Graduating (Covenant College Book 5) (8 page)

She started to move down the sidewalk.

“Wait,” I called out. “Why don’t you let us walk you home?”

Aric balked. “What?”

“She shouldn’t be out alone.”

“It’s okay,” Matilda said. “It’s only three blocks.”

“We’ll walk you.” I tugged on Aric’s hand, forcing him to follow behind me.

Matilda was unsure, but she fell into step beside me. For lack of something better to talk about, I turned to my former roommate’s favorite topic. “So, are you dating anyone?”

Hey, you have to start somewhere.

“As far as bad ideas go, this ranks right up there with the Snuggie.”

Halloween on a college campus is a big deal. It gives girls a chance to dress in virtual lingerie, draw a black nose on their faces, and put a pair of animal ears on their head and call it a costume. It gives men a chance to pretend that the lingerie doesn’t turn them on, and they’re actually interested in whatever drivel the animal happens to be babbling.

It’s a total sexfest.

I would have been happy staying in and ordering pizza. Yes, I’m getting old. Once Tally and Kristy had announced they were going to the annual Alpha Chi party, though, that idea fled.

When Kate and Heather expressed interest, our fate was sealed.

I still didn’t like it.

Of course, we’d tried to talk them out of it – Paris and Kelsey coming up with a bevy of reasons of why it was a horrible idea, including potential herpes outbreaks and ear-infesting bed bugs – but Tally and Kristy couldn’t be dissuaded.

They wanted to party, and they wanted to party at the Alpha Chi house.

So, here we were. Seven college girls, one agitated werewolf, and a whole plethora of animosity spread out on one small lawn.

Aric was gripping my hand so hard I was afraid he would break it. “What’s a Snuggie?”

“It’s one of those blankets that has arms,” I said, momentarily worrying that I’d pushed him too far.

“I’ve never seen one.”

“They’re completely sexless.”

“Don’t ever buy one.”

I pulled his hand over so I could cup it with my other, lending him my calm. “Are you going to be okay here?”

“I’ll be fine.” His tone was breezy, but his face was tense.

“We can just go.”

“You’re not going to leave them here,” Aric said. “I know you. Even if we did leave, you’d obsess about it all night until you drove me crazy, and then we’d be right back here. Let’s just … man, I hate this place.”

Kristy, Tally, Heather, and Kate were already getting beer on the front porch. Since I was certain that Alpha Chi was drugging women so they could rape them freshman year, the rest of us had brought our own small cooler. None of us were overly excited to drink, though.

“Just stick with me,” I offered. “I’ll protect you.”

Aric finally relaxed, if only marginally. “You’re cute.”

“I try.”

“You succeed.” Aric gave me a quick kiss before turning to Paris and Kelsey. “I need you two to do me a favor.”

“If you want me to kiss you, I’m going to have to pass,” Kelsey said. “Kevin wouldn’t like it.”

Aric rolled his eyes. “Just … stay close to us, okay? This situation is ugly. I think the odds of anyone approaching Zoe are slim. They might try to mess with me, though. And, if they can get either of you alone, I don’t want to think what they might do.”

Kelsey balked. “What?”

“If you have to go to the bathroom, we’re all going together.”

Kelsey made a face.

“I’ll wait outside,” Aric said. “You know what I’m getting at.”

“I got it,” Kelsey said.

“Do not drink anything that doesn’t come out of this cooler,” Aric said, tapping the hard plastic for emphasis. “I’m not joking.”

“We got it,” Paris said.

“Okay.” Aric sucked in a breath and took in the party. “Let’s … try not to kill anyone.”

Paris barked out a laugh. “Sometimes I think you’re just about the best person I know.”

Aric glanced down at her, his smile tight. “We’re not staying here all night,” he warned.

“I don’t think it will come to that,” I said, pointing when I saw Will and Brittany heading in our direction. “We’re already on their radar. If we’re lucky, they’ll kick us out.”

“That doesn’t mean they’ll kick our roommates out,” Paris said.

