Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,48
take on half of what that book describes.”
“That’s fair. I forget you have a whole life outside of us.” She swept the room. “I guess this all seems silly to you.”
“No,” I replied honestly. “No sillier than sororities, fraternities, anime clubs, film clubs, and all the other groups we form to find people interested in the same things as us. This particular Sam/Sally tradition is a bit hardcore, but that’s not surprising either. When we do things, we go hard.”
Teagan blew out a breath. “I’m so glad you understand. We all felt weird about keeping this from you.”
“It wasn’t on you to tell me. It was on Aiden, and you can believe I let his ass know what I thought about his silence.”
“Aiden is... Aiden.” Teagan tossed me a look and we laughed. For the first time ever, we were on the same page. “The guy is impossible to figure out.”
“From your lips to the heavens,” I said. “I’ve spent so much time around him and still feel like I know nothing about him.”
“Val!”
I cried out as hands seized me.
“You’re done being boring,” Sabrina said. “Dance with us.”
That seemed a reasonable request. Plus, no one craved dancing more than me. I let them drag me into the middle of their makeshift dance floor and threw myself into the music. Kendra sidled up to dance with me, whipping her head in a move I was dubbing the electrocuted dance. I had no idea why, but I ended up copying. We cracked up as the other girls joined us, hair swinging this way and that.
“Damn. I thought I’d walk in on something much sexier.” A dry British sotto broke into our fun. In response, the duchess pounced and threw him on the couch. By where their hands were roaming, he would get sexy much quicker than he thought.
The boys shuffled into the room. Rowen and Hayes picked off my dance partners, claiming them for themselves. Sawyer and Aiden veered toward the drinks while Nasir collapsed on a couch free of Brits. One person was missing.
Nasir raised a brow when I sat down. “Uh. Rick made it clear he’d break every bone in our hands if we even thought about touching you, so—”
“Maverick’s the nice one,” I snapped, “because I’d break everything else.”
He threw his hands up, chuckling. “I’m not thinking about it. I swear.”
“Where is he?”
Nasir jerked his chin up. “Bathroom.”
“Which one?”
“Upstairs. Third on the left.”
I left him to his G-rated thoughts. The game was finally over, and we needed to talk.
Skirting Eve and Hayes, I made for the hallway.
“—fuck are you doing?”
A hiss pulled me up short.
Aiden and Sawyer stood behind the wet bar. Aiden’s back was to me and his height blocked Sawyer’s view. Neither one noticed me standing there.
“You’re not doing this again, Sawyer. If you can’t handle it, your ass goes home now.”
“I c-can handle it.” The small, wavering voice was night and day from the affably charming one that normally fell from his lips. “I’m sorry, Aiden.”
“You better—”
Sawyer stepped to the side at that moment and spotted me. “Oh, hey, Val.”
Aiden spun. I caught a flash of something disappear behind his back—too fast for me to make it out.
“Everything okay?” Sawyer tried for a smile that trembled around the edges. “Need a drink?”
“No, I was... just looking for Maverick.” I took a step toward him. “Are you okay?”
He shrugged. “Fine.”
“Sawyer, what are you doing over there?” Teagan called. “Come dance with me.”
The smile smoothed out, lighting the eyes of the Sawyer I knew well. “My lady calls.”
He pushed past us. I didn’t watch him go. I remained fixed on Aiden.
My counterpart crooked a brow. “Something to say, Moon?”
“What’s behind your back?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re lying.”
His jaw ticced. For the first time, true irritation burned in his orbs. “I’ll be honest, I’m getting real fucking sick of you treating me like the enemy.”
I faced him, squaring up. “Want to show me I’m wrong? Turn around.”
“There’s nothing behind my back.”
“Then there’s no reason for you not to turn around.”
“Fine.” Aiden spun and concealed behind his back was—
—nothing.
I stepped closer but it made no difference. There was no obvious bulge in his pocket, his hands were empty, and the counter boasted nothing but alcohol.
“Is this the part where I get an apology?” he demanded.
My jaw clenched. Aiden was a particular kind of asshole. I stumble on him getting in Sawyer’s face and he acts like he’s the one who was wronged. But... it was another sort of asshole who didn’t own up when