Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,48

have full faith in me. I’d take that trade-off.

“I’m heading out. Later, Pops.” I tipped my head. “The lovely Miss Eve.”

“Such a charmer,” she said.

I handed back his scotch. “Oh. And thanks for the chocolate. They delivered on the presentation.”

“What?” Dad plopped down next to Eve. “What are you talking about?”

“The chocolate pastries you sent me. I got them today. Tasted fresh from the kitchen.”

He frowned. “I didn’t send you any chocolates.”

“Yes, you did. The same ones we got in France.”

“Those were good,” he agreed, “but I still didn’t send them to you.”

“Seriously?” I stopped. “Well, Val didn’t send them either and Ryder, Rick, Ezra, and I don’t give each other presents. Wonder who they’re from?”

“No card?”

“Nope.”

“Maybe it’s from one of the bands you’ve worked with,” Eve spoke up. “A thank-you for all you’ve done.”

“Could be, but I would’ve sworn they were the same from that restaurant in France. I’m trying to think who I told about them.”

“Just a coincidence,” Dad said. “Chocolate is a common thank-you gift.”

“Yeah. That’s true.” I closed over the doorknob. “Have a good night. See you tomorrow, old man.”

“Sliding in that ‘old man’ dig because I didn’t give you the damn chocolates.”

Laughing, I left them to it. Dad and Eve had been spending quite a lot of time together. More than friends usually do and I say that as someone who lives with his boys.

I rode the elevator down and nodded to Paunch on my way through security. “Hey, do you know who dropped off my package today?”

“Wallace. The regular guy.”

“All right. Thanks.”

I let it go. I had my money on Eve being right. A gift from a band.

Climbing into Ezra’s car, I couldn’t help scanning the seats for presents of a different kind. I couldn’t prove Serena did it but I’d never be caught out like that again.

The drive home was long. The sun beat me across the horizon and streetlamps and cyclists with reflector lights led me the rest of the way. I jammed out to a demo tape by Fuel. Not for work. Because they were kickass. This band had a great sound and a destiny in Bianca’s check-them-out pile.

I rolled into Ryder’s driveway with minutes until dinner. Multiple times Dad asked me to move back home, saying Val was welcome any time. I couldn’t leave. Wherever Val was, that is where I had to be.

Speaking of which...

I bounded into the house in search of her. This close to dinner she was either in the kitchen cooking or the chef got there first and shooed her off to the dining room. The voices floating down the main hallway told me the answer.

Adam jumped up at the sight of me. “Jaxson!”

“Hey, little man.” I ruffled his hair, picking him up and carrying him to the empty seat next to Val. We sat down and got a kiss for our troubles.

“You’re just in time,” she said. “I was just telling everyone about the house mother/spy who has been sent to stop me making big changes to the Sallys.”

“A spy?”

Val told us what went down at her meeting that day.

“Am I missing something?” Ryder replied. “Blindsiding you with a rule change before you get the chance to make good on your promises. Why is it so important that you guys do weekly strenuous activities?”

“Excellent question, my love, and it’s the same one I’m asking myself.”

Ezra’s knuckles paled, clutching his knife. “And I’m asking why Aiden wants in on everything you’re doing. He even said you have to go on that pledge trip with him? You’re not going out there with him alone. Why should you go out there at all? He can evaluate his pledges by himself.”

“He claims I’m supposed to help and Jade backed him up,” Valentina replied. “I can’t say he’s being off because he’s not asking me to do anything he didn’t do with Leighton. They planned parties and events together. They evaluated the pledges like they both had to approve a new Sally or Sam.”

“The guy is off,” said Ezra. “He’s going to dress it up as innocent but don’t let your guard down around him.”

“My guards are all over him,” Val replied. “I’ll never be alone with him or end up in a situation where someone isn’t watching my back. Even if the entire sorority does come at me with duct tape and rope, Juliet’s not going to hold the van door open for them. It’s not about keeping me safe. It’s about everyone—Sallys and Sams—making it to the end