“Yeah, they’d let them stay just out of spite to mess with us,” Kelsey added.

“Just … everyone smile,” I ordered. “Don’t let them get to you.”

“Well, I can’t believe you guys came,” Brittany said, her voice dripping with fake welcome.  I couldn’t help but notice she was gripping Will’s hand like he was her salvation, while his hand was lax in her grip, like she was the anchor around his neck.

“Well, it’s Halloween,” I said. “Our roommates were just dying to see the annual party.”

Will was quiet, contemplative. His gaze was focused on Aric, who was also still.

“I’m glad you came,” Brittany said. “This is going to be the best party yet.”

“Well, any party where they don’t try to kill us is automatically a step up,” Paris said, referring to another Halloween party several years before. At that party, Brittany was almost burnt at the stake. Ah, those were good times.

Brittany brushed off Paris’ pointed remark. “That whole thing was blown out of proportion.”

“You were the one who was in danger of dying,” Paris reminded her. While my relationship with Brittany had always been tense, Paris had at least pretended to get along with her for a time. I was surprised by her words.

“That was all a big hoax,” Brittany said, averting her gaze. “I thought you guys knew that.”

“I think Tara would disagree,” I said. “Of course, she’s dead, so she can’t really disagree.”

“Tara dropped out,” Brittany replied. “That was all just … well … it was a play. You fell for it. Don’t you feel silly?”

Oh, good grief. “What is your deal? I mean, I know you live in La-La Land, but this is just ridiculous.”

“If you’re going to be ugly, then maybe you should just leave,” Brittany said, her eyes flashing.

“I’m not trying to be ugly,” I said. “I’m trying to get you to see the truth.”

“And what truth is that?”

The gloves were off. “God, Brittany, what is wrong with you? You know who they are. You know what they are. Why are you making excuses for them?”

“I notice you don’t have a problem with your beloved Aric,” Brittany hissed. “You know what he is. You know the horrible things he’s done.”

“And what horrible things are those?” I challenged.

“He was part of the group that tried to kill you last spring,” Brittany said. “He was aligned with evil. And, here you are, back with the man who tried to kill you. You’re so very pathetic.”

I froze. Will had obviously been filling her head with a pack of lies. “Who told you that nonsense? Let me guess, Will? Well, your boyfriend is a pathological liar.”

“You’re just upset that I’m dating the alpha now,” Brittany said, her smile smug. “While you’re dating the … outcast.”

I shifted my gaze to Will. “Wow. You’re a much better liar than I ever gave you credit for.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Will said.

“Really? Because it seems to me you were the one to make the deal with the Academy?” I saw no reason to lie, or lower my voice. “It seems to me that you were willing to sell out your
brothers
so you could gain a position of power.”

“Oh, that’s just crap,” Brittany said. “He’s in a position of power all on his own. He’s the secretary, for crying out loud.”

“Will made a deal with Professor Blake last year,” I said. “He told Blake that he would give him a powerful amulet – one that could control vampires – and then give him a good time to wipe out the bulk of the pack.”

Brittany’s eyes narrowed. “Will, tell her that isn’t true.”

Will didn’t bother responding. He was still focused on Aric. Even though he was a good six inches shorter, Will wasn’t backing down. This was new. He’d been a coward his whole life. Something else was going on here.

“The problem was, I stole the stone,” I continued, relishing telling Brittany the horrible truth. “No one knew I had it the entire year. Then, when they figured it out, they tried to get me to use it on Rafael. The new problem was, we destroyed the stone before they could use it, so their whole plan went to hell.”

“That’s a lie,” Brittany challenged.  “Will, tell her it’s a lie.”

Will remained silent.

“Then, when we turned the tables on them, and they all ran into the night like scared little girls,” I said. “We won, and they lost, and they ran because they didn’t know what else to do.”

I was purposely baiting Will now. I wanted to see how far his newfound “courage” would go. I didn’t miss that his hand, the one Brittany didn’t have a death grip on, had clenched into a fist.

“Now the Academy is floundering,” I said. “And Will here, well, he’s decided to try and attach himself to another powerbase.”

