Page 28 of Saint

Nixon smiles, finding his balance after running me over. He steps closer, reeking of pot. Even if he’s found hisfooting, his pupils are blown, and his steps are unsteady, so I’m worried he might fall into me again.

“Hey, Nix.” I force a smile when he gets a little too close.

My first month at Briar Academy, I made the mistake of letting Nixon take me out for coffee. Now, every time I’ve seen him since, he tries again.

“It’s been forever.” Nixon grins, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and leaning his mouth by my ear. “Never did quite make it to that second date.”

He pulls back far enough to wink at me, and my stomach instantly curdles.

“Can we help you with something?” Kole interrupts the uncomfortable staring contest between me and Nixon.

He looks Nixon up and down, pausing where his arm is wrapped around my shoulders. His familiar, cool expression is unflinching.

“Oh hey, man.” Nixon tips his drink up like he’s just now noticing Kole and Brax standing there. “Badass party.”

The slightest pinch forms between Kole’s eyebrows. So faint I almost miss it.

He’sannoyed—maybe?

Nixon is oblivious; his grip tightens as he turns to face me again. “I was just—Shit.”

He spills his drink down the front of my shirt, and now I’m a beer-covered mess.

“Crap, sorry about that, Vi.” Nixon reaches in to brush my chest, but I pull back.

“It’s fine.” I run my hands down my front.

It’s not. I’m soaked. But I don’t need Nixon trying to help me out when this bad night just keeps getting worse.

Brax laughs while Kole watches us like we’re a boring movie playing out in front of him.

“Let me get that.” Nixon reaches forward again, and I subtly dodge him.

“I’m fine, promise.” I turn to Brax. “Can I use your bathroom?”

He juts a thumb to the left. “There’re bathrooms attached to the spare rooms downstairs. It’s quieter down there.”

“I’ll show you.” Nixon smiles, and I really wish he would stop trying to be helpful when I’d rather he turn his attention to anyone else.

“Thanks,” I mumble.

Heading into the crowd, I glance back at Brax and Kole, who are still standing together at the bottom of the staircase. Behind them, Maddox is making his way down it, watching me, looking less friendly than he was a moment ago when he was upstairs talking to Asher.

“I’m such an idiot.” Nixon takes another drink of his beer, pulling my attention. “Really, I’m so sorry about this.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s not though.”

“Nixon, I’m good.”

And I’m getting more annoyed by the second. Because even if I don’t like being drenched in alcohol, his following me through the crowd is worse.

“Are we going in the right direction?” I ask when I reach another wall.

Sigma House is a maze, and every room looks like a strobing labyrinth.

Nixon straightens up, looking around. “Crap, no.”

---