“I still want to murder Tate,” I whisper.
Blaze strokes my hair. “I know. But let me handle this one. You got Zayden. You burned down the frat. I promise you, we all know you’re badass.”
I smile against his chest. “You forgot Declan. I stabbed Declan.”
Blaze bursts out laughing. “Actually, yeah. I did forget him. Shit. He moved off campus. I had to convince him not to sue you.”
“Did you tell him my Papa would murder him if he tried?” I glance up at Blaze. “He wanted to murder all of you, too.”
“He can try,” Blaze mutters, then he shakes his head. “Anyway. I’ll handle Tate, Pandora.”
He turns off the water and steps outside. He finds towels in a nearby cupboard and hands one to me. It’s gray and rough, but beggars can’t be choosers.
We put on our semi dried underwear, and we sit quietly as we wait for the rest of our clothes to dry.
I’ll give Blaze a week.
If Tate is still around to piss me off in a week, I’ll have to escalate.
18
BLAZE
The moment River spots me, he freezes—and tries to walk the other way. I jog up to him anyway.
“What are you doing here, Blaze?” River asks.
There’s a bruise on his jaw. That’s new. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there a few days ago.
Was he fucking Pandora, too?
“What am I doing on campus?” I ask.
River rolls his eyes. “What are you doing by the engineering building? The dumbs are on the other side of campus.”
I frown at him. “The dumbs?”
There’s a long beat where River says nothing.
Finally he sighs. “You really haven’t heard that one before? Dyschord University of Management and Business? D-U-M-B.”
“But it’s the DyschordSchoolof Management and Business,” I point out, deadpan. Then I grin. “Of course I’ve heard that one before. Usually from people who realize too late they should have kept their mouths shut.”
“Oh, no. I’m so scared,” River deadpans. “Big bad Blaze might try to teach me a lesson about calling him dumb.”
“I really should.” I put my arm around his shoulder, ignoring the way he flinches.
Interesting.
I know he isn’t afraid of me, so why did he flinch?
“I need your help with something.” I glance at my smartwatch. “And it’s time sensitive. Drop whatever other plans you have.”
“Get Asch to help you,” River replies. “I have class.”
I grin widely and pat him on the chest. “I know you don’t. Besides, this is for Pandora.”
His eyes narrow as he looks at me. “What makes you think I want to do something for Pandora?” he asks.
