Page 76 of Frat House Fling

“For both of you?”

“Yes,” I said.

“I thought she hated that thing.” Grant shook his head wonderingly. “Bennett would lose his shit if he knew that.” He caught himself. “Which he’s not going to. I understand now why you made me swear an oath.”

Good.

“I can’t believe she did that for both of you. I had no idea she got around so much.”

“It’s not like that.” Ian’s voice was tense. “She’s a sweet girl.”

“A sweet girl who’s two-timing you.”

“No,” I said firmly. “She’s not. She’s not dating either of us, and she’s free to do what she wants. Right?” I looked over at Ian.

“Right.”

We both looked at Grant. “Can we just move on?”

“Sure.” It was just one word, but his voice was contemplative.

“Is anything going on with you guys?” I asked, desperate for a subject change.

Grant shrugged, still lost in thought, but Ian sat up straighter.

“I forgot to tell you guys that I got that housing stipend. The one that pays for housing next year.”

My stomach sank as I watched my friend’s excitement.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Grant said. “But congratulations.”

“Yeah, congratulations,” I echoed. Did Hailey know? Was she upset? I’d never considered this possibility when I told her about it.

We talked for a bit more, but things were a little tense. Then Ian said he needed to hit the books—something we all knew to be true, but still—things were a bit tense.

“I should get going, too. You coming, Grant?”

He shook his head. “I’ll stay out a little longer. It’s a nice night.”

We said goodbye and I followed Grant through the suite and out into the hallway. “Wait a minute,” I told him.

“You should know that she told me,” he said. “She told me that she had something going with you but that you were just friends. I didn’t know it was the room service thing, but she was upfront with me, she wasn’t trying to get away with anything.”

I appreciated that, but it also hurt me that Hailey thought we were just friends. Of course, ever since I found out that my contest win was fake, I hadn’t been myself. “I understand. But we have to talk about Hailey.”

“That’s what we’re doing.” Ian sounded confused.

I let out a sigh. “Not about that. About that housing stipend you got.”

“What about it?”

I sighed again. “Let’s walk and talk.”

22

HAILEY

Theo was waitingoutside Miller Hall after my next class. I did a double-take, seeing him there.

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