Page 128 of The Friend Zone

I wouldn’t put anything past that fucker.

“Wait,” Jagger says. “Are you talking about this bottle?” He takes the bottle of Champagne on top of Bay’s desk. “You had it with you when I found you in the Dean’s office with that fucker.”

Bay nods, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. “Do you think?—”

We’re all thinking about it. That motherfucker must have put something in Bay’s drinks all night. We’re just lucky that shedidn’t drink anything he gave her, or I don’t even want to think about what could have happened.

“We need to call the cops,” Jagger says. “Mumford has gotten away with all his shit for way too long. It’s time he pays for his behavior.”

I agree with him. “You’re right. We should call the cops and also alert the Dean’s office?—”

“About what?” Bay asks. “Before we get law enforcement and the school administration involved, we need to be sure that we have enough proof.”

Jagger insists. “We have that video, the pills. We have a bottle he put roofies in. How much more proof do we need?”

There’s frustration in Bay’s tone when she explains how she sees the situation. “You know Topher almost as well as I do. We’ve all seen him walking the line and talking himself out of more than one sticky situation. His dad is a big shot lawyer and Topher has learned from the best.”

Jagger sniffs at the bottle opening, as if that contained the ironclad proof we need. “If we give this to the cops…”

“He’s going to say he got the bottle from a table or at the bar. Unless someone saw him slip a roofie inside it,” Bay argues. “That isn’t proof of anything but that someone, at some point, tampered with that drink.”

She’s right and we all know it.

“But we have the pills, Nova. This was Topher’s room before you moved in.”

Bay demolishes that piece of evidence too. “He’s going to deny they’re his. Unless we can find a prescription or a receipt for them…”

“Yeah,” I finish on her behalf. “I doubt he got that shit from a pharmacy. Whoever sold it to him probably doesn’t issue receipts.”

Jagger’s face falls when he realizes that Bay is right. “But at least we could use that memory stick to get him kicked out of Gamma Delta Tau. It isn’t even close to what he deserves, but?—”

She puts the final nail in the coffin of Jagger’s theory. “He’s gonna deny he knew anything about it. He’ll say he gave the stick to his predecessor and blame Travis for not deleting the videos after he sent them to the central chapter.”

We’re silent again. We can argue about it as much as we want, but Bay is absolutely right. Topher has been getting away with his bullying, hazing and blackmailing for years. This time is no different, despite the material proof in our hands.

“So what?” Ryker raises his voice. “Is he getting away with it? What the fuck would have happened if he hadn’t bumped into Jagger and Cole outside that bathroom at the rush party? Or tonight, if Jagger hadn’t found you? Who’s saying that he wouldn’t have convinced you to drink that Champagne? Who’s saying that he wouldn’t have become violent if you turned him down? He could have fucking raped you, Bay. He’s been trying to do it since the day you two met.”

One single tear slides out of Bay’s eyes, creating a wet track on her perfect skin. “I know. I’m thankful he didn’t. I’m thankful I have you guys.”

Ryker’s fists are clenched to his sides. “You do have us. And I’m sure Cole and Jagger agree with me that we would do anything to keep you safe. This is why,” he says, marching toward the door. “I can’t let Topher get away scot free. I don’t give a fuck our proof wouldn’t hold in a court of law. I’m just going to teach that motherfucker a lesson. We’ll see how he’s gonna keep this shit up after I’m gonna break every bone in his body.”

I can’t say that I disagree with the sentiment. Topher deserves to get his ass kicked. It’s been a long time coming.

“Ryker, please don’t.” Bay grabs his arm. “If you hurt him, the only one who’s gonna get in trouble is you.”

My teammate’s jaw is ticking, his eyes full of dark fury. “I’ll gladly get in trouble, but that fucker will never hurt anyone else ever again. Especially not the woman I love.”

“Ryker, he’s not worth it. Please. You’ll end up in jail.” She surrounds his waist with her arms, stopping his advance toward the door.

“But you’re worth it, Cinnamon. Don’t you understand?” he turns around and his expression softens as he looks at our girl.

“I know,” Bay agrees. “I love you, Ryker. And rather than seeing Topher get his ass kicked, I want to be with you. Please let this go.”

I see the moment when Ryker relents and I don’t blame him.

“You’re right,” he sighs. “It just doesn’t sit well with me that he gets to be such a piece of shit creep with total impunity.”

Bay’s blue eyes go from Ryker, to Jagger, to me. “I’m not saying that I want to let him get away with it. We just need to hold on to the evidence we have and wait.”

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