Page 18 of Heartbreak Kings
I sighed and sent her a couple selfies. It took her a few moments on her ancient smartphone, but she finally pulled them up. “It’s short, but I love it. My baby looks so grown.”
“I can’t go in there looking plain and normal. The bun wasn’t cutting it.” I glanced down at the scissors still lying on my floor and shuddered.
“It’s awfully pretty. Are you certain you aren’t making yourself prettier for these boys?” The naked worry in her voice made my throat tighten.
I opened my mouth to tell her about the lunatics with the scissors, who tried to drive me away from campus by cutting off part of my hair. But then I realized the panic it would have put her in.
“Mama, I need to look good for my audience. And besides, I will dress to impress.” In one of my suits, which I’d had meticulously tailored and which were, unlike the glittering hairdo, strictly business.
“I’m worried. Are you sure this isn’t a date?”
With five guys?
I’m not sure I could handle that much attention, even if that’s what they had invited me for.
I closed my eyes, lying back against my pillows. Two of the men I was going to see were attractive enough to tempt me into thinking along those lines. But I already knew I had to keep my guard up. These men were obviously after more than just a repair to the school’s reputation. They wanted something else from me, and I still wasn’t sure what it was.
“I’m sure, Mama. I promise.”
Chapter 8
Sabine
It wasdark and getting chilly by the time I finished my walk across campus to its tiny fraternity row. I didn’t enjoy walking in the dark, not with so many hostile people around. But I wasn’t about to back down from this meeting, so I hoofed it over there, glad that at least it wasn’t cold enough to leave the street coated in black ice.
Alpha Omega House was a sprawling Dutch Revival home, three stories tall, with a gambrel roof and heavy timbers, like an elegant version of homes from Lovecraft’s stories. It loomed a bit spookily in the dark; the maples lining its driveway reduced to dormant skeletons after the last windstorm. I caught myself listening for crickets. It seemed like only a month ago I was hearing them constantly out my bedroom window, but the cold had silenced them for the year.
I made my way up the parquet-patterned brick walkway, feeling my stomach jump around inside me as I smoothed my heavy gray wool coat over my thighs. I had my best suit on under it and my single, plain gold necklace and earrings. Conservative makeup—though I hadn’t been able to resist dark crimson lips. My whole vibe was a slightly retro, women’s power wardrobe, right down to my riding-style boots, which I had meticulously polished before leaving.
Nobody looking at me could tell, just by sight, that I wasn’t wealthy and successful myself.
Finally, I stood before the enormous arched door, which looked like something from a medieval castle, and rang the doorbell. “Moment of truth,” I sighed, feeling both nervous and excited all over again.
For all of my plans to dress in a power wardrobe and keep things strictly business, I couldn’t help but wonder…Would Blake like what he saw? Would Marcus?
I would find out soon enough.
When the door opened, I braced myself for an ugly surprise—Carmody, squinting out at me with hate in his dull eyes. Instead, to my shock, Blake himself stood behind that door, a smile on his face that widened slightly as his gaze swept over me.
I swallowed hard as I studied him—all decked out in a sleek black suit, tailored perfectly to his form, tie tack and cuff links in gold. It was simple, subtle, and utterly elegant. He outshone me completely.
“Welcome,” he purred in that amazing voice. His gaze skimmed over my new hairdo, and he tilted his head slightly. “You look lovely. Please come in.”
I tried to ignore the flush of pleasure I felt at the compliment, but it didn’t work.
He stepped aside, and I walked past him into a warm, high-ceilinged hallway with a pocket ceiling and heavily carved wood paneling. The whole thing had an ancient vibe to it, but clean, perfectly repaired, with antique-style electric fixtures. As I assessed the entryway, I noticed the fraternity crest high on the wall facing the door, with two actual suits of armor standing beneath it. I blinked between them, then eyed Blake and lifted an eyebrow. “Very ostentatious.” It was beautiful but had the appearance of a museum, if you ignored the rack of boots and sneakers, the coatrack and umbrella stand on either side of the door. I let him take my coat and hang it up, biting my lip at the brief brush of his fingers. “So, is it just going to be you five?”
“Yes,” he replied, leading me through the inner doorway into a broad living space with overstuffed couches, a few tables, an entertainment center, and an antique snooker table. “We thought you would prefer that. We barred the pledges and first-years from the fraternity house for the next two hours.”
“Oh,” I breathed, relaxing a bit more. “I see.” That helped a little, even as nervous as I was. But when I realized that I kept staring at him as we walked, my doubts came flooding back. Both of them in one room. And me caught between attraction to the two of them. I just wanted it to go away. If they found out I was interested, they’d use it to toy with me.
Maybe I shouldn’t have come.
I am in over my head here.
I felt that for certain the minute he opened the door. But I couldn’t run away. Doing it now would make it clear to him that I couldn’t handle this. That I couldn’t hold my own. And that just would not happen.
“Have you had any further difficulties since Marcus spoke to you?” he asked gently.
