Page 66 of No One Else

I put the lid back on and set it on the desk. “Is this the sort of thing you like?”

“I like emeralds,” she admits. “Like you said, they make my eyes pop.”

I tuck that info away for the future. “No, I mean gifts like this. Jewelry, flowers, luxury things.”

She finally turns toward me, her face sorrowful.

“I don’t have the money to buy this kind of stuff-”

She holds up a hand, interrupting me. “Carter thinks the best way to show affection is through gifts, through spending. It’s what he grew up with, what he knows.”

I twirl the box around on the flat surface with my finger, pushing it to the edge and back. “He can give you things I can’t.”

“I don’t want this stuff,” she says vehemently, knocking it onto the floor. “He never understood I didn’t need it. Someone who listens to me, values me - that’s more important.” Her voice turns softer, her hard stare losing its sharp edge. “I didn’t realize I had someone all along who would give me that, if I’d just taken the time to look.”

She steps in closer, covering my hand with hers. “How about I take you out tonight, to make it up to you?”

Yeah, that’s exactly what I want. To be even further emasculated by my girlfriend having to pay for me.

She must sense my hesitation because she sighs, rubbing her forehead. “Evan, there is no competition. I used to date him and now I don’t. End of story. He can send me all the crap he wants, but it doesn’t change that I’m with you now. I choose you.”

Her words warm my heart, furthering my resolve of what I need to do. “I choose you too. Always.”

I give her a kiss not at all appropriate for work and then tell her I have to get back to Luke, who’s still waiting on me. I go through the motions spotting him on the weight bench, but my mind is filled with my plans for tonight.

***

IPULL UP TO THE KAPPADelta Phi fraternity house around eight after I’ve cooked dinner for Dad and made sure he’s zoned out in front of the TV.

At the kissing booth fundraiser, the sorority had their name plastered over everything, so it’s not like I could forget it, which works to my advantage now because otherwise I’d have no idea which Greek house Carter lives in.

I park on the street and walk up the drive, the perfectly tended lawn somehow green even though ours at home is a nice shade of brown this time of year, no matter how hard I try to keep up with it. The two story house has stately white columns in front, giving it a northeastern historic feel, along with the Greek letters emblazoned on the top arch.

I’ve never been to this area of campus before, never had a reason to, and I’m not quite sure what to expect as I open the unlocked front door, peeking around at the empty downstairs. Some kind of debauchery, maybe an orgy?

It looks like a normal living room, other than a foosball table off to the side, along with a big sectional and large flat screen mounted on the wall. I cautiously walk in, knowing I’m intruding, but needing to see this through all the same.

A big guy heads down the stairs, completely ignoring me as he walks past.

“Is Carter around?” I ask.

“Yo, Carter,” he booms, his gaze never straying from each step in front of him until he’s out the front door.

A few seconds later a door upstairs opens, and the man himself appears, looking slick in a polo, khakis, and an obnoxiously big watch on his wrist. Who our age actually wears stuff like this? And on a weeknight just sitting at home?

“Evan,” he nods his head, walking down to meet me.

Determined to come in here and not let him get an edge over me, my brows still shoot up of their own volition. He already knows who I am?

“Don’t look surprised,” he drawls, looking bored. “I always knew you had a thing for Nat. I kept tabs on you.”

Well, fuck. So much for the upper hand. I clear my throat, standing tall, topping him by a few inches. It’s petty, but I’ll take whatever advantage I can get. “Then you’re aware I’m her boyfriend now. And you need to cut this shit out sending her flowers and jewelry.”

His eyes rake me over, obviously not impressed with what he sees. No, my Suncoast Athletics shirt and jeans I’ve worn out over the last couple years aren’t as expensive as his clothes, but I’ve got something he doesn’t. Natalie.

“Did she send you over here to tell me to stop?” he jeers, a nasty smirk on his face.

“She doesn’t know I’m here.”

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