Brittany glanced at Will, her face uncertain. “I don’t understand.”

“Tell her, Will,” I cajoled. “Or I will.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Will said, his teeth gritted.

I shook my head, suddenly feeling nothing but pity for him. “You make me sad,” I said. “I still remember those amazing summers we had. Kayaking up and down the river. Partying for days on end. I thought you were so cool. Now? Now I know better. You’re just a pathetic piece of shit.”

That did it. Will was swinging out with his free hand. I expected it, jerking back so he would miss me. Aric was another story. He caught Will’s hand in mid-air, crushing it with his fist as he gripped it.

Will whimpered at the force Aric was exerting.

“If you ever try touching her again, I’ll kill you,” Aric warned. “You got off lucky last spring. There was a lot going on. I was distracted. I’m not distracted now.”

Aric applied more pressure to Will’s closed fist, the unmistakable sound of bones breaking filling the night air.

“If you ever look at her again,” Aric growled. “If you ever even look at her, I’ll kill you.”

Brittany’s self-righteous indignation had turned to fear. “Will?”

“I’ll kill you, and I won’t look back,” Aric continued. “I know what you are. I know what you’re trying to build here. And, yes, I know what you’re doing with Reagan. You’re never going to be in power, Will. You’re never going to be higher than you are now.

“The sad thing is, you think you can take control here,” he said. “You think you’re somehow better than you are. All you are is the guy who lost the amulet. All you are is a guy who lost the girl you’re so desperate to get back.

“And, yeah, I know you want her back,” Aric said. “I know you probably cry at night because you lost her – especially given all you know now. You’re desperately trying to figure out a way to fix things. That’s why you’re with Brittany – even though that has backfired. You can never get her back, though. You can never be more than you are.”

I was worried. There was a part of me that thought Aric might kill him right here. I reached over, putting my hand on Aric’s tense bicep to still him. “He’s not worth it,” I said.

The nerve in Aric’s jaw was twitching, but he finally relented and let Will’s hand go. Will cried out in relief – which made my pity him all the more – and cradled his injured hand to his chest.

Aric shook his head, his eyes finally clearing, and he focused on me. “Let’s go,” he said. “We’re done here. We’re not coming back.”

“I can’t believe you’re actually instituting date night.”

It was Sunday, and Aric was trying to focus on anything but the job he hated, while I was trying to pretend the party at Alpha Chi two days before wasn’t still haunting me. The outcome – for both of us – was mixed.

“It’s not date night,” Aric protested, giving me a look. “Old people have date night. This is just a chance for us to spend some time together.”

We were waiting for a table to open at a local restaurant, and my growling stomach told me the wait had better not be too long. The lobby of the restaurant had been busy a few minutes before, but the hostess was moving people to tables quickly. I had hope.

“If you don’t want to stay at the house with me, you don’t have to,” I said. “I know having that many girls around is annoying to you – especially since Kate won’t stop flirting.”

Aric smirked. “That doesn’t bother me.”

“Well, it bothers me.”

“I know,” Aric said, reaching over to squeeze my thigh. “That’s why it doesn’t bother me.”

“You like that I’m jealous?” I hated the feeling, but I could admit it. Kate’s interest in Aric was almost more than I could bear.

“I like that you love me,” Aric said. “The jealousy is just an added benefit.”

“Well, I don’t like that I’m jealous,” I admitted.

“Why not?”

“It bugs me that I’m not secure enough to just let it go,” I said.

Aric shot me a curious look. “What are you insecure about?”

“Not you,” I said hurriedly. “I know you love me. I know I love you. I don’t think you would ever cheat on me.”

Aric smiled reassuringly. “I would never cheat on you. Never. There’s not anyone that even remotely piques my interest. I need you to be secure in that.”

“I know,” I said. “It still bugs me that Kate fawning all over you gives me this … twinge in my chest.”

Aric frowned. “Twinge?”

“I’m pathetic,” I said. “I know it. You don’t have to get off on it.”

