And somehow the first thing that cut through the numb routine tonight was a pissed-off journalism girl looking at me like she’d rather commit murder than flirt.
Fucking concerning.
Niko stumbled into the kitchen already drunk. “Mason!”
“What?”
“Some freshman asked if you’re coming to Sigma tonight.”
“No.”
“You didn’t even think about it.”
“Because I said no.”
Jace gasped dramatically. “He’s growing.”
“Shut up.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
One glance at the screen immediately ruined my mood.
Dad.
Of course.
I stared at it for a second too long.
Eli noticed.
“You gonna answer?”
“No.”
Buzz again.
Then another.
Jace saw my expression and went quieter instantly.
That was the thing about them.
They acted like idiots ninety percent of the time, but the second something actually mattered, they noticed.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket.
“Practice tomorrow at nine,” I said.
“Wow,” Jace muttered. “That subject change was subtle.”
“Fuck off.”
The back door slid open suddenly, cold air spilling into the kitchen.
Rowan stepped inside again alone this time, rubbing her hands together from the night air.
She stopped the second she noticed me still there.
