Rushed (The Rushed Series) (14 page)

"When he sobered up, Dakota reportedly apologized. But Zach hasn't forgiven him." She paused. "No one can figure it out. Guys toss crap like that at each other all the time. It's just trash talk. And this was pretty mild. Zach doesn't even
have
a sister. Bizarre." Sarah shook her head like she was still trying to make sense of it.

The expressions on the faces of the other girls were just as startled and riveted as mine had to be. Something as provocative and salacious as this couldn't be ignored.

"Not forgiving his best friend over a stupid comment? That doesn't sound like Zach," I said. It made no sense.

Sarah shrugged. "I know. Anyone who knows Zach thinks he's being ridiculously touchy. You know Zach, things usually just roll off him."
 

Sarah shook her head like she didn't understand it either. "It has to be something deeper. They'd been competing for the same girl. It had to be about her. That's all anyone can think. But neither of them have ever said."

That evening Kelly opened the doors to the house promptly at seven and welcomed the first wave of guests into our open house. As pledges, we stood in two lines on either side of the entry in a receiving-line kind of thing as our guests, an endless line of frat guys, streamed in. Within minutes of the doors opening, the house smelled like Axe cologne in all its variations.
 

The members flitted about, served refreshments, and kept an eye on us to make sure no one quite literally stepped out of line. Calling the open house a meat market was a grave understatement. It was
the
meat market, the feel-you-up, rate-the-girls, and pick-your-mark event of the academic year.

I was leered at, propositioned, asked for my number, and generally undressed with too many guys' eyes to count. The entire time, I was distracted by thoughts of Dakota and Zach's fight. It was about a girl. Who? And if they'd fight like that because of one, what was I getting myself into if I came between them?

The lesser frats arrived first, staking their claim before open house hours were over. The event was an open invitation to anyone. Even Geeds. Not like many Geeds came through, though.

It was open house night all over Greek Row. All of the sororities were holding open houses at the same time. The Tau Psis took their time about coming. Like they were flexing their muscles, holding us, the only sorority that could claim to be their equal, in anticipation. Or maybe they thought they were saving the best for last.
 

Just when my feet were killing me from nearly two hours of standing on stiletto heels, and I was ready to be done, a ripple of excitement ran through the girls. I was the last girl in line, at the inner end next to the staircase, the last girl the guys came to before dispersing for refreshments. I heard whispers. Then I saw Dakota stroll in first. Being frat president had its perks.
 

He looked especially hot in a T-shirt that showed off his muscles as Kelly greeted him like he was an old friend. Unbidden, an image of those muscles bunching as he threw insults and a punch at Zach raced through my imagination. Maybe it wasn't surprising I couldn't work up even a hint of chemistry for him. Zach stood between us in too many ways. Looking at Dakota was like appreciating a fine piece of art that simply wasn't to my taste. Intellectually, I could know it was good and I was supposed to like it, but still not want it cluttering up my room. Or my life.

Kelly and Dakota chatted casually while his frat brothers waited on the sidewalk outside. It was a pure show of power by Dakota. When he began working his way leisurely down the line, he was all easy smiles and flattery. But beneath the charm, just like every frat guy who had come through, he was rating all of us like prime beef—six, nine, ten. I didn't really care what mental score he assigned me. I would be just as happy if he decided I was beneath his notice after all.

The girls were as impressed with him as he was with himself, and eager to please him. And why not? Tall, broad-shouldered, naturally charismatic guys with power and status were the goal of every girl in the house.

When Dakota reached me, his eyes lit up.

I didn't give him a chance to speak. "Dakota Bradley, welcome to Delta Delta Psi." I extended my hand.

When he took it in his, his dwarfed mine. "The girl does have a voice. A beautiful, melodic voice. I can't wait to hear you sing."
 

I had no idea what he meant by that. "Then you'll be disappointed. I don't sing. I even mouth the words to 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'" I flirted back with him.

"You'll sing for me." He didn't let go of my hand, holding it like he thought he could own me. His smug arrogance turned me off.

"Will I?" I flashed him a smile I thought Kayla would use. There was no way I could insult, discourage, or put him in his place with the eyes of the members on me.

He laughed. "Alexis Turner, I still don't have your number."

Before he could whip out his phone, I leaned in and whispered my number in his ear. "Think you can remember it?"

He let go of my hand, pulled his phone out of his pocket, typed a number in, and flipped the phone around for me to see. "I never forget a gorgeous girl's number."

Even with so short a pause, the line of his frat brothers was backing up behind him. I glanced down the row of men. The house guys were coming through now, welcoming us. My heart raced as I spotted Zach.

Dakota glanced over his shoulder toward the door and the houseboys. He frowned and his eyes narrowed. When he turned back to me, he was all seductive smiles. "I'll be calling you." He walked away, into the living room to talk with the members.

Next to me, Sarah reluctantly passed her Tau Psi onto me. If felt like an eternity before Zach reached me. "What are you tonight?" I asked him. "Houseboy or classmate?"

"Honored guest."

The air between us fairly crackled with mutual attraction. It was all I could do to contain it. He gave me a brief hug, the kind he'd given each new pledge in line. Nothing special about it as far as I could tell.

