Page 56 of Get Even

“It was a group effort. We collaborated,” Kit winked and I felt a tinge of nerves run through me.

“This isn’t evidence of an orgy, is it? Because I can’t believe you would do that without me–”

“Just look at it!” Kit crowed and I laughed and then gasped as I took in the truly awful photo on his phone. The flash had gone off and highlighted the red veins in Aaron’s eyes, his usually carefully arranged blonde hair was unkempt and sweaty, but the real kicker was the line of coke racked up on top of–

“Is that a pool table?” I asked and Leo smiled for once, leaving me staring becausefuckhe was actually pretty when he wasn’t frowning.

“Yep,” Kat said smugly. “Xander showed it to the Coach this morning.”

“You did?” I breathed, the phone hanging forgotten in my hands.

Xander grinned, “I was just so concerned about Aaron’s severe coke problem.”

I started laughing and couldn’t stop, tears ran down my face and Liv tutted as she wiped away any smudged make-up from under my eyes as I wheezed. “Oh my god, is it my birthday? Did I forget or something?”

Kit smiled, revealing a flash of the piercing in his tongue, “We couldn’t prove he leaked that photo of you, so we figured why not get him back in a Jamie-approved manner? Anyway, he got kicked off the team, apparently his dad wasfurious.”

“I’ll bet,” I murmured, feeling oddly empty after my laughter had run out – but it was in a good way. I was smug as all hell that Aaron had gotten what he deserved, but I wasn’t invested in him anymore. The revenge barely tasted sweet, though I definitely appreciated their gesture. “Thank you guys, you’re all… well, I don’t know what I’d do without you.” A chorus ofawsounded and I waved them off irritably.

“What was this Liv was saying about you doing something last night?” Ryan had a tight edge to his voice that made me stare at him for a moment before answering. Was he jealous? His jaw clenched slightly and I restrained a grin.

“So last night…” I explained how I’d driven to Phoenix and done the test recording for Max and Ryan’s eyes warmed, pride smoothing his face as he beamed.

“So?” Kit demanded. “Did he offer to sign you?”

I grinned, “He did!” I practically squealed the words and Ryan wrapped his arms around me in a fierce hug, brushing his lips against my cheek and then my ear.

“I’m so proud of you,” he whispered and tears rushed to my eyes and heat pooled between my legs. Who knew validation did it for me?

I smiled up at him as Xander stood and pushed his way down the bench, declaring he was buying us all drinks to celebrate. I could barely breathe through the joy that flooded my system as I looked around at everyone chatting, could barely believe how crazy things had become in just twenty-four hours.

I glanced back over to Ryan and he immediately smiled at me but there was something in his expression–

“Drinks!” Xander announced and I accepted mine gratefully. “To new beginnings,” he said a little more quietly, with half a glance at Liv, “and friends.”

I cringed half-heartedly at the cheesiness but joined in on the toast as we clanked our cups together.

“Will you come back to mine?” Ryan asked as he leaned into me.

I smiled, “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

He laughed and kissed me deeply, tongue briefly twining with mine before he pulled away with a smirk. I grinned, kissing his cheek. It was crazy how your luck could change so fast.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

SLOW - RUMER

We’d leftthe bar after a few more rounds of drinks, both of us enjoying the time with our friends but also ready to be alone. Neither of us were particularly buzzed and I felt content as we strolled through the park back to Ryan’s. I’d thanked Nick again before we left and reminded him that if he ever wanted to pursue a complaint against Taylor that I’d have his back, the same way he always had mine. He’d pressed a quick kiss to my cheek and smiled but said nothing else, which worried me a little. We’d become fast friends after being paired up on a group project but I hoped he knew that we were more than just course-buddies.

“Are you okay?” I asked Ryan as we turned the corner just outside of the park entrance and he looked down at me with a smile.

“Of course,” he said and raised our hands between us so he could kiss my fingers. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I can’t believe you went to the Dean for me,” I murmured, heart pounding as I still tried to process it. Nobody had ever put themselves on the line like that for me before. Nobody had cared enough to.

“There’s very little I wouldn’t do for you,” Ry said softly and I swallowed hard as I met his eyes for a moment before looking away.

“Oh my god,” I breathed as I looked up and saw a familiar blonde head in the distance accompanied by a stern looking skinny woman.

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