Page 83 of Chase
“Ya better.”
Chapter Forty-Three
AFTER A CAUTIOUS ANDuneventful walk across campus with Davis, I settled into my seat in the HH conference room. I offered quick hellos and kept things light. The gossip mill had moved on from me and was now focusing on the upcoming Havenwood Handsome Devils Dinner and Date Night Charity Auction which was set to take place at the end of April right before finals.
We had to cover the event on all platforms and I was in charge of making sure everything was edited and scheduled tolaunch on the app. I was trying to pay attention and focus on putting together a preliminary to-do list, but it was damn hard with my brother texting me every two seconds about his belly.
DAVIS:
How much longer? I’m hungrier than a tick on a bear
ME:
Have a snack
DAVIS:
I had a banana and those protein bites you made
Try to leave early so we can eat
ME:
We’re almost done
DAVIS:
I need supper, Sloaney, these snacks you packed aren’t cutting it
Feed me!!!
ME:
You're a pain
Gimme five min and I’ll be out
I hurry outta the HH office door expecting to see my brother wasting away from having to wait to eat, when I see him leaning against the wall while entertaining a pretty blonde.
She’s got Delta letters embroidered in bubblegum pink on her trendy oversized acid wash denim jacket. Her glossy, curled waves are set perfectly along her back and her makeup’s flawless. She’s every bit his type and every bit the kinda girl I was expected to be.And I’m so glad I’m not.
“This is Ashley, one of the TA’s from my psychology class. Ashley, this is my twin sister, Sloane,” he drawls out and she smiles like a cat who caught the canary when he says her name.
She doesn’t waste any time praising him over a paper he wrote, and he thanks her with a wink and a smile. That Davis Higgins combo has left a string of broken hearts across several states and it looks like blondie is next in line.
I don’t hide my eye roll when they strike up a conversation about football while she drags her finger up and down his throwing arm. He’s smiling like a devil and she’s got dollar signs in her eyes. He’d notice ‘em if he’d glance on up every once in a while. His eye balls are glued to her chest.
“So you’ll come with me then? All the houses are going to be open on Greek Lane, it’s going to be a huge block party.” I shake my head no behind her back but he’s not paying me a lick of attention. He’s too busy agreeing to go with her. He never could resist a pretty blonde. “I promise you, you’ll have a good time,” she leans into his side and whisper’s something into his ear that has him turning beet red.This girl is trouble with a capital T.
She turns her body toward me and I plaster on a plastic smile while she looks me over. “You should come too, you can meet some of the girls,” she offers with a heavy handed dose of fake enthusiasm.That’s a hard pass and a hell to the no.
A group of Deltas walk down the hall, and I feel my hands tighten into fists as they approach their leader. It’s easy to tell she’s the queen bee.
I roll my fingertips over my thumb and the phantom pain pools under my scarred skin. I’ve done my fair share of cutting while cursing the UGA Deltas and what was supposed to be. It was what Mama picked for me. But it’s never what I woulda picked for myself. It all seems to have worked out the way it’s supposed to be. I could never be them.
And after two intense therapy sessions this week, I’m starting to believe that everything really does happen for a reason, and those reasons brought me to Havenwood. Being here has given me more opportunities to make choices for me than I’ve ever had before. Evie, the Drama Department, the HH, and Chase are all choices I’ve made for myself and I’ve got zero regrets.
My eyes are wide open now. They aren’t fogged up with self-hate and clouded with regret. And right now, they see every move this Ashley is making when she exchanges info with my brother.
