mutters as the three of them stand and follow us out of the dorm.

"How are you doing?" Micah asks quietly while the others bicker behind us.

"Oh, you know."

He gives me a smile that tells me he does understand to a point.