One guy was already gone, off to the campus clinic because he popped his knee out of socket and had to have it popped back in. Conner’s best friend was probably going to be black and blue with bruises tomorrow, and Conner…
Well, he had a busted nose, a busted ass, and a bunch of grass stains all over his clothes. If he’d actually hit Drew like he’d intended, he wouldn’t have gotten off so lucky. The fight wasn’t totally a surprise, but I’d hoped Drew would keep his cool.
He only did what I would have done, which was taken out the threat he saw to me.
Conner was pissed, though. He was sitting in the corner of the locker room, drilling holes in the back of my skull with his stare.
After I gave a short, “We lost, but we won because of all the good we did for the charity,” speech, the guys all hit the showers and began changing.
I just left on my sweaty, stained clothes. I’d wait and shower at home. There was no way in hell I was getting naked in here in front of Con and his last remaining co-conspirator.
Even though I wasn’t showering, I hung in the locker room a bit, talking shit and laughing with the other guys. At one point, most everyone was hitting the showers, and a few had already left when Jack approached.
“Today was planned for a reason, wasn’t it?” He spoke very low.
I glanced up from my phone. “Duh.”
“It was them, wasn’t it? Con and some friends.”
I heard it in his voice, the surety. I lowered my phone and slid it into my pocket and leaned one shoulder against the lockers. “What do you mean?”
“Our own frat brothers jumped you.”
How the hell did he figure that out? I hadn’t told anyone.
A pinched look came over his face. “I’m assuming your silence is an agreement.”
“You might be on to something.” I hedged. He was the almost president. He had a right to the information.
“It’s because you’re gay, isn’t it?”
I jerked upright and reared back slightly.
Some laughter filtered in from the direction of the showers, and I grabbed Jack by the arm and led him even farther away, over near the entrance.
“Why would you say that?” I asked when we were totally alone.
“That night a while ago when you left brothers’ night to go with Drew. You asked me if I cared you were leaving with him. It got me to thinking. Then the rumors started whispering through the house, and Drew hasn’t come around since. Not to mention your family sure was rough on a few particular players today.”
“Was it that obvious?” My tone was sheepish.
“No, but I watch and observe, just like you.”
I blew out a breath. “Fine. I’m in a relationship with Drew. I never confirmed it to Conner, but he suspected, and he turned those other three against me. He thought if he could beat me up and scare me bad enough, I’d leave the house and he could swoop in and take control.”
“Push me right out.” Jack mulled that over.
“Pretty much. And we both know if that happens, Omega is screwed.”
Jack nodded. “We should tell the house, let them take care of it.”
I nodded. “That’s the plan. I was just letting them squirm a while.”
“Devious.” Jack nodded. “I approve.”
“So you’re okay with it?” I whispered.
“With having you as president? Of course.”
“You know what I mean.” I levelled my eyes on his.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll tell you what I said back then, when you left to go with Drew on brothers’ night. I don’t have a problem with it. Love is love.”
I held out my hand, and we shook on it.
“You’re going to make an awesome prez. How would you feel about taking the reins a little earlier than planned?”
“You know I’m up for it.”
I nodded. “Good. I’ll keep you posted.”
Not long after everyone started filing out of the locker room, everyone was pumped for the giant party we were having at the house tonight to celebrate the game.
On his way past, Conner stopped to stare at me.
“How’s the nose?” I asked with a smirk.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” he asked. “Enjoy it now, because when everyone finds out you like dick, they’ll be singing a whole new tune.”
“Maybe.” I conceded. “But if they do, you probably won’t still be around to see it.”
He made a rude sound, then stepped back. “Tell your boyfriend I owe him one.”
I leapt forward to grab him by the shirt, but a damn bench was in the way, and the little pecker turned and ran.
Done.
That was it.
No more head games. No more hacking.
No more playing with my food.
He threatened Drew. I’d do anything, and I do mean anything, to keep something like what happened to me from happening to him.
It was time to eat.
Drew
I was getting old.
Like I might as well put in an order for a cane and a rocking chair.
Well, maybe not that old.
But old enough that a party didn’t sound like fun. ‘Course, maybe it was because of the tension I felt at this particular party.