But the road to recovery is a long one, and staying clean isn’t the only thing Aaron needs to worry about. “Access to drugs isn’t what I’m worried about. I know you’re good.” The first year was rough but the last two, he’s been solid.
Aaron lets out an exasperated sigh. “I’ll be fine.”
“You jumped me when I slammed the back door earlier.”
He closes his eyes, hands fisted at his sides. “You caught me off guard.”
Yeah. I’d been doing that a lot lately. It’s why I’ve made it a point to be around as much as possible. I go to class, the field, and then straight home. I've met up with Aaron for lunch between classes all week, and when he’s felt up for it, he kicks it at the field and catches up on his schoolwork while he waits for me to finish.
It’s not ideal. We don’t do secrets in our crew. But, this … this is Aaron’s damage. It’s not my place to tell my boys. Aaron will do that when he’s good and ready, so for now, this is what works.
But part of why it works is because we avoid scenes like what Aaron is about to put himself in. Greek parties are loud. Rowdy. People get into stupid shit and no, I don’t think Aaron will slip up when it comes to drugs. He worked to fucking hard for his sobriety. But this week he’s been off and I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“There’s going to be loud music. Probably shit with a heavy bass. People are going to be shouting. People are going to rub against you when you walk by. How do you think you’ll react?” I’m not his dad. I’m not going to order him around, but he needs to see this for what it is. A bad idea.
“I’m going. You wanna babysit, be my guest, but I’m climbing the walls here, Dom.” He slams a palm to his chest. “I can’t breathe and I know I’m fucked up in the head right now, but this is what I’ve come up with and I’m seeing it through.”
I grab my phone and slide it into my back pocket. “Let’s go, then.”
Aaron’s shoulders relax and we head out. He tells me on the way that the party we’re headed to is at Kappa Mu. Kasey’s sorority house.Shit.
We haven’t talked since the classroom. I’m a dick. She knows that already. This isn’t some new revelation. But I took shit too far that day. And if Aaron finds out what I did to his baby sister, what I still think about doing to her, I’m fucked.
NINETY-ONE
Kasey
“Isee you’re having fun,” Quinn says, a smirk on her face as she moves to stand up beside me. “Any chance your hottie has a brother?”
I follow her eyes and see that she’s ogling Deacon. “Not that I know of, but he’s not my hottie. We just happen to have English together this semester so, you should go for it.”
Her eyes bug out and she whips toward me. “Seriously? You wouldn’t mind?”
I laugh. “Nope. He’s all yours. Deacon isn’t really my type.”
She looks at me like I just spoke a foreign language. “Have you seen the guy?” she asks. “That fine specimen of a man right there is everyone’s type.”
“He’s good-looking, I’ll give you that. But—”
“But? There are no buts.” She places the back of her hand against my forehead. Then my cheeks. “Are you feeling okay? No fever, but I’m worried about you. Maybe you should lie down. All this sun is getting to you.”
I smack her hand away. “I’m fine,” I tell her with an exasperated breath. “I just don’t do players. He’s nice, but he’s on the football team and he’s a Greek. Pass.”
“You do realize you’re a Greek right?”
I shrug. “So, I’m a hypocrite. Sue me. Are you really going to stand here and continue trying to convince me to go for him, or are you going to take your fine ass over there before one of our sisters shoots their shot?”
“Oh, my God, you’re right.” Quinn fluffs her hair and adjusts her boobs. Yes, she actually shifted her girls around before glancing at me with an expectant look. “How do I look?”
“Hot! Go get him.”
She gives an excited squeal before taking a deep breath and marching toward him. Deacon drifted back to his friend group a little while ago, giving me a much-needed respite after everything he and Reed had unloaded. A part of me wants to help. I feel a little responsible for what he’s going through, but a bigger part of me really doesn’t want to get involved. I don’t want an excuse to seek Dominique out. If I do … I don’t know. But it isn’t going to be good. I’m angry and a little hurt, though mostly angry. This is the second time something like this has happened between us and both times he ghosts me.
What the hell is his problem? I’m not asking for a relationship or even a repeat event. All I’m asking for is some human decency. It’s really not too much to ask.
But, whatever. This is Dominique I’m talking about here. I turn and grab a water bottle from one of the coolers and head for the pool. There’s a pink sprinkle, donut-shaped floaty with my name on it.
One of the Alpha Ze guys helps me maneuver my way onto it without jumping into the pool because not gonna lie, that water is cold.
