Antoine grins broadly.Oh, did he?Well, he was the real hero.
Rosie interrupts.Evie, this is Connor, my boyfriend.And Dylan Johansson.
I nod at both men.Size seems to be the main characteristic of the hockey team.
Viktor motions to the table.There’s some fruit, yogurt, and toast for your breakfast.Do you want coffee?
No, thank you.My stomach feels queasy.I sit down and nibble on some apple slices, but my mind is spinning.There’s so much to take in.
Viktor crosses his arms, which makes his muscles even more prominent, then glares at me.You should eat more.
Um, okay.I open a yogurt and start spooning it into my mouth.
Zee’s such a strict daddy,Antoine says and then laughs when Viktor glares at him.Your ugly face doesn’t scare me.Anyway, nice to meet you when you’re conscious, Evie.He leaves, followed by the quiet Dylan.Rosie and Connor are sitting together and scrolling their phones.
Viktor sits down across from me.Okay, I’m going to drive you to pick up your purse and phone.Did you leave anything else at the party?
Although all my brain cells aren’t yet functioning, the available ones have just blown up.There is no way I can pull up to the Alpha Zeta Mu sorority house in Viktor’s car.The Revenge Squad will think I’ve actually succeeded in attracting him.
Oh, you don’t have to do that.I’ll can go myself.I’m sure you have to get back to your, uh, training.Or studying,I babble nervously.
Viktor is back to looking at me as if I’m some new species of repellant insect.I do, actually.When we took you to the hospital, we promised to return today with all your relevant information.Like your health insurance.
But you’ve already done so much.I don’t want to be an imposition,I protest.
He continues as I haven’t even spoken.And the doctor we saw last night wants to talk to you.He’s in today.
I sigh and resign myself to all the insanity that’s going to happen today.Fine.Thank you.
So off we go.First stop is at the frat house, where I left my sweater.But when we park in front of it, Viktor reaches over to stop me from opening the door.His muscled arm across my body pins me into place.
There’s no way I’m letting you step back in there.What does your sweater look like?
It’s long and pink,I whimper, still processing the sensation of his warm strength.
He lets go and exits the car.Halfway up the pathway, he lifts his hand, and there’s a click as the doors of the car lock.I look around the car, with its sleek black interior and leather seats.It’s very Viktor.He’s gone for about ten minutes and finally steps out holding two pink sweaters, one bright pink and the other pale.I can’t help but smile at the sight of the gruff Viktor holding up feminine clothing.I point to the pastel pink one and he nods.He hands the other sweater back to another guy who’s standing behind him.They fist-bump and Viktor leaves.He gets in and hands me the sweater.
Thank you so much.I pull off Viktor’s sweatshirt and put on my own sweater.It’s comforting to wear something that actually belongs to me.I rub the soft fabric over my arms.
Are you cold?
I look up, startled.Viktor must have been watching me the whole time.
No, I’m good.Sorry to make you wait.I pull on my seat belt, and fold his sweatshirt into a neat square.Not as neatly as it was originally folded though.Viktor’s dresser was psychotically ordered.I keep the sweatshirt in my lap, partly to cover my bare thighs and partly because I like it.It satisfies the part of me that read about high school romances where girls wore their boyfriend’s jackets.Given how well my social life is going already, this is as close as I’ll get.
It only takes two minutes before we’re parked in front of Alpha Zeta Mu.I look up at the many windows and cross my fingers that no one is looking out one of them at this moment.
Why is your stuff here if you don’t belong to this sorority?Viktor asks.
How do you know I haven’t pledged here?It’s true, but still how does he know?
We were trying to figure out where you lived, so Mats asked Lana Hillier and she said there were no Evies in their sorority.His voice has a tone of suspicion.
I have friends here,I reply, getting out of the car before he can ask any more questions.
Before I even raise my hand to knock, the door opens and Jordan yanks me inside.
What is going on?Where have you been?She looks out the window.Vik drove you here?Did you spend the night with him?
