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Dad cuts me off, voice at full volume. “A girl ended up in a coma, Cameron. She almost died!”
“Xan wasn’t the person who dropped her. He suggested the idea to her teammate. That’s all he did. Why isn’t Jordan in trouble for actually dropping a girl, huh?” The words fly from my mouth before I can stop them.
Xan turns to me with narrowed eyes. “I’m culpable too. I’ve always warned you to stay away from me.”
A deranged laugh escapes my throat. “Stay away? You weren’t the one who did all that heinous shit. It was Jordan.”
“They were my ideas,” Xan pleads. Always wanting to fall on his own sword.
I shake my head so hard my brain rattles. “That she went along with! For personal gain. She’s sick, Xan. You were just exposing how sick she is.”
“Be that as it may, Xander still hit a student after he agreed—” my dad starts, but I promptly cut him off. “Zack was going to rape me!”
This time, Dad takes a step back. Then he looks around outside, steps through the door, and closes it. Xan and I back up to make room for him.
His brows dip. Face twitching. Head tilting from side to side, as if wondering whether he’s heard me right. Then he steps around us to the bed and sits down. His chin falling into his hands. “He... he... what?”
Xan’s hand falls on my shoulder. “You don’t have to, Cam.”
I shake him off and join Dad on the bed. He shifts to face me. I look him square in the eye. “You told me to go that party, with Zack. He was pretty drunk, which is no excuse, but I was helping him get around. He cornered me outside. Thought we were alone. He wanted me to...” I take in a deep breath. It’s really hard to say these words to my own father again, especially when he’s giving me that look. “To make me go down on him.”
Dad lets out a heavy breath. “Cameron,” he croaks, reaching out to wrap me in a hug. His shoulders shake with sobs. “I’m so sorry, son.”
After a few moments of silence, he releases me. “So Xan found you, and hit Zack to stop him?”
I nod. “He had been sitting outside too, but Zack hadn’t noticed him. If he hadn’t been there...” Now I have to swallow back my own tears. Then I turn to Xan. “Why were you there?”
Xan looks between me and Dad. He gives his lip a few chews. “Was worried about you being at a party like that. I didn’t like the way Zack was around you.”
“We should press charges,” Dad says suddenly, and I’m already shaking my head. “It’s my word against Zack’s. There’s no evidence.”
“You have a witness.”
Xan actually laughs. “I’m certainly not credible in the eyes of Whitmore College.”
Dad frowns. “No, I suppose not.”
The room sits in heavy silence again. Everyone lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Dad stands and reaches a hand out in Xander’s direction. Xan takes it.
“I’m sorry I misjudged you. Whatever happened in the past, you aren’t that man anymore. I’m sorry I didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt. Thank you for looking out for my son.”
Xan and I wear matching looks of surprise as Dad turns to me. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you before. I should have listened. You don’t need it, but for the record, I overwhelmingly approve of your boyfriend.”
I shake my head, amazed at how fast he’s changed his tune. “Glad you finally came around to my way of thinking.”
Xander
Well, this is weird as fuck. Staying at the president’s house. Never thought in a million years I’d be here. I wanted so badly to turn him down, but Cam’s pleading eyes answered for me.
Since I can’t go back to the dorms all that easily, because there is paperwork on that score, this is the next best thing. In Cam’s eyes, not mine. I’d rather be in my crummy motel than a guest in President Parker’s house. But, here I am. At least while Dr. Parker figures out how to get me back in the dorms.
Instead, we’re having a nice family dinner. That’s the only way I can describe it. At a table, with place settings. Dishes piled high with food. Grilled chicken. A bowl of something called Michigan salad. Baked sweet potatoes. And something else.
“What are those?” I point to a bowl of bumpy black things.
“The blackberries?” Cam asks. I can hear the astonishment in his voice.
“Oh, right.” I try to play it off, but he’s noticed.
