Page 19 of Rival (Elite of Elmwood 4)

And I never did get the chance to speak with Sterling.

Now was not the time. Micah first, then Sterling. I refused to spend the next year or two until Sterling graduated waiting for the bomb to drop. This was my mess, and I would clean it up.

I firmed my chin and replied to Sterling. “I have an early class in the morning, and considering I had to skip my first lecture today, I can’t afford to miss another.”

He toyed with the rim of his beer bottle, running his thumb over the opening. “That was unfortunate, but how crazy that we ran into each other. We’ll have to get coffee and catch up.”

My cheeks warmed, ribbons of embarrassment weaving inside me. Could he make me any more uncomfortable? I frowned. Why did I let Ainsley talk me into coming? I should have stayed home.

Micah’s muscles tensed at the invitation. “She hates coffee,” he blurted, an utterly false statement.

Sterling lifted a mocking brow. “Really?” he retorted as if didn’t believe Micah and knew for a fact that I did like coffee, which I did. “Tea, then,” he amended.

Sterling had fucking balls, I’d give him that. He wasn’t asking me out on a date, but it felt that way, and in front of my boyfriend, no less.

“Sure. Next time,” I said, grabbing Micah’s arm. I desperately wanted to leave, quickly before Micah acted on the impulse to plant his fist in Sterling's face.

“Next time,” he agreed. “Thanks for coming,Splash.”

Micah’s muscles flexed under my fingers, and he cocked his head to the side, a telling sign he was about to throw a punch. Hostility burned from him, nearly setting my skin on fire. It emitted off him in waves.

Spinning so I stood in front of Micah, I flattened a hand on his chest, giving it a firm push. “He’s not worth it,” I muttered.

Micah’s eyes remained fastened over my head on Sterling, and I worried for a second that he might indeed cause a scene. What was it about Sterling that had him so worked up? Had he found out about…?

No. He couldn’t have.

Or had Micah recognized him? Was that why he and Brock came to his party? That night, he hadn’t paid much attention to Sterling. He had been focused on me, and it had been dark. Perhaps he hadn’t gotten a look at the guy I kissed in front of him out of revenge. When my lips had finally left Sterling’s and I had glanced at where Micah had stood, he was gone.

A tight smile appeared on Micah’s lips, a mask descending and concealing his true feelings. “Thanks for the beer.” He tipped his head at Sterling. “I have a feeling we’ll be seeing quite a lot of each other.”

What did he mean by that? And why did that sound like a threat and not a thing of friendliness?

I inspected Micah’s expression, attempting to figure out what the hell was going on with him.

He turned to leave once more, and as we entered the hallway, something brushed down the side of my arm. Not something. Someone. And because Micah had a hold of my other hand, I was all too afraid of just who that someone was.

I shivered, but not like the warm, stomach-flipping tingles Micah’s touch created. No. This was a cold, hair-raising sensation that made my veins freeze.

Was it because Sterling was a secret I wanted to stay buried?

My gaze shot over my shoulder, unable to stop from looking. It was a knee-jerk reaction from being touched unexpectedly and unwantedly. I narrowed my eyes at Sterling, conveying a simple message.

Don’t. Touch. Me.

He received the message loud and clear, but the asshole didn’t give a shit. He smirked, and I didn’t like the devilish glint sparkling in his amber eyes.

I wanted to do something foolish like flip him off or stick my tongue out of him, but I did nothing and kept walking straight out of the Chi Sigma house.

CHAPTERFOUR

MADS

“Are you okay?” Micah asked when we stepped outside.

I nodded, drawing in a deep breath of the night’s air. “Yeah. Just a bit tired now,” I admitted. Alcohol tended to have that effect on me.

“How much did you drink?” He was still angry. Not with me, but I could visibly see him slowly pushing aside his temper so he wouldn’t direct it at me. Micah’s ability to control his emotions like that and be aware of them was impressive. I respected that. My emotions tended to just fly, and it wasn’t until after the damage was done that I realized I could have handled the situation better.

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