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My movements stop as I turn to face them, crossing my arms over my chest. “This place is a fucking pigsty. We all live here. We can all clean it.”
Zanko walks in, looking harried from lack of sleep. “What’s going on?” he asks, looking between the three of us.
“Brock has lost his fucking mind,” Keaton responds.
“No, Brock has not,” I say, speaking in the third person. “Brock is tired of this place smelling like a brewery. When I gotback from the gym, I almost puked. It was that bad. We are going to start a weekly chore schedule so this doesn’t happen again. The parties need to slow down as well, especially with the season coming soon.”
More guys start coming downstairs, looking for coffee. Since I was anything but quiet, they all heard my little speech. Many of the guys nod their heads in agreement and line up for their assigned room, already grabbing cleaning supplies.
Walking between rooms, I inspect each one, making a mental list of what still needs to be done and who hasn’t helped yet. Artificial lemon scent fills the air, and a soft smile stretches across my lips. This is so much better than what it was.
Content with the state of things, my feet take my tired ass up to my room for a shower and change of clothes. Checking my phone quickly, in case Kassidy tried to call me, disappointment fills me when there are no notifications.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Strictly following Kavanagh’s instructions, I stay in the apartment all day Sunday. Guilt was present at my avoiding Brock. It wasn’t until almost eight in the evening before I turned my phone back on. He had sent me a couple of messages checking on me, but each one went unanswered.
Embarrassment filled me anytime my mind drifted to the night before.
Kavanagh messaged me that Karoline was officially off campus. He didn’t tell me how he did it, but I didn’t care about the details. She was gone, and that was all that mattered.
The six of us spent the day studying and working on various assignments. Kennedy was, once again, unhappy about her forced cooking lesson. The chicken that she made was a little overcooked, but other than being a little dry, it was still edible.
It’s now Monday afternoon, and my feet take me to the library. The day has been predominately uneventful, thankfully. Dread pools in my belly at Brock’s response to yesterday. Finding him already set up in our study area tells me that it won’t take long to find out.
“Kassidy,” he says dismissively.
“Hi, Brock.” His expression is unreadable as I watch him, waiting for something from him but unsure as to what.
He bends his head down, focusing on the papers spread across the table. Heaving a sigh, my ass hits an empty chair, leaving one open between the two of us. Pulling my own work out of my bag, Brock pushes several of his assignments in my direction without uttering a word. Opening my mouth to speak, a nasal voice interrupts, causing my mouth to snap closed in annoyance.
“Aww,” she draws out. “Look at the happy couple,” Danica’s voice full of sarcasm.
Looking up, she stands there with her hip cocked and arms crossed over her chest. A quick look around confirms that she is alone, at least for the moment.
“What do you want?” Brock barks at her.
“Oh, you know…” she says coyly. “Heard some rumors that there might be trouble in paradise because of Saturday’s party.” Danica doesn’t give either of us a chance to respond before she continues. “Word around campus is that you weren’t enough for Brock, and your sister had to finish what you started after you took off. From what I hear, you got yours and left him hanging,” she states smugly, staring at me as she speaks, trying to elicit a reaction.
Danica uses her chin to point in Brock’s direction. Her shit-eating grin spreads from ear to ear. It is obvious from her version of events that no one knows the truth of what happened.
Deciding not to rise to the bait, I cross my hands over each other on the tabletop, pasting a soft smile on my face and addressing Danica, “Is there something you need me to help you with? We are a little busy right now,” my voice is sticky sweet as I refuse to engage in her bullshit.
Her eyes bounce between the two of us as we simply stare at her with blank looks. Danica’s smile falls once she realizes thatwe aren’t going to react to her. Huffing in annoyance, she spins around, her hair fanning out behind her in the process, finally leaving the two of us alone.
Focusing my attention on the papers Brock gave me, I make some notes on what he can do to improve. As his tutor, his running grade is updated weekly to my email. Most of his classes have offered extra credit, which he is almost ready to turn in. The school requires at least a C-average. Brock’s father, on the other hand, is requiring a B-average.
Finishing up the pile, I pass the stack back to him. The evening progresses predominately in silence, speaking only when required. Even then, his words are stilted and forced.
The alert about the library closing soon has me sighing in relief. My entire body is tense, a headache coming on quickly. Clearing up our work, we continue in silence back toward home falling into step with each other after exiting the library. Brock continues to escort me back to the apartment building, passing the frat house. When we reach the door, my mouth opens and closes, trying to form words. Deciding to just spit it out the best I can, my voice wobbles a bit, holding back tears.
“Br-Brock, I… Karoline… and Kavanagh… gone. He told me, and I was embarrassed, sorry.”
Lifting my head to look at Brock’s expression, his eyebrows are pulled together in confusion.
“Uhm, what?” he says, breaking the silence.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I try again.
