Page 35 of Lords of the Campus

“Eli,” I tell her, wrapping my hands around the iced latte I ordered. “He’s eighteen months old now, yep.” An idea occurs to me. “You should meet him,” I blurt out. “I have to pick him up from daycare soon. I’d love for you to meet him.”

Madison’s smile widens. “I’d be honored, Lyric.”

We grab our coffees and head out, chit-chatting a little more about Eli as we walk. “He’s so sweet,” I gush. “Loves daycare, loves his teacher. He’s such a happy baby.”

Once we arrive, I greet Eli and introduce him to Madison. “She knew you when you were in my belly,” I tell him, digging my fingers into his tummy to tickle him. He giggles and hides his face shyly against me, but he keeps one eye on Madison as we head back to my dorm.

Once inside, I put Eli down on his playmat with some toys while Madison and I sit on the worn-out brown leather couch together.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” Madison asks, lowering her voice as she glances at Eli from the corner of her eye. “He looks exactly like Archer. Is he…?”

“Yeah,” I admit, my voice cracking a little. “He’s their son.” It’s the first time I’ve admitted the truth, but I feel safer here, freer. I know Madison isn’t going to spread it around. She’s always tried to have my back.

“What happened?” she asked. “I’m guessing they don’t know?”

“I was going to tell them,” I say, looking at him now. “But the day I was going to tell them was the same day of the pep rally.”

“Oh, ouch,” Madison says with a wince. “I get it. What about now?”

“They still don’t know,” I tell her, looking down at my coffee. “I can’t bring myself to tell them yet. Everything is so freaking complicated between us, Mads. I wish I could tell you but…”

“Hey, I’m your friend,” Madison says, reaching out to put her hand on mine. “You can tell me anything. I promise not to judge.”

I take a deep breath and look up at her. “They still blame me for their getting into trouble over the prank, so they decided they wanted revenge. They threatened to get my scholarship revoked unless I do whatever they want.”

“Oh, my God, that’s so messed up,” Madison says, an angry look crossing her features. “How dare they! You should go to the dean!”

I let out a harsh laugh. “They’re rich assholes,” I tell her. “They have the money and resources to make me look like a crazy person. I have to go along with it for now until I figure out what to do.”

“I’m so sorry,” Madison says, shaking her head. “That is so fucked up. I can’t believe they’re doing all this to you. And you let them get away with it?”

“It’s more than that,” I say, squeezing my eyes shut. I haven’t had anyone to talk to about this whole thing, so I find myself spilling everything, explaining about the sex, the complicated feelings I’ve developed, the way things seem to be tentatively better, but as I wipe away tears, I admit that I don’t know how to get out of this whole toxic mess without getting hurt.

“It just feels like maybe things are finally going well, but how long will that last?” I ask.

“You shouldn’t let them get away with this,” Madison says, eyes narrowed. “They’re assholes, yeah, but you can fight back.”

“How?” I ask, a note of bitterness in my voice. “I have no power over them.”

Madison’s eyes brighten. “Oh, but it seems you do. You admitted it yourself. They keep coming back to you for sex over and over. You should fight fire with fire. They want you, they can have you, but onyourterms, girl.”

“I’m not sure about that,” I say, hesitating. “They’ve tarnished my reputation and completely freaked out every time they thought I was flirting with someone else.”

“Then flirt withthem,” Madison insists. “Put yourself forward, make them look at you in a new light. Get them desperate for you and lay out the new rules if they want to keep having access.”

“It sounds so good,” I tell her, a note of wistfulness in my tone. “But it’s not that simple. I look like a frumpy mess. I’m not about to seduce them with my mom jeans and frizzy hair.”

“You know what?” Madison says, grabbing my hand. “I have an idea. Let’s get back at them and I want you to let me help you. You went through all the pregnancy and raising Eli without any help, but let me help you now.”

My heart hammers in my chest. “Are you sure about this?” I ask. “I don’t want to get you involved in such a complicated situation.”

“Us girls gotta stick together,” Madison argues. “Let me help you take those assholes down a peg or two.”

“Okay!” I say, my heart feeling lighter than it has in years. “Let’s do it. Let’s get back at them and fight fire with fire. I want them to eat their hearts out and beg me to be with them, then watch them follow as I walk away.”

I sit up, newfound confidence surging through me. I may be a mom, but I’m still young and I have a lot to offer. I don’t have to take this lying down, I can stand up to the boys and make them have a relationship with me on my terms.

I hope they’re ready for a whole new Lyric.

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