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“What? What is it?” River asks.
I pivot on my heel. “Do you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“Someone’s crying, like they’re in pain or stuck.”
“Oh, sorry.” She reaches into her jeans pocket. “That’s my new ringtone. It’s me pining for more Witcher.”
“Huh?”
“Forget it. It was a joke we were doing in the house—making ringtones of ourselves crying at the end of our favorite cliffhangers. You should hear Meg’s version for Virgin River, season two. Can you believe Mel’s pregnant with another guy’s baby?”
“How unbelievable,” I say dryly. I have no fucking clue what River is talking about.
She continues, “Of course, I told Megan if hers was for Virgin River, the ringtone would sound way different. Something like me crying, ‘Kill me now! Please! I don’t want to be a virgin anymore.’” River mock-strangles herself.
“Hilarious,” I say in the coldest tone ever.
“Sorry. I’m being insensitive. Would you like a back rub? How about an ab grease-down?” River slaps a hand over her mouth and mumbles, “I harf no idea why I seb that.”
Neither do I. River is acting really weird, and coming from me, that means something. Weird is my normal. Takes a lot to get my weird-dar going. “Don’t worry about it. But could you shut that off now?” Her phone keeps mewling with intermittent hiccups.
“Uh, Huff, it stopped about a minute ago.”
“Then why am I still hearing someone crying?” It’s pretty loud, too.
“Hey, where are you going?” River asks.
Before I can say a word, I’m standing between two houses in a residential neighborhood with lots of tall trees. The homes across the street have big porches and manicured lawns. This isn’t my campus.
Suddenly, I’m looking down a giant hole in the ground. It’s a perfect circle. Maybe a well? There’s a sound coming from inside.
I lean over it. “Hello?”
“Help! Help! I’m stuck down here!” says a tiny voice.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Dude, we’re never going to be able to keep a lid on this now,” says River, handing me a slice of pizza from the tray on the table. We’re at an out-of-the-way spot she likes for studying. “You’re on every news channel.”
I’m hungry, so I take a big bite of the pizza, savoring the salty, peppery grease mixed with warm gooey cheese, before letting it slide home. I haven’t eaten since yesterday, before the party.
“Now what am I going to do?” I ask. “I can’t go back to my dorm. It’s surrounded by reporters.”
“What’s he doing here?” says a sharp voice.
I look up from the small table to find Keni scowling at me. Did she follow River here?
“Hey, Keni,” says River.
“This is supposed to be our secret spot,” Keni says.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just needed a quiet place to talk to Huff.”
Keni’s little nostrils flare. I can’t get over how cute she is, even when she looks like she wants to murder me. “Why were you avoiding me back at the house? I told you we needed to talk.”
River sighs. “I guess you’re mad about Blake. I’m so sorry. I promise, whatever he told you, it’s not true. He attacked me. Huff pushed him off.”
Keni’s hard eyes soften as they meet River’s gaze. “Oh god no. I’m so through with him, River. He’s an ass. I know you wouldn’t go behind my back and hit on him, like he claims.”
I can’t believe this guy. “How many people did he tell that lie to?” I ask.
Keni looks at me, and it’s like a switch is flipped. “Was I talking to you?”
Wow. I hold up my hands. “Did I do something wrong?”
Keni looks puzzled—crinkled nose, shrugged red brows, puckered lips. Then her face completely relaxes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s up with me today.” She rubs her forehead. “Must be all the stress—I’m getting a ton of pressure from my parents. It never ends.”
River glances at me. “They’re a little old-fashioned and want her to get married instead of going to grad school next year.”
So Keni is older than me. It could still work. If only she didn’t seem repulsed by my presence all of a sudden.
“I hope they come to their senses,” I say.
“Yeah, me too, because they’re cutting me off. I’ll be on my own to pay for grad school.” Keni’s nostrils flare again, and then she smiles tightly. “I have to go and study. See ya later.”
Strange. Classes don’t start until Monday. It’s Saturday.
“See ya ’round?” I say, treading carefully. I can’t get a read on her. Did I do something, or is she just having one of those monthly moments?
“Uh-huh.” Keni leaves, and I give River a look.
“Did I say something wrong?” I ask.
River is staring at my biceps again.
“Hey. Riv.” I snap my fingers.
“Oh, sorry, did you flex something?”
“Flex something?” I raise a brow.
“I meant—say something. Did you say something?”
I hear the door open, and a chorus of laughter pours inside the small restaurant. It looks like a bunch more of River’s sorority sisters.
