Page 24 of The Bro-code

My sisters flinch at my tone. “We were going to tell you over a margarita,” Liv begins.

“Sorry you had to find out like this, we know this isn’t ideal.”

Please, tell me this isn’t happening.

“You can’t mean that she moved in?”

The question slips out almost involuntarily, but I figure out the answer when Viv sighs.

“She applied to live in the Zeta house. As a junior, she can. Of course we were going to deny her application on account of what she did to you but…”

“Her father got involved.” I finish for her.

“Yeah,” Viv confirms. “In theory we could still reject her, but we didn’t think it was wise to antagonize the Dean.”

I don’t blame them at all.

First off, they had to make a decision in my absence and they did the best they could. And besides, they’re absolutely right. If crossed, Dean Williams could make our life on campus extremely difficult.

That doesn’t change the fact that now I have to live with the girl who was screwing my boyfriend in my own bed.

“Don’t worry, Bay,” Liv reassures me. “When we say that we got your back, we mean it. She can get her daddy to strong arm us into letting her move in, but not even the Dean can force us to be her friend.”

Viv nods. “And we couldn’t be further from being her friends. I don’t judge her for sleeping around, or for liking hockey players a little too much. Who doesn’t, right?”

Right.

I mean, I’m done with dating hockey players. The only one who could ever change that decision is Cole; but he likes bunnies way too much to become monogamous any time soon.

“What I judge her for,” Viv continues. “Is sleeping with a guy who had a girlfriend.”

“A girlfriend who happened to be a sister,” Liv points out. “That’s the ultimate betrayal. There’s girl code and then there’s the Zetas sisterhood code.”

I exhale a shuddering breath.

“Thanks girls, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Cole intervenes, pulling me into his arms. “You also have me, baby. You know I’m always going to be here for you, no matter what. Ride or die, right?”

I don’t know if it’s the feeling of his solid chest under my cheek. His heartbeat, steady and strong, gives me comfort.

Or maybe it’s his familiar, clean scent of cotton and soap.

All I know is that tears well in my eyes. I’m stressed, overwhelmed and grateful all the same time.

“Let me take your bags inside, ok?” Cole whispers, placing a kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll make sure that motherfucker is gone too.”

I know I’m safe with Cole and my Zeta sisters.

But it wasn’t until I came back that I realized how hard this year is really going to be.

CHAPTER 5

BUNNY STRIKE

JAGGER

Are you one of those people who keeps hitting the snooze button to sleep until the last possible second?

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