Clearly the heat has gotten to me because why would you be apologizing to someone who means nothing to you?” I openly glare, daring him to defy me on it.
His left lid gives a lazy blink as he sags into his seat. Justin has always had a boy band appeal to me.
“You know”—I press in across the table—“I knew once you came to Whitney Briggs, the girls would be all over you. But I had no clue you’d reciprocate right back. The killer is, you were basically monogamous to her. I bet the two of you laughed at me—both Knox and me behind our backs.”
He gives a bored blink. “Like you’re doing now?”
“We have reason to.” It would be true if we actually found this funny.
“I’m not here to argue with you, Harp.” I flinch a little because I’ve always hated it when he shortened my name that way. “I just wanted to let you know she’s done with me.”
My heart sinks. It’s as if that one sentence explains why Knox has been so distant.
“She’s furious. She can’t stand the fact that jackass is into you.” His cheek hikes up on one side as if it amused him. “And you know what? I’m furious that jackass is into you too.”
A moment thumps by, and I’m stunned by the revelation. It turns out our little scheme worked, and it worked a little too good if you ask me.
A wild panic fills me. “You should fight for her. Don’t just sit here. Hit the flowers and candy hard. Go get her. Trust me, the two of you belong together.” Dear God, is this really my life? I’m coaxing my cheating ex back into the arms of what amounts to the other woman? I take a deep breath. Why yes, I am. “Go after her with a vengeance, Justin.” My heart ratchets its way up my throat as if it’s about to fist pump for him to succeed in the effort itself. “What she and Knox had was papier-mâché, but what the two of you have—well, that’s a very real beating heart.”
Justin looks out at the wall with a faraway look in his eyes. “That’s funny you say that. There is a beating heart involved. It’s just not mine.”
He takes off, sans the coffee bath I’ve threatened him with, and now that I’ve lost my appetite, I’m wondering if sparing him was a good idea.
What just happened? Justin not only gave me an apology, but I didn’t wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze the living breath out of him. Furthermore, I gave him relationship advice.
Knox and his cold demeanor bounce through my mind. Janelle can’t have him back. She’s toxic. She’s poison.
I hope to God that Justin takes my advice for once.
The mixer at Kappa Gamma Gamma of course includes our matchups at Beta Kappa Phi. And since some of our favorite boys belong to that alcohol-soaked frat house, none of us mind the mandatory get-togethers. Tonight’s theme is A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is ethereal and wholly romantic with the exception of the peppering of frat boys who have chosen to don the mask of a donkey’s head.
Ava, Lucky, and I are festooned with floral wreaths as our crowns emulating our favorite Snapchat filter.
“So, where’s your main squeeze?” Lucky bumps her hip into mine so hard she nearly sends me sailing across the room.
“Finishing up practice.” I can’t imagine how exhausted he must be. Knox made love to me last night for hours on end, sweetly and deliberately. I would swear on my life that boy never went to sleep because each time I opened my eyes he was right there watching me with somber eyes. It was haunting and heartbreaking and makes me wonder if maybe there’s something wrong with one of his family members and he was sworn to secrecy. Whatever he’s holding close to the vest, it’s sucked the life out of him, and it kills me to see him so disturbingly melancholy.
Ava cranes her neck toward the door. “How about your sister and brother? I’m dying to meet them. Is your sister joining us at Briggs this fall?”
“Next fall. And believe me, that will be soon enough. Harley is a spitfire. She says what she wants and does what she wants. And as empowering as that might sound, it’s ridiculously stupid half the time. There’s a reason we have checks and balances in us. Too much truth can be the equivalent of throwing acid in somebody’s