“I’m not getting off on it,” he said. “I’m just curious. What does this twinge feel like?”

“It’s like a pain,” I said, moving my head so he couldn’t see my face. “I know in my heart you would never hurt me, and yet I want to beat her face in every time she flirts with you.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, I want to beat Scott’s face in every time I come to the house and find you playing euchre with him,” Aric said.

I snorted. “We’re just playing cards. I’m not interested in him. If I was interested in him, I could’ve had him last year. Instead, I was too busy mooning over you.”

“And that’s why I don’t beat his face in,” Aric said. “I know you would never cheat on me. It’s not in you.”

“So, why am I so pathetic?” I asked.

“You’re not pathetic,” Aric said. “You see Kate as moving in on your property. It’s normal.”

“Maybe in wolf world,” I said. “It’s not normal in my world. I feel … irrational. She just won’t stop touching you.”

Aric knit his eyebrows together. “What?”

“It’s a girl thing,” I explained. “When a girl is trying to anchor a man’s feelings for her, she touches him. It might just be a touch on the arm,” I said, demonstrating for emphasis. “Or, it might just be a pat on the shoulder, but it’s there. Every time she touches you, I want to smack her.”

“I guess I never noticed,” Aric said, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. “I mean, I notice when people touch you. I guess I don’t notice when they touch me.”

“Who touches me?”

“Um, Scott.”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“Yes, he does,” Aric said. “He’s always putting his hand on your shoulder and brushing up against you. He’s hoping I won’t notice, but I notice.”

“That’s ridiculous,” I said. “I’ve never once noticed him touching me.”

“And I’ve never once noticed Kate touching me,” Aric said. “In fact, the only one I’ve ever noticed touching me is you.”

Well, that was interesting. “Why do you think that is?”

“Because we’re in tune with each other,” Aric said. “Everyone else ceases to exist. We’re in our own little bubble.”

“I know Scott exists,” I scoffed. “I just don’t think he exists in my romantic … um … scope.”

“Yes, but for me, he does exist in your romantic scope,” Aric countered. “I notice every time he even thinks of touching you.”

“And I notice every time Kate touches you,” I mused. “Maybe we’re sick.”

“Or maybe we’re just in our own little world,” Aric said.

“You’re kind of … romantic,” I said.

“I’m not romantic,” Aric said. “Men aren’t romantic.”

“You are,” I said. “You’re romantic and sappy.”

“And you have deep thoughts,” Aric shot back. “You’re not as immune to this whole thing as you think you are.”

He had a point. “Well, I say we take your sap and my deep thoughts, get a good dinner, and then go and explore these emotions back at your place.”

Aric smiled. “You had me at dinner.”

I frowned. “That romance-and-sap thing you have comes and goes.”

“DO YOU
care if I get the prime rib?”

We’d finally been seated, and were now perusing the menu. I had money, but Aric seemed to have an endless stream of it. Sometimes I felt like I was taking advantage of his generosity.

“I’m getting the prime rib,” Aric said. “Why would I care if you get it?”

I bit my lower lip. “Well, it’s expensive.”

“So?”

“I … I’ll just get something else.”

Aric frowned. “Get the prime rib.”

“I feel guilty about the money you spend on me sometimes,” I admitted.

“Well, don’t,” Aric said. “I have tons of money. I have more money than I know what to do with. Don’t feel guilty.”

The waitress chose that moment to arrive at the table. “Do you know what you want?”

“Yeah,” Aric said, glancing down at the menu one more time. “I’ll have the prime rib, rare, a baked potato, and a dinner salad with the house dressing.”

The waitress turned to me. “And you?”

“Um … .”

Aric rolled his eyes. “She’ll have the prime rib, too. Medium. Give her a baked potato with sour cream, and the house soup.”

“How do you know what I like?” I challenged.

“Because I know,” Aric said, gathering my menu with his and handing them to the waitress. “And, if you can get the food to us quickly, I’d appreciate it.”

“I’m not the cook, sir.”

