Page 9

NINE

RHYS

A week and a half passes and I have to go to the dedication for the new Godfrey School of Business building that’s opening tonight. It’s named after my father because he donated the money. I get dressed in my new tux and get in a car to go pick up Tobi.

He hasn’t answered my texts all morning, but maybe he’s busy. He has a full course load this year, and he’s swamped. Another student holds the door when I get to his building and I take the stairs up to the second floor where his room is. I knock on his door and wait.

“Don’t come in,” a voice croaks from the other side.

“Tobi? Is that you?” I twist the knob when someone yells at me from down the hall.

“Don’t go in there!” I turn, finding Tobi’s roommate, Clyde. “He’s got the stomach flu!”

I step back, making a face. “I do not want that.”

“No kidding. I’ve been hanging out down the hall until his brother gets here to take him home for the weekend so I can disinfect.” Clyde looks me over. “Where are you going?”

“Fuck. He was going to come with me to the dedication of my father’s building.” I really don’t want to do this alone.

“Shit, sorry. You really don’t want him like that. He’s been vomiting all day.”

I shake my head, backing up another pace until my back hits the opposite wall. “I really don’t.” But I don’t know what to do. I just need to go, but I’m not looking forward to it.

“What are you doing here?” Teddy’s voice rings out in the hallway.

“I was getting your brother, but I guess you’re taking him.” I can’t do this with him tonight either. I need to make an excuse and leave. “So I’ll catch you later.” I make a move to walk past, but he steps with me, blocking the way.

“Why are you all dressed up?”

“I have a thing.”

“Why were you picking up Tobi?” He narrows his eyes.

“Because he was going to go with me. He can’t, obviously, so I’m going to head out.” I try again to step around, but he doesn’t let me.

“What kind of thing?”

“It doesn’t matter.” I give him a tight smile.

“Yes, it does. Are you just going to go alone?”

“Yeah, I have to.” I don’t meet his eyes.

“Why are you being weird?” Teddy asks.

“I’m not. Why aren’t you letting me leave?”

“Because you’re not telling me something and I don’t like it.” He crosses his massive arms over his chest. Why is he so fucking hot.

I need to stop thinking with my dick.

“You have to get Tobi home for the weekend.”

“See. You keep defacing.” He moves his head to try and make eye contact but I keep avoiding it.

“What am I even doing?”

“That!” he says, poking my forehead.

I finally look at him. “The fuck?”

“It worked, didn’t it?”

I give him a blank stare. “I really need to go or I’m going to be late.”

“I guess you’ll either tell me or be late.” He gets that damn goalie look and I know he’s not going to give in.

“You’re such a stubborn fuck.”

“Mmmhmm.”

“I’m going to a dedication for the new building my dad donated.” I finally say.

Teddy gets his ‘thinking really hard’ look on his face. “Your brothers are going to be there, right?”

I nod.

“They don’t like you, right?”

“Yep.” I sigh. “Which is why Tobi was going to go with me.”

“They do?”

“No, they don’t.”

“Why are you being confusing?” he asks.

“They don’t like me.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Can I go now?”

“I’m going with you.”

“No. Why would you do that?”

“Because it’s my duty.”

“Duty?! This is not the sixteenth century.” I hold my hands up. “You can’t. Just let me go.”

“There is still duty and chivalry!” He jabs his pointer finger into his palm.

“Is there?” I don’t even know what to do with any of this, but it occurs to me that he might be the best person to go, as I’m sure it will drive my brothers crazy.

He nods vigorously.

“I thought you said I was the enemy?”

“This is different,” he says emphatically. “This is family honor which comes above hockey. Barely, but it does.”

“How?” I can’t believe I’m actually thinking of this.

“You need it and it’s right. I have to step in for my brother.”

“You don’t even like your brother.”

Colin’s words come back to me, and yet I want him to go. It will be fun annoying Oliver and then maybe afterwards I can get him on his knees again.

“I like him just fine. He doesn’t like me, but it doesn’t matter. I will keep his commitments!”

“You have to drive Tobi home.”

“Send him in your car. We can get another.” Why is he making so many good points?

“Do you even have something you can wear?”

He scrunches up his brow. “I have something. Let’s go to my room.”

“Tell your brother.”

He looks at the room door and scrunches up his face. “I’ll send him a text. I don’t want to touch his sickness riddled body.”

“He doesn’t have typhoid,” I mutter.

“Are you a doctor?” Teddy asks matter-of-factly.

“Just text him.”

Teddy gets out his phone and sends a message. “Good, let’s go to my dorm.”

We go up to the eleventh floor, and he unlocks his door.

“Do you have a suit or something?”

“Don’t worry. I have the next best thing.” He pulls a tuxedo tee shirt out of his drawer, and it’s so wrinkled I’m not sure it can be saved.

“You’re not really going to wear that, are you?”

“Yes, I am.”

What would Colin do?

“Alright. I guess it works,” I say not sure I’m making the right decision but at least I’ll have fun going down with the ship.