Total pages in book: 167
Estimated words: 164557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
The Delta Tau guys don’t seem to be in a hurry to leave. I keep hearing laughter from their table, and every time I glance over there, they’re huddled together like a pack of wolves.
As Faith and Will chat beside me, I catch Mitch’s eye for a second before he leans in closer to his frat brothers, saying something that makes them roar with laughter.
“What the hell are those idiots giggling about?” Faith says, looking annoyed.
“Joey probably told another one of his stellar fart jokes,” I reply, but the knot in my stomach hints at something more ominous.
My instincts are screaming that Mitch told the Delta Tau guys what he heard earlier, and I want desperately for those instincts to be wrong.
But then I hear it—Mitch’s voice, clear and cutting, slicing in our direction. “Yeah, Charlotte’s fucking two guys. Total slut.”
Will goes rigid beside me. His jaw clenches.
I feel the blood rushing to my face, turning my cheeks into tomatoes, but rather than flee for the door the way my mortification wants me to do, my legs have a mind of their own. Before I can stop myself, I stomp toward the Delta Tau table.
“What did you just say?” I growl at Mitch.
Heads turn toward us, curious stares lingering, but I don’t give a shit.
He leans back in his chair, a cocky grin spreading across his face. “Oh, didn’t hear me the first time? I was just telling the guys about how you like to keep things interesting with more than one dick. Must be exhausting keeping up the prim-and-proper act all the time.”
Will comes up beside me, his fists tightening, but I place a hand on his chest to stop him. I’m not about to let my ex-boyfriend get to me, not like this.
“You don’t know anything about me,” I snap at him. “Keep my name out of your mouth, Mitch.”
Before he can say anything else, Agatha marches over in her white designer dress, perfectly styled hair bouncing with each step.
“What is going on here?” she demands.
Mitch grins up at her from his chair. “Hey, Agatha, did you know Charlotte’s been bed-hopping between two hockey players? Gotta satisfy her sex addiction somehow, right?”
Now it’s Faith lunging forward. “Hey, asshole, give it a fucking rest.”
He rolls his eyes at my best friend. “You should be giving that advice to Char, Faith. She needs to rest between all the dicks she’s sucking.”
Once again, I have to restrain Will from attacking my ex. I squeeze his hand, a silent message to stay calm.
“Is any of this true, Charlotte?” Agatha’s jaw is agape.
“Of course it’s not true,” Faith snaps back. “Jesus, Agatha. Charlotte isn’t a sex addict. He’s just bitter that she dumped him. Pathetic asshole.”
“It’s not true,” I assure Agatha, anger churning in my gut. “He’s trying to stir up trouble, as usual.”
She looks between Mitch and me, clearly unsure who to believe. “This isn’t the time for drama,” she finally says. “We have standards here, and I don’t want rumors like this affecting our sorority’s reputation.”
I want to scream. “It’s not a rumor. He’s lying.”
“Am I?” Mitch chimes in, his smirk growing wider. His friends laugh again, egging him on.
I can’t even look at Will, afraid of what I’ll see in his expression. Murder, most likely. Mitch and his frat bros are chortling as Agatha huffs away, and it takes all my willpower to hold it together.
“Let’s get out of here,” I tell Will, gripping his hand so tight I fear I might break it.
Faith falls in step with us, forcing me to a stop when we’re a good distance away. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I just want to leave.” I lean in to give her a quick hug. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Always.”
“I know I’m supposed to stay and help with cleanup, but—”
“Go,” she orders. “I’ll deal with Agatha and the execs.”
“Thank you.” I don’t know what I did to deserve a friend like Faith.
As Will and I walk out of the ballroom, I feel the stares of Mitch and his Delta Tau crew burning into my back. My chest is tight with embarrassment. Will’s hand is steady around mine, but even his touch can’t calm the storm inside me.
We give our tickets to the coat check girl, collect our jackets, and then head toward the lobby, where Will says, “Do you mind if I hit the head before we go?”
“No problem. I’ll meet you out front.”
I exit the hotel through the glass sliding doors in the lobby and step onto the wide sidewalk, the winter air hitting my face like a slap. It feels good, though. The chill. It opens up my lungs, and I finally feel like I can breathe again.
I lean against the brick exterior, staring out onto the well-lit street, trying to collect myself.
But the quiet doesn’t last long.