Page 23 of The Bro-code

“I’m still the Gamma president. We still have to work together, so I’m still gonna see you. I’ll win you back.”

He’s either batshit crazy, or he has chosen not to listen to a word of what I just said. “I accepted that I’m not gonna have the privilege to avoid seeing you ever again, at least until graduation. But our relationship will be limited to Greek related activities. Other than that, you’re dead to me, Topher. Now, get out of my way.”

I don’t look at him as I unlock the door and enter the Zeta house, followed by Cole.

“Bay! Yay, you’re back!” Liv must have been waiting by the door and she immediately pulls me into a sisterly hug.

“Bay!” Viv comes to hug me from the other side. “We’ve missed you. You look fantastic. That tan is perfect and did you lose weight? Not that you needed to.”

My clothes do feel a little looser than usual. Isn’t it crazy that I spent months eating five course meals every night and I lost weight? Michelin star dining for you, I swear. I bet that’s how all the celebrities stay in shape. Amazing food doesn’t make you gain weight.

“How are you, girls? Did you have a nice summer? You two look gorgeous as usual.” I compliment them, and I mean it.

“Is that you, Bay?” Tami comes out from the living room. “It’s so nice to be back. Let’s celebrate, I’m gonna make margaritas.”

Topher aside, it’s nice to be back. The Zeta house has felt like home since I rushed the sorority freshman year and the girls? Most of them feel like sisters to me.

I hug Tami. “A drink would be amazing, babe. I knew seeing Topher again wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t expect all… that.” I gesture toward the front door.

A look passes between my sisters.

“Sorry Bay,” Liv sighs. “He tried to come inside, he wanted to arrange the roses all over the living room and up the stairs and into your room. We stood our ground.”

Viv and Tami nod in agreement. “When we saw what he was doing, we called campus police, but they didn’t do anything about it. They just left after talking to him for a few minutes.”

“He must have paid them,” Tami suggests and I think that’s probably what happened.

“I wish I didn’t have to see him at Greek government meetings and whenever we organize mixers with the Gammas, but the alternative would be to resign from president and I don’t want to.”

My sisters huddle around me in support.

“I’m glad you aren’t thinking about resigning,” Liv says. “Topher doesn’t deserve to be given that much impact on your life. He’s self-important enough.”

Viv squeezes my hand. “You have us by your side anyway. If he gives you any problems, we’re going to make him regret the day he was born.”

Viv is one of the most happy go lucky, gentle creatures I’ve ever met, unless you piss her off. I wouldn’t want to be in Topher’s shoes if he ever happens to cross her.

“Thanks girls,” I say, swallowing the lump that has suddenly formed in my throat. “I’m so sorry for the way I disappeared. I know just an email isn’t much of a warning, but?—”

“Are you kidding?” Tami wraps one arm around my shoulders in support. “We don’t blame you at all. You had to do what was best for you. In a situation like that, I don’t know what I would have done. Murder would have definitely been on the table. I told Nick that if he ever does anything like that to me, he can kiss his own wiener goodbye, because I’ll cut it off and make him eat it.”

I giggle at the gruesome image Tami’s words paint. Maybe I should have gone apeshit on Topher.

“Hey, can you girls keep it down? People are trying to sleep here.”

I can’t believe my eyes.

What the fuck is Bianca Williams doing on the stairs in the tiniest silk PJs I’ve ever seen and with her auburn hair wrapped in two giant rollers pinned on her head?

The look on my face must say it all, because I see the panic on my sisters’ faces.

Liv and Viv flank me, while Tami runs up to the midway step Bianca stopped on.

“Bianca, we told you to stay in your room. Come on, this isn’t the time to have any kind of discussion with our president.”

As Tami practically pushes Bianca up the stairs, Liv and Viv drag me into the living room. Cole follows us as a backup of some kind.

“What the fuck is she doing here?”

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