Chapter 15

Alex

Two hours passed before I left the party. Lily hadn’t texted me to say she wasn’t coming. With each passing minute without her, my chest ached even more. I couldn’t help imagining that she was hurt or in an accident. What other reason did she have for not showing up? She told me she was coming when she and Amber were ready. Sending a text would have been the polite thing to do. She seemed as annoyed as I was when Bret came into the restaurant. He seemed adamant earlier to know exactly where Lily and I were going to before the party. I regretted telling him the moment I saw him show up.

What was his deal anyhow? Lily seemed less than impressed, and she barely finished her food before we left. The night wasn’t turning out how I expected. And now with her not showing up, I knew something was wrong.

I barely drank anything, as my stomach twisted in knots while waiting for her. No one noticed as they were too busy enjoying the drinks themselves.

The music blaring from the speakers was suddenly too loud, and the gyrating girls on the dance floor weren't what I wanted in front of me. I jumped up from the couch and headed out through the kitchen, grabbing my car keys.

I drove over to Lily’s dorm, checking out everyone who was walking around campus. Her red dress was nowhere to be found.

I double parked behind her dorm and jogged around the building to the front door. I knew where her room was from outside the building. The room was dark with no lights to indicate there was life inside. I hoped she wasn’t hiding from me.

Two guys were coming out from the building, and I sneaked in behind them. The resident assistant sat at the front desk. She looked at me expectantly.

“Can I help you?” she asked, flipping her black, springy curls over her shoulder.

“I’m looking for Lily Davis,” I said, glancing at the elevator. That was why I liked living in my own house, no people to get through if I wanted to go up to Lily’s room.

“I saw her leave a while ago with her roommate.”

“Do you know where they went?”

She eyed me. “No idea.”

“Can I go up there and check?”

“She’s not here,” the girl said.

I took a steadying breath. “Thank you,” I said through my teeth.

I went back outside and texted Lily again. My string of unanswered texts mocked me from the screen. What was her problem? She had no idea what she was doing to me. I thought she was all about our agreement. Parties were a part of that deal.

I tried calling her twice, and I was sent to voicemail both times. I fisted my phone in my hand and squeezed it. What else could I do? It was obvious that she was avoiding me. At least I was happy she was healthy enough to do so. But I couldn’t wrap my mind around why.

Had Bret ruined another good time between Lily and me?

Dejected, I headed back to the AKA house. The moment I arrived, I went straight up to my room. The party seemed lame without Lily there. I imagined this night going so much differently.

I flopped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling for some time, listening to the thumping music through the floor below me.

Sometime later, my bedroom door opened. I sat up, expecting to ream whatever pledge or brother dared disturb me.

Bret stood in the doorway, his mouth open in a wide grin. “Alex. What the hell are you doing up here?”

I stood up, straightening my shirt. “I’m not in the mood tonight.” I went over to my desk. My Cost Accounting book stared up at me. Maybe I could get a jump on the next assignment.

“What are you talking about?” he asked. “Those girls you met tonight were asking about you. I have no preference for either, so whichever one you don’t want I’ll take.”

“I’m not interested,” I said, wishing he’d go away. He did enough damage today.

Bret walked over to me and clapped a hand on my back.

I winced.

“You can’t be hung up on some ridiculous freshman nerd,” he said.

I turned to him, my eyes narrowing. “She’s not ridiculous.”

“You can do so much better!” Bret said with a laugh. “You already had sex with her. You hit it now you need to quit it.”

“That’s not what she means to me,” I said. His true nature shone through tonight, and I wasn’t sure if it was the booze or his personality.

“Just come down to the party,” he said. “Distract yourself with hotter girls.”

“No way,” I said. “I’m done for the night. I’d rather study for my accounting final.”

Bret let out a whooping laugh. He stood there, doubled over for a few moments before his eyes met mine. “You’re serious?”

“Yeah,” I said. Why wasn’t he getting the hint?

He stood straighter and cocked his head to the side. “Going to our parties is your duty as president of this fraternity. Ever since you met that little nerd, you’ve been blowing off your duties. We used to have a good time together. Now all you want to do is dig your nose in a book.”

There were so many things I wanted to say to him, but I wasn’t about to argue over a girl. He had the money to buy his degree. He knew my family struggled yet he continued to berate me.

“You used to be cool, man,” Bret said. “Now you’re anything but.”

“I don’t need this from you right now,” I said, trying to stop this conversation from getting worse for either of us. Arguing with my best friend wasn’t going to help me find Lily. And telling him off wasn’t going to make this situation any easier. I decided to leave it alone. He’d never understand the fear of losing a scholarship and the one girl who stood out from all the rest.