I playfully elbowed him, but he didn’t seem to care. “You fed me to her willingly then? Some friend you are.”
“Did I mention I’m sorry about the party and tell you how much I love you?”
“Yes, to both. Multiple times.” He had apologized profusely about what had happened. I told him what Theo said about being drugged, and the look on his face had told me he came to the same conclusion. One other girl had been taken to the hospital when her friends found her acting strange. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but it made the school open an investigation that shut down the fraternity temporarily. Between the third strike they had for even throwing a party and the allegations somebody roofied drinks, it didn’t look good for them. I wasn’t sure I felt bad for them though. Jase knew they’d been warned but he held the party anyway, and even though it wasn’t his fault someone was trying to hurt women, it still happened and could have turned out way worse than it did.
“You’re also pretty,” he added, batting his lashes, and making me snort.
We walked side by side down the less packed first floor hallway, which had more room for students to mill about while they waited for classrooms to empty.
“In hindsight, I’m lucky to even be alive after the way your guard dog snapped at me. I deserved it, but I feared for my life. Definitely would rather face off with Lauren.”
“Would you stop calling Theo that?” I huffed, eyeing him for the millionth time. “It’s bad enough I kept having to defend you to him when I woke up at his place. I already told you both that you’re forgiven, and it wasn’t your fault.”
“But he still hates me, doesn’t he?”
“Theo is…”
“I get it, Del. I do. He’s the father figure you needed, so he wants you to be safe. I know that you care about him…a lot. And no matter what you say, I’m always going to feel bad about what happened. About what could have happened. Listen, word got around that it might have been Evan who drugged a few drinks that night. There’s been talk he’s done it before but…”
“He’s never gotten caught.” My stomach dropped over what that probably meant. I told him I’d suspected him considering he was following me after I turned him away. And Evan…there was something off about him that went beyond his distaste for me. “They have to kick him out, Ren. Please tell me there’s at least a hearing or something with the council or whatever it’s called?”
“They’re voting at next week’s meeting.”
I blew out a breath. That was something. I wasn’t sure why it was taking them so long. Nobody really liked Evan from what I could tell. How hard was it to secure a vote that made sure he wouldn’t harm people?
“But.” My body froze as we stopped at the double doors that led to my salvation in form of paint fumes. “It doesn’t mean anything will happen. Talk is talk.”
“What if there was proof?”
“There isn’t. We know it. He knows it.”
I shook my head, anger boiling my blood. People like Evan got away with too much. I would know, I’d seen it happen countless times. Who was I to talk though? It was no secret that my father hadn’t gotten away with things, which should have been prime reason for people not to think their money could protect them. “He deserves to be kicked out of the frat whether there’s clear evidence or not. If plenty of people are talking about it, obviously there’s a reason.”
He dropped his arm and turned to me, his light eyes dulled. “I agree with you, but it’s not that easy. We’ll deal with him eventually, okay? You don’t need to worry about it.”
“How can I not? You know better than anybody that Evan hates me already.” I frowned, blinking at my friend with genuine concern. “There are innocent people he probably hurt, and even more he hasn’t had a chance to if nothing is done.”
“We don’t know for sure he hates you. Why would he? You’ve done nothing to him, Del. And what happens to other people isn’t on you,” he reminded me. We’d had similar conversation before, so I knew where the conversation was going. “You need to stop trying to fix the world’s problems and focus on you and yours.”
“I didn’t realize I had problems.”
He eyed me skeptically.
“Whatever,” I grumbled, pushing hair behind my ear. “Was it at least worth it?”
He blinked.
“Ben.”
A slow grin tilted his lips. “If that’s your way of asking if he’s a good kisser, I never kiss and tell.”
I smacked his arm. “Liar!”
He laughed. “Nothing is worth you getting hurt, but I know what you’re really asking. I had fun. Ben is nice. But would I date him? Maybe, but he isn’t out. So, I suppose the answer to your question is leaning towards no.”
Wrapping my arms around his midsection for a quick hug, I squeezed him before stepping back. “You really love me, huh?”
“Like you had any doubt.”
I smiled and reached for the door handle, but he beat me to it and opened the door. He bowed and gestured for me to enter, making me giggle. “See you later? Coffee at the Hut?”
“You’re not going to stay late here?”
I looked in the empty art room before turning back to him. “My project is almost done and I’m not sure I’ll start another. Text me when you’re done with the guys?”
The flicker of amusement told me I said the wrong thing. “I didn’t think you wanted the dirty details, Della. Naughty little vixen.”
I blushed. “I meant with practice and you know it. I heard Tommy say Coach has been rough on you guys.”
One of his shoulders lifted. “He doesn’t want to lose another game. Can’t say I blame the guy. We were horrible last season and practice this season hasn’t been much better.”
“Then don’t hold back,” I told him knowingly. He hated attention but loved the game enough. In fact, he was the best one on the team, not that he’d admit it. “You’ve got what it takes to make it big even if that’s not what you want.”
He didn’t say anything right away. “I’ll text you later, okay? If you still want to go to the Hut, then you know I’ll be there.”
I turned to walk in when he called out my name, causing me to glance back at him. His lips wavered as he watched me for a moment. “I’d go against Lauren, Evan, and whoever else I needed to if it meant you were okay. You know that, right?”
“Of course.” Why would he even ask that? Just because the frat party happened, didn’t mean I blamed him. I wasn’t even mad anymore because rationality overtook any irritation I had for him disappearing.
Ren nodded once.
“Theo knows it too,” I added, though unconvincingly. Theo did know Lawrence would do anything to make sure I was okay. He just refused to admit it because he preferred hating on Ren instead.
His lips pinched. “I doubt that, Del, but thanks for trying to make me feel better.”
I gave him a small smile, one of reassurance even though he didn’t need it. “He trusts my judgment even when he shouldn’t. If I say you are good people, he knows it. As for fighting people for me…” The laugh couldn’t be stopped at the sight of him facing off Lauren. Ren had muscles, but he just didn’t have the vigor that Lauren did when she meant business. “I don’t doubt you could take Evan, but Lauren…”