Page 24 of Say It Slowly

Oh, nowthat’sinteresting. “So why aren’t you, then?”

“I just told you. The whole concept of campus royalty is fucked up.” He shrugs. “So I refused to be initiated.”

Wow. “That’s actually pretty impressive, refusing power like that.”

He frowns. “Roman never agreed with my decision. But after all that shit happened with his brother, I knew I’d made the right choice.”

I perk up at the mention of Roman’s brother—the brother henevermentions. I lean back in my chair, coffee in hand, trying not to look too interested, even though my heart rate is speeding up. “So, uh, what happened with his brother?”

It occurs to me that we’re sitting at a coffee shop on a campus where Roman rules supreme. And his pseudo-girlfriend sitting with his arch-enemy is going to attract attention. But I don’t care. Roman has to be shown that he can’t dictate every single facet of my life.

Ash pushes out a breath. “Whatdidn’thappen with his brother?” He shakes his head. “That guy is unhinged. ButRoman idolizes him. Mr. Rush was pretty abusive when they were kids, and they relied on each other a lot.”

“Abusive physically?” I ask. “Emotionally?”

I’m digging, because I doubt I’ll ever get any of this from Roman himself. He’s a very closed, very private book, and he rarely opens up about himself.

Ash blows out a breath, and shakes his head. “Both. I mean, I remember times when Roman was beaten so badly, he had to be taken to the hospital. But because his dad has some pretty high-powered connections–” He spreads his arms “–nothing was ever done about it. So Roman and his brother just had to take it, until, eventually, they got old enough to start fighting back.”

My God. My heart aches for Roman. He’s a fucking asshole, but as my therapistlovesreminding me, “hurt people, hurt people.” It’s not an excuse for treating other people like shit, but it’s an explanation, at least.

I shake my head. “I don’t get it. What does any of that have to do with you, though?”

He tilts his head back and rakes a hand over his face, like getting into it is going to bring up some really old shit. But he’s the one who brought this up, so I don’t even feel a little guilty about making him spill the details.

“A couple years ago, we were all at a party, and some shit went down. There was a fight between Roman’s brother, and some dude. The other guy was beat up pretty bad—almost died. An ambulance was called, cops got involved. And when it came down to it, Roman wanted me to cover for his brother, but I wouldn’t do it.” He sits up straighter. “I mean, this dude is a fuckinglit fuse. It’s only a matter of time before he kills someone.” His blue eyes flick up to meet mine. “And Roman is his carbon-fucking-copy.”

I swallow, remembering Roman beating Tyler up, and his hand around my throat yesterday in the shower. “W-what do you mean?”

“I mean Roman is dangerous, and I’d stay the fuck away from him, if I were you,” he says flatly, not bothering to soften his words with a smile or a laugh or anything.

I half-laugh, half-scoff at that, just to break the sudden tension. “Like I have a choice. I’ve been trying to get away from him since the day I set eyes on him. But it’s not that simple.”

“You know, you’re the only girl I know of who hasevertold him ‘no.’”

I shrug one shoulder. “Sure, I’ve told him ‘no.’ But when he doesn’t listen, does it really matter what I say or how many times I say it?”

And like the rest of the female population, eventually, I did give into him. I may not have fallen at his feet, but I still fell. And Ihatemyself for that. I’m going to need several therapy sessions on that one subject alone.

I push out a breath. “So where is this brother now? I haven’t seen him around.”

“After the incident, he was kicked out of ExU, and his parents paid for him to move…fuck, I don’t even know where. There’s a rumor that he’s in jail now.”

Oh, damn. “For what? Assault?”

“Yeah, some shit. Who knows.”

Okay, well, maybe that explains why the guys don’t want the police poking around in their business.

I push out a breath, and glance around the small patio. Everyone is looking at us, of course. And not just looking, but staring. Normally, all these eyes on me would make me self-conscious, but I must be getting used to it. Either that or I’m just too tired to care.

“So, did you just bring me here to tell me to get away from Roman?” I say it a little flirty, because, fuck, why not? Ash is hot, and if Roman’s reaction to me yesterday is any indication, then he won’t be bothering me for much longer.

“And to see how you’re doing. I saw the flyers around campus.”

“Yeah. Still haven’t heard anything. I’m hoping she’s just…” I push out a breath and fight back the tears. I hate crying in front of people. It never fails to make things awkward, because the other person never knows what to say. “I don’t know…I just hope she’s okay.”

Ash nods, but he doesn’t try to reassure me, like everyone else. He doesn’t say anything, and I don’t know why, but that comforts me. I guess it’s because he’s not just dismissing my fears, like the rest of the world has done since this whole fucking nightmare started.

---