Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
His grin fades, his expression stoic, and now I’m really confused.
“Yeah, I guess not,” he says.
I struck a nerve, evidently, but considering he was fine with me flattering him about people looking at him, I can’t imagine what the hell could be wrong with assuring him of what he already knows. Although, maybe this was a weird thing for two straight guys to be talking about anyway.
“Did I say something wrong?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No, no. I had a random thought about something totally unrelated. Not anything I want to get into.”
“Fair enough,” I say, tucking my hands into my jacket pockets. “Guess I can’t keep all these secrets from you and expect you to be an open book.”
His expression’s tense. “Sounds about right. But just so we’re clear, you know you don’t have anything to complain about in the face department either.”
His gaze catches mine, and I have to look away.
“Oh, who’s blushing all of a sudden?” he teases.
“Shut it. Stop telling me how hot I am, and maybe I’ll be fine.”
“No, I think I’m enjoying this game. See how much I can make you blush.”
“It’s not that hard.”
“Good.” Once again, he doesn’t sound jokey, which takes me by surprise.
For a second there, I almost forgot what we were on our way to do. Or the fact that Matteo has the power to fuck this up for me. But as it comes back to me, I quiet, and there’s an uncomfortable stretch of silence between us.
Since we’re only about half a mile from the Alpha Alpha Mu house, I decide to get back to the more pressing matter. “So, as far as Spencer, I was thinking we head in, spend some time with Malcom. Maybe order pizza. Then see if we can lure Spencer into Malcom’s room so he can flirt with you. And I sneak out.”
Matteo glares at me. “That’s what you’ve come up with? Won’t it be suspicious if you leave after we get him into Malcom’s room?”
He’s not wrong. “You have a better idea?”
He stares ahead for a few moments before turning to me, a sly smirk on that sexy face. “I can definitely do better than that. Buy you a little time, even.”
“What are you thinking?”
He studies my expression before shaking his head. “Uh-uh. I’m gonna make you watch and squirm.”
The way he says it sounds a little sadistic, like he’s gonna enjoy it.
“What?” I ask.
“Like I said before, you’re gonna have to trust me. Like I’m having to trust you.”
There’s something wicked about the way he’s looking at me. Something intriguing that makes me willing to let my guard down. And despite looking at me like he’s up to no good, for the first time since he confronted me, I have a feeling he’s not leading me into a trap. That he’s on my side.
Guess I’m about to find out.
4
MATTEO
It’s fun having my own secret plan when Alexei’s keeping so much from me about this mission we’re on. But I’m proud of my impromptu idea, and I want to see the look on his face after I pull it off. When we arrive at Alpha Alpha Mu, some of the guys we recognize from school let us in, and when we reach the third story, he shows me to Spencer’s room.
“And where’s Malcom’s?” I whisper.
“Second floor, end of the hall.”
“Head down to that bathroom we passed. Wait for me and then go in and do what you gotta do.”
“You have to get him away from the room so I can get in.”
I grin. “You doubt I can pull this off?”
He raises his hands in surrender, then asks, “And how are you gonna check to make sure I don’t take anything else?”
I don’t feel like that’s a question he’d ask if he was up to something shady. Alexei’s such a mindfuck. I caught him stealing from Gage, but then he was pleading for me to rat on him. I can’t make heads or tails of this, but one thing I know: this notebook must have something he desperately wants. But how could some frat’s notebook bring a guy to tears?
As if that wasn’t bewildering enough, our walk over here was such a messed-up mix of confusion and playfulness. One minute we were talking about his hot ass, and then he brought up my face. My goddamn face. The bane of my existence.
“Maybe I’ll do a strip search when you get down to Malcom’s,” I tease.
Alexei’s eyebrows pop up. “Back to needing to see this hot ass again.”
And suddenly, in the middle of this fucked-up shit, I’m fucking grinning.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it.” I rest my hand on his shoulder. “Now get on down the hall and let me work my magic.”
He heads to the bathroom, and I go to Spencer’s room, taking a moment, considering once again why I’ve agreed to this. It’s not too late to back out. Instead, I knock.