“If you get the food to us in less than ten minutes, I’ll give you a fifty-dollar tip,” Aric said. “We’re hungry … and I have plans for later.”

I waited until the waitress left to unload. “That was kind of … bossy.”

“You’re always bossy,” Aric said. “Why is it only a problem when I’m bossy?”

“What if I didn’t want the prime rib?”

“You love prime rib,” Aric said. “That’s one of the reasons I love you. You don’t eat like a chick. You like a good meal. We were together all summer. Why is this money thing only coming up now?”

“It’s not a thing,” I said. “It’s just … with Kate fawning all over you because your dad is a senator, it just occurs to me that I’ve been living off your money without thinking about it for months.”

“No, you haven’t,” Aric said. “You’re the one who paid for us to go golfing this summer.”

“I flirted with the golf pro to give us the open slot on the course for free,” I said. “That’s not the same thing.”

Aric sighed, the sound dramatically tragic and relentlessly annoyed. “I want to buy dinner. I like buying dinner. I like you fed so I can use all that excess energy up to my advantage. I’m not going to just sit here and pretend that I don’t like to eat – and you don’t like to eat – and that we’re both not happy eating.”

“I know,” I said. “I just don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.”

“Baby, I want you to take advantage of me,” Aric said. “If I could buy a year’s worth of prime rib and have it delivered to the house, I would be happy. If you fed me that prime rib naked? Yeah, I’d be in Heaven. I think this is probably the silliest conversation we’ve ever had, and I once let you go on for an hour about why Converse were better than Vans.”

“You’d tell me, right?” I prodded, ignoring his shoe comment. “You’d tell me if I was taking advantage of you.”

“You’re not taking advantage of me,” Aric said. “Don’t make me come over there and embarrass you with kisses – and the occasional spanking – until you understand that.”

“You have a filthy mind.”

“So do you.”

I was quiet for a second, sipping from my pop to keep my mind busy. Finally, Aric couldn’t take my uncertainty a second longer.

“Hey, blondie, I love you,” he said. “I also like to eat out. I want you to eat out with me. Lord knows neither one of us can cook. Your best meal is grilled cheese and canned tomato soup, and my best meal is … well … picking up a takeout menu. If you don’t let this go, I’m going to be pissed.”

“I love you, too,” I said, meaning all four words. “Sometimes I don’t know what you see in me, though.”

“Right back at you, baby,” he said. “We’re a work in progress. Oh, look, here comes our dinner. That was fifty bucks well spent.”

I smiled despite myself, a hint of movement catching my eye over his shoulder.

Aric thanked the waitress profusely, asking her to refill our drinks before she left the table. Once it was just the two of us, he focused on me again. “What are you looking at?”

I pointed.

Aric sucked in a breath when he realized what had caught my attention. “What are Professor Blake and Mark doing out together? I thought Mark was done with the Academy?”

That was a really good question. “I don’t know.”

I watched the duo talk for a few more moments and then get to their feet, exiting the next room through a different hallway. They never looked at us, and as far as I could tell, they’d never seen us.

“What do you think?” Aric asked.

“I think Mark is lying about something,” I said. “I also think I’m going to find out what it is.”

“Eat your dinner,” Aric instructed. “You’re going to need a full stomach for what you’ve got planned – and for what I’ve got planned later tonight.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really? This doesn’t bother you?”

“I didn’t believe Mark’s story,” Aric said, shrugging. “I expected it. Hooking up with Heather was too much of a coincidence.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I was incensed.

“Because I wanted you to come to the conclusion yourself,” Aric said, his eyes softening. “I know you have a soft spot for Mark.”

“I don’t have a soft spot for him,” I protested. “I just thought he was … more than this.”

“We don’t know why they were here,” Aric cautioned. “They could have just been having dinner. Maybe Blake was trying to recruit him again.”

I knew Aric was trying to placate me. I sawed into my prime rib thoughtfully, swallowing a big hunk before I spoke again. “Or, maybe he’s been lying all along.”

“There is that,” Aric said. “Clean your plate. You’re going to need the calories. It’s going to be a long night.”