Page 15 of Strelitzias in Spring

“She’ll make biscuits.”

“You play dirty. Fine, I’ll be here around five. I need to—” I’m cut off by the vibration of my phone in my pocket. “Let me check this,” I tell Jedd before pulling it out and frowning at my cousin’s name on the display.

“C, what’s wrong? Aren’t you in Connecticut this weekend?” Celeste wanted to come with me tonight since she used to train with Jedd, but her asshole of a boyfriend decided to take her to Connecticut with Ava and her equally douchey guy to spend a weekend meeting celebrities or some shit.

I know my cousin loves him, and he seems to respect her and treat her right, but he follows her around like a goddamn stalker. I’d be concerned if she didn’t seem to love it.

“Wolf, are you free?” Celeste’s voice is panicked, and anger instantly boils beneath my skin.

“What the fuck did he do to you? I swear to God, I’ll kill him with my bare hands if he hurt you. Where—”

“Not me, Wolf, Serena. She, she—” CeCe pauses, clearing her throat. “She stayed behind, said she didn’t want to be the fifth wheel or impose. Aves and I begged her to come with us, but the sorority she just pledged had a mixer with a fraternity tonight, and she wanted to go. Sh-she promised she would be okay.” CeCe’s voice breaks, and my anger is pushed aside for fear of what she’s going to say next.

“Dylan showed up and said or did something. I don’t really know. But something happened, and that little fucking weasel caused it. Her big just called me and told me that Serena locked herself in the bathroom, and no one can get her out. She doesn’t know what to do or who else to call to help get Serena to calm down. C-can you go and get her?”

“Send me the address.” After trading a few more words with my cousin, I hang up and grip my phone so hard, I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter.

“Wolf, everything okay, son?” Looking up, I meet Jedd’s eyes and shake my head.

“That was my cousin. Her friend’s in trouble and needs some help.” I don’t know if she’s going to come out for me—I met her twice, and though I gave her a delicate little tattoo and had her lips planted against mine for a brief moment, her reaction before leaving was frosty both times. But, if she, or any woman, is in trouble because some punk decided to harass her, then I’ll make damn sure she’s safe.

“Off with ye then. And don’t forget about tomorrow.” I nod at Jedd’s retreat and take long strides to the entrance of the gym.

No one fucks with an innocent woman and gets away with it.

No one.

8

Serena

“You look like a cupcake.”

“Ava Maria, you cannot tell someone that they look like a cupcake.”

Sitting at my makeup vanity mirror, FaceTiming with Cece and Ava, I laugh as I listen to them bicker back and forth about Ava’s remarks on my outfit. She’s not wrong about my appearance; I’m going to a “My Favorite Food” mixer tonight, and my outfit is supposed to emulate a cupcake.

“C, it’s okay. Ava’s not wrong, I do look like a cupcake, but it’s intentional. It’s a messy mixer, and we have to dress like food before, well, we get covered in food.”

I’m surprised by the silence that follows my explanation. Looking up, I see the confused expressions on my two friends’ faces. “What?”

CeCe clears her throat, shaking her head before asking, “Are you saying that they’re going to throw food on you at a party? That can’t be a real thing.”

Gnawing on my lower lip, I try to find the words to explain the party I’m getting ready for. With a three-dimensional candle headband, a red bandeau top with glitter and cream-colored fabric gathered to look like frosting, and a red skirt, I look like a personified red velvet cupcake.

I didn’t even dress up for Halloween last year, so a DIY cupcake outfit in February is not something I saw coming.

“It’s not exactly food. Well, it’s edible, but it’s not like they’re throwing baked goods or a steak at you when you walk in. Meg told me that the seniors in the fraternity and sorority each get a bottle of syrup and whipped cream and that it gets very messy.”

“That sounds unsanitary. Are you sure this is a good idea?” CeCe questions, concern lacing her voice.

“It sounds fun, you old hag. Don’t bring Serena down when she’s so excited that she’s dressed like a limited-edition Hostess cupcake,” Ava offers.

Punching Ava in the arm, CeCe murmurs, “Shut up, Ava. Serena—” She pauses, turning her attention back to me and gentling her voice. “I don’t want to ruin your good time; I’m just telling you to be careful. It makes me uncomfortable that we’re not there with you. We went to the last mixer with you, and everyone was great, but still, if something happens, we’re over one hundred miles away. Don’t accept drinks from strangers; be cautious. Okay?” Greyson’s dad, Greg Jansen, is hosting a charity event this weekend, and Greyson and Dante took Ava and CeCe up to Connecticut to support him. Ava and CeCe tried to get me to come, but I had no desire to be the fifth wheel in the group.

“C, I appreciate your concern, but I’m a big girl, and I can handle myself. Meg is picking me up before we go over to the pre-game.” I met Meg, my big and a senior in Alpha Gamma, at the beginning of the semester in my diaspora class, and she convinced me to sign up for Round Robin. Before meeting Meg, Greek life was not something I was interested in, especially after the recruitment party Ava, CeCe, and I attended during the fall semester and one of the sisters, Felicity, displayed erratic and dangerous behavior toward Ava. But Meg convinced me to give it a chance. Though I’m not as active as most of the other sisters, and rarely attend chapter meetings because of my conflicting class schedule, everyone I’ve met has been welcoming and friendly.

“Make sure you turn your location on. If you need us, call, and I can always send one of my cousins over to help. Or Lincoln, he stayed back, but I think he’s working until close at Frankie’s restaurant. Just stay in touch with us, okay?”

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