Page 14 of Begrudgingly Yours
“Sup, man?” Dax says as he enters our room and places his bookbag in the corner. I thought he was getting lunch on campus, but maybe he thought the same thing as me because he looks surprised to see me.
We’ve been on autopilot since the party this past weekend. It’s a cycle of waking up, going to class and practice, and then existing within our usual routine after getting back to the Alpha Xi house. He takes a second shower with his expensive toiletries, I set up a game of whatever we’re obsessed with at the moment, and then we play until it’s time to focus on homework or go to bed.
Sometimes it’s just us, and sometimes our friends or other members join us, but regardless, it’s much more awkward than usual. We exchange pleasantries, and we speak like we always do because of muscle memory, but our inside jokes don’t land as easily, and it’s harder to smile at each other in the way we’re used to.
It needs to fucking end.
“Did you reach out to Beta Gamma about the benefit in afew months?” I ask, trying to sound relaxed despite having to force the words out. Our social chair from last year graduated, but Sam knew Dax’s charisma would be perfect for the job while he prepped an underclassman to take over next year. The benefit next month is for our philanthropy, and it was Dax’s job to invite the other Greek houses at Bensen. He has built relationships with the other social chairs and presidents quickly—and impressively I might add, considering we’ve only been back in school for about a month.
It’s not something we’d usually discuss unless Dax was struggling with the new responsibilities, but it’s better than sitting in silence.
Dax absentmindedly unlaces his Air Force 1s before flinging them across the floor and ruffling a hand through his hair. He looks frustrated, his cherry scent turning sour the longer he sits. I can tell what’s going on between us is about to come to a head.
“Is that seriously what you want to ask me right now?” he says, exasperation in his tone. My best friend has never been good at hiding his emotions. He wears them on his sleeve, the opposite of me, which is probably why we’re reaching our melting point.
I shrug my shoulders. “Those girls are sticklers. Their president would wring Sam’s neck if she missed it. Not to mention, she’d probably not invite Alpha Xi totheirphilanthropy benefit just to be petty.” I laugh to soften the tension in the air, but Dax doesn’t even crack a smile.
“Do you think I’m dumb?” he asks, and the seriousness in his tone causes my brows to raise.
“What? Dax, no?—”
“Then why are you questioning if I’ll get it done in time? I’m not stupid, okay? You don’t have to remind me.”
Maybe bringing up the benefit wasn’t the best idea.Still, I don’t think this actually has anything to do with Beta Gamma or charity right now.
“Okay,” I relent, taking a deep breath. “We need to talk, Dax. Seriously, we can’t keep tip-toeing around this.”
Something flashes in his eyes. Panic, maybe… or worry. Something that makes me pause before I realize we can’t skip over this again. We have to talk about how we’re feeling.
Isn’t that what pack mates do, anyway?
Before I can steer the conversation in any way, Dax blurts out, “Do you like my sister?”
I sputter, nearly choking on my own spit. “What?!”
“Is that why you’ve been weird with me?” The follow-up question leaves me even more confused, because he thinks Ilikehissister?
Again, Dax continues before I can respond, pacing around the room with a renewed energy. “Because, if you like her or want to be with her, that means we’re not meant to be pack, so I’d completely understand if that’s the reason why we’re feeling off our groove or why we’re not clicking as much as usual?—”
“Dax—”
“Maybe that’s why our bond hasn’t clicked in yet! Maybe it could have, but circumstances changed and sent us down a different path. I really don’t want that to be the case, but it would make sense. We might not be pack but maybe we’re meant to be… brother-in-laws? I don’t know?—”
“I don’t like your sister!” I inject before he can spiral further.
He stops mid-pace, his wide eyes finding mine. “What? Why not? You’re supposed to be my brother-in-law!”
I roll my eyes. “Damn it, Dax. One, I’m sorry to say this because she’s your sister, but Nicole is a little bit…overbearing?—”
“Overbearing?!”
“—and two… I like Rory, you twit!”
That stops him altogether, and his scent softens back to its usual sweet smell, mingling together with my downpour fragrance once more.
“You like Rory?” he asks, his tone showing how delicate the situation is. He’s bursting at the seams. He looks like he has finally been given some hope.
I rub the back of my neck. “Yeah. I thought that was why it was weird between us, because I know you like her, too.” I stand up and walk to him, my hand coming out to hold his shoulder to ground both of us. “Dax… we’re pack. The bond might not be clicked in yet, but you and I both know it.”
