Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
And I don’t want to think about the real world, anyway.
Onyx House is the first place where I’ve been certain that I belong. I wish I could freeze time and stay here forever, sometimes.
“Roman,” I say across the table, nodding over at him. “Do you know about anyone who was at the party Friday night who was new?”
He sips black coffee and thoughtfully looks up at the ceiling for a moment. “There was a guy I met who said he was from Lakehollow College. A woman who Matt invited from a bar. I think, maybe, another guy who Miller brought, an old high school friend. Is there a problem?”
“Apparently there was a guy there saying homophobic things about an Onyx member.”
I don’t mention that it was about Niko specifically, because it’s heartbreaking and I don’t want him to feel singled out.
Roman furrows his brow. “No chance in hell the Lakehollow guy was homophobic, because he told me he was gay within thirty seconds of conversation. The woman from the bar also talked about Pride, so I doubt it.”
“Maybe the guy Miller brought,” I offer.
“Miller doesn’t hang with assholes like that,” Noah says. “He had to be someone who just filtered in from campus.”
“How many random people filter down onto Red Row from campus, though?” Ollie asks.
“You’d be surprised,” I explain. “People find out about secret societies, they get curious, and they come down like they’re tourists sometimes.”
Roman looks lost in thought.
He gets up a minute later, taking his coffee mug back to grab some more, and I take the opportunity to walk over and catch him alone.
“Roman, the person specifically said something bad about Niko,” I tell him. “Maybe that can help us narrow it down.”
“Disgusting,” he says. “I’ll see what I can find out, but I doubt we’re going to be able to track him down without more info.”
“Sev Berlant is the one who heard it. He decked the guy out in the backyard.”
Roman raises his eyebrows. “I knew I saw some shit going down out there. But when I went outside it looked like people were just swimming.”
“Sev is telling the truth. I don’t think he’d lie about that.”
Roman studies my face for a minute. “You’re close with Sevan now, yes?”
Suddenly I feel like I’m under a spotlight.
“No. Can’t stand the guy. You know that.”
“Yes, but you slept with him at the party,” Roman says.
I freeze in place.
He said it so casually.
Like he was mentioning the time of day rather than something fucking earth-shattering.
“What?”
He takes a sip of his coffee. “Yeah. You guys fucked.”
A group of girls walks by and one of them grins at me as she overhears that part of the conversation.
“Jesus Christ, Roman.”
He looks me up and down. “What’s the problem? People fuck every day at the house. And Noah, several times a day sometimes, at least until recently.”
“Who else knows about this?” I ask.
There’s a sinking feeling in my stomach and I suddenly feel like the floor is unsteady beneath me.
Roman shrugs one shoulder. “Dunno. I saw him walk out of your room naked and go to shower. Not rocket science. Bet he’s a good hate fuck, isn’t he?”
“I’m going to pass out.”
He puts a hand out to squeeze my shoulder. “Relax. You’re not in trouble. You’re not doing anything wrong. Happy you’re getting your dick wet, Knox. But I will want to talk to Sevan about the incident at the party, understand?”
“I don’t want to involve your family,” I blurt out.
He gives me a cold stare. “Some people in my family can be violent, but they’re not going to murder someone in cold blood just because I say he caused an issue at a party. Again. Relax.”
“Please don’t tell the whole frat. I know they wouldn’t judge, but I just… I don’t want it out there. Okay?”
“Sure. I never hated Sevan like you did, Wes. Seems like a good guy. Tough guy, good guy. If you know what I mean.”
I’m not sure I do know what Roman means.
My stomach is too twisted into knots to pay attention to anything right now.
Roman pats me on the back before turning back toward the table. “Alumni dinner. Study up,” he calls back to me before walking off.
Next time I walk into Sellwood’s class, Sev isn’t there.
Maybe he called in sick, or maybe he’s playing hooky.
At first it feels like a massive relief to see his class assistant chair empty for the entirety of class. But I can’t help but wonder where he is, more and more, as class goes on.
He hasn’t texted me in two days, either.
Not that he owes me anything.
I slide out my phone and shoot off a quick message.
Not in class today? Too bad. Was going to offer to blow you under the desk.
As I press send, my heart beats a little faster.
It’s not the kind of joke I usually make. Not the kind I should be making to him, ever. But I couldn’t stop myself.