"You were Mr. Popular in class today," I whispered in his ear, trying to sound as teasing and flirty as I could. And keep the hurt out at the same time. I had my pride.

"I'm a good guy to get to know in that class. Music is one of my many areas of expertise."

"Along with humility?" I flipped back at him. "What are the rest?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" His tone was rich and full of suggestion.

I flushed at the implications.

He laughed, and heads turned to look at us. "You'll learn soon enough, pledge, to make friends with the smartest person in each of your classes. For studying purposes. Hang with the top students who can help you with your homework."

"Sharing your secret to making the dean's list with me? I'm flattered."
 

"It's no secret. Just common sense." He studied me, his face a mask. "Looks like you've survived the meat market without too many bruises."

I grinned at his use of the term. "Barely. Being a piece of meat isn't all that fun, I've decided."

"Don't sweat it. All this effort will pay off soon. How many numbers have you collected?" His tone was teasing, like that of a big brother.

I hated the way he switched to that mode, like I was just another one of the girls. Like he couldn't feel the heat between us like I did. I wanted to break through that façade so badly. But I couldn't tell him here to just drop it and be real with me. "None."

"Really? Semantics. You gave out more than a few, though." He leaned in and whispered. "At least, you did if you were smart. The Double Deltsies expect it. Why do you think you're at the end of the line, you tempting little piece of tenderloin?"
 

His question, and the searching look he gave me, flustered me. I hadn't really thought about it. All I could think was,
Crap! Did he see me give Dakota my number?
 

I glanced down the line toward the door, where Em was the first girl in line, and realized he was right—we were in order of preference. How could I have missed it? If Zach knew it, I was sure others had caught on. It was probably common knowledge among the frats. The target on my back had just gotten larger. I didn't reply.

"Maybe I should call you prime rib from now on." His gaze held mine.

"Don't you dare." Being so close to him, I could barely think.

"Watch out for Dakota," he whispered. "The house will give you big points for catching his eye. Don't let his charm fool you. He has a temper. When his anger is up, he'll stab you in the back."

Zach gave me a little, patronizing pat on the shoulder and walked off. I tried hard not to let my gaze follow him. If he thought he could dismiss me and the attraction between us like that, he was certifiable.

When I got back to my room after the open house, two surprises waited for me. I had another clue from my big on my desk—a miniature football with the university logo. It was cute, and not much of a clue, but for some reason it sent a chill down my spine. My big liked football? No big deal. Who didn't? Or my big liked football players, particularly former high school quarterbacks?

If Morgan was my big, I was in deep trouble. I pushed the thought away. I was just being paranoid.
 

Surprise number two—a text from Dakota.
Can't get you out of my mind.

I wondered—was he really that into me? Or was I just top prize this season? And a way to get back at, and one-up, Zach.

Chapter Nine

Alexis

On Thursday, I received another clue from my big—a mug from the college of business. So, okay, a business major. And a lethal-looking letter opener in the shape of a medieval sword. History minor? The package was accompanied by a printed note that said,
I'll always have your back
.

Em read it over my shoulder. "That's sweet!"

I gave her an arch look, like she was so naïve. There was more than one kind of back. One of them was a quarterback. I crossed my fingers, hoping I was wrong.

On Friday in class, Zach was in the middle of his fan club again. I had to hurry back to the house for our mandatory event. The members had a Friday night surprise planned for the pledges before they revealed our bigs.

After dinner we gathered in the living room, dressed in our pledge T-shirts and jeans. Kelly called the meeting to order. "Pledges, I hope you brought your singing voices! It's serenade night!" She gestured to a couple of members.

They handed out lyric sheets.

"The frats are waiting to hear your golden voices. We've written you some special songs for the occasion. If you sing well enough, the guys might even reward you with something to drink." She winked at us.
 

So that's what Dakota was talking about. I glanced down at the lyric sheet I had been handed and suppressed a groan.

Beside me, Sarah giggled and Em rolled her eyes. "We're going to need
a lot
to drink if we're going to sing these."

Katie grinned at her. "I think that's the point. This is part of our initiation."

After a brief set of instructions, we headed out and strolled down Greek Row past the carefully manicured sororities, with their classic and modern architecture, to the frat district. In contrast to the sororities, the frat houses were mainly open timber frame Tudor-style architecture. Music, lots of screamo, poured out of them. Beer flowed so freely, the air smelled of it.

I hadn't lied to Dakota. I didn't sing. I played piano. I danced. But I didn't sing.
 

Kelly gathered us in front of the Zeta Nu house. "The first song is sung to the tune of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb.'"
 

And the concert began, with me lip-syncing. Sarah elbowed me. I just looked at her, like, what? If our choir was a little thin on voices, the guys didn't notice. They gathered on the lawn with a keg and applauded like fan boys. As soon as we finished, they came around with plastic cups filled to overflowing. "Drink, drink, drink, drink!" they chanted as we chugged.

"Thank you, guys!" Kelly tossed her cup in a garbage bag on their lawn and shepherded us to the next house.

It was late by the time we reached the Tau Psi house. I was buzzed and my reserves were down. I laughed at everything. Breaking into peals when Laurel tripped on the edge of the sidewalk. I caught her by the elbow and we both nearly went down in a wave of laughter.