Callum wraps an arm around me and starts walking us toward the door. “Nothing you can intervene in, so don’t worry about it. He’d never hurt her. So whatever he’s here for must be important.”
I glance up at him, skeptical. “How did he even know we were here? You clearly weren’t expecting him.”
Callum sighs. “You, Madi, Winter, and Chapel all have trackers. And all of us have access to them. If something ever happens to me, one of them would make sure you’re okay.”
He rubs his thumb over my knuckles. “I trust them. They trust me. You guys are safe, so that’s all that matters. Caiden thinks he’s funny by using your tracker to pop up on me.”
We reach the door and he holds it open for me. I glance over my shoulder when I say, “I’ve heard some things about Caiden. And he doesn’t come off well in most of them.”
Callum chuckles. “Everything you heard is true. But he’s loyal to me, so I’m loyal to him.”
CALLUM
When the girls head to the restroom, the guys and I claim a table near the back of the karaoke bar. Ramsey volunteers to be a creep and stands guard outside the women’s bathroom like the overprotective menace he is.
By the time they return, we’ve got the drinks ordered and appetizers are on the way. Tristan grabs the bottom of Winter’s chair and yanks her closer until she’s basically in his lap. She doesn’t blink, just leans into him like it’s second nature. He’s having such a hard time lately. No matter the time of night I get up, he’s already awake, playing chess or just pacing the hall. He’s becoming more agitated, and the common denominator for his outbursts is being separated from Winter.
Ramsey introduces Reese to the group like it’s a formal event and Madi, all chipper and sweet, says, “We just peed together. We’ve met.”
Everyone cracks up. Except Hayden, who makes a face like his girlfriend just admitted to something deeply traumatic. I shake my head, laughing.
There’s a tall, blonde guy lingering awkwardly next to Reese, like he doesn’t want to be here. The feeling’s mutual becausenone of us have attempted to acknowledge him. I’ve never met Justin, but I already don’t like his vibe.
I watch the three of them like it’s my own personal trashy TV show. Reese is angled toward Ramsey. She’s making eye contact, talking animatedly about what songs she wants to sing tonight. Not just sing, but sing with Ramsey. It’s their thing, apparently. Judging by the look on Justin’s face, he doesn’t think his girlfriend should have a thing with another guy. I don’t think he has the balls to say anything to Ramsey, though. I know if that were me, I’d have already blacked out with rage and turned this place upside down. Lilac can have as many hobbies as she wants…with me. Not some other guy. Ramsey’s smirking, nodding along to everything Reese suggests, his arm resting on the back of her chair.
Justin is literal wallpaper, and I decide then and there that he won’t even be fun to try to annoy.
Lilac must feel the awkward tension at the table because she says, “Hi, I’m Lilac. You’re Reese’s boyfriend, right?”
I grin and duck my head into her shoulder to hide my laugh. As much shit as we talk, I’m not going to be the one to laugh in this poor guy’s face.
Hayden doesn’t have that same restraint.
“So,” he starts, his voice overly casual, “where do you play hockey?”
“Harmony College,” Justin says. He’s dry as fuck, and I can see the look in Hayden’s eyes that Justin’s attitude in this moment is what seals the deal. Hayden nods like he’s calculating a hit.
Because he is, but I can already tell poor Ramsey is going to catch some strays in this one-sided verbal spar.
“So you just let Ramsey take care of your girlfriend while you’re away, or what’s the deal?” Hayden smiles, big and fake, and I’m going to combust if I can’t laugh at this shit.
Madi smacks Hayden’s chest with a gasp, and there’s a low rumble of laughter around the table. Ramsey flips Hayden off. Hayden flips him off right back. They’re in the dictionary next to the word frenemies.
I’m glad I already had Ramsey put a tracker in Lilac’s neck. After that swing from Hayden, Ramsey probably isn’t gonna help us out again anytime soon.
Justin says, “I wanted Reese to come to school with me, but she insisted on living out the Blackwood legacy at St. Charles.” His voice isn’t mean or even grouchy. It’s like he’s detached or disappointed.
Reese jumps in with a bright smile. “I wanted to stay close to my sister. I went to boarding school for so long…”
Lilac cuts in. “You don’t owe us, or anyone…” Lilac pauses rather cinematically to shoot Justin an annoyed look before she finishes, “an explanation. Do what’s best for you.”
Reese looks at her like she just handed her a gift. Like maybe she’s been arguing with Justin about this very thing for a long time. The mood is ruined, though, and I’m not about to sit here and play the poor, pitiful Justin game.
“Well, this got awkward,” I say, standing. “Time to serenade Big T.”
I kiss Lilac on the mouth quickly, but so gently that my lips are buzzing by the time I’m rounding the table. I blow a kiss to Tristan, who’s already scowling as I make my way up to the front of the room.
The DJ is trying to wrap up some sorority girls’ drunk version of “Party in the U.S.A.” when I get to the stage. I tell the guy running the machine I want to sing “Yeah!” by Usher. I flip my baseball cap backwards because this is fucking serious. I’m going to razzle dazzle my lady, and Tristan is going to be pacing the halls tonight with Lil Jon’s rap stuck in his head. I step up thereas soon as the girls are stumbling back to their seats, and the beat starts.
