Page 44 of The Bro-code

“Sure.” Bay says to Ward, but her glare is aimed at Topher. “As long as it isn’t him, I’ll kiss any of the Gammas.”

Ward claps Topher on the shoulder. “We have a deal. Make your choice and let’s get this done. Who should Bay kiss?”

Topper’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Yo Cole,” he throws the chip. “Catch. Go ahead. Since you’ve been begging for scraps of Bay’s attention while we were dating, I think it should be you. I feel charitable tonight.”

Holy shit. I thought Topher was going to choose Tucker or another one of the brothers who seem to have his back all the time.

I definitely wasn’t expecting this.

His motive however is crystal clear. Topher has always been jealous of Cole’s friendship with his ex. I’ve heard him accuse them of fucking behind his back a few times after hitting the kegs too hard. By calling this charity, he’s trying to humiliate Cole. Especially when everyone knows our team captain is here on a scholarship and wouldn’t be able to pay five hundred bucks for charity.

“I don’t think so,” Cole shakes his head, clearly furious. “I’ve told you many times that Bay and I are just friends. Not everyone acts the way you do, stabbing others in the back.”

Topher barks out an incredulous laugh. “Are you for real? If it’s true that you’ve never touched my girl, this would be your chance to find out what you’ve been missing for two years. Why not take it?”

Cole is holding that golden chip with white-knuckle force. “I told you. Bay and I are just friends. We don’t see each other that way.”

BAY

I’ve been back on campus for barely twenty-four hours and I’m already regretting coming back.

Believe me, after Topher’s betrayal I’ve considered transferring schools. Bridgeport U sounded especially appealing, since Lake is in town, but in the end I didn’t act on my fantasies of watching Star Cove becoming smaller and smaller in my rear view mirror.

First off because why should I go? I’m not the one who did something wrong.

Why should I let Topher take away the Zetas from me? I was the first ever sophomore to be elected president of our chapter and while I could transfer to the Bridgeport chapter, it wouldn’t be the same. I would just be one of the sisters, not Bay Woods, Zeta Theta Beta president.

There’s also Cole.

He’s my best friend and the low key crush I’ve always had on him prevented me from moving.

Even though I never thought he felt the same way, a small part of me hoped that now that I’m single, things between me and Cole would turn romantic.

Well obviously not.

When Topher throws the golden chip at Cole, my BFF looks… horrified. Disgusted. Like the proverbial deer in front of headlights.

“I told you. Bay and I are just friends. We don’t see each other that way.”

I always suspected he felt that way, but boy does it hurt hearing it from the lion’s mouth. He isn’t even looking at me when he slashes my hopes with his deep, sexy voice. In his defense, he doesn’t know how I feel.

If we weren’t surrounded by half the campus student population right now, I would turn on my heels and run to my room.

But I can’t. That would give Topher and Bianca the satisfaction to see me cry.

Even when I found them in bed together, I managed to keep the tears under control.

I need to look away from Cole’s stunned dark blue eyes though, or I’ll lose my battle.

With my heart beating so hard that I fear everyone out here will hear it, my eyes finally move away and land on Ryker.

He’s been watching the drama unfolding on my front lawn with the same sardonic smile he had yesterday when he made me ruin my lipstick at the airport.

Another urge takes hold of me. I’m dying to slap that amused smirk off his handsome face and at the same time pull him by that tight black t-shirt and show Topher what he’ll never get to do again with me.

The air is crackling with tension as Topher snickers at Cole. “Pussy.” He then extends his hand, demanding to have his fucking golden chip back. “Let’s see, who shall get to kiss the Zeta president?”

“You gave the chip to me, so you’ve lost the right to call the shots.” Rather than relinquishing the chip, Cole hands it to Jagger Connelly.

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