I practically dragged her into our friendship. She really didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. I tried to make sure she always felt included. In the end I ended up messing up her life. She’s more than included now. She’s a casualty of the cruelty people are trying to dish out to me. Instead of texting Levi and Zeke, I decide to call Erika.
“Hey,” she says after one ring. There’s no whispering this time. I know where she is. There’s no hiding it now. Tank demanded that she stay with him after they had both seen firsthand what our room looked like. No other option was acceptable to him.
It’s not like you’re able to miss anything Tank says or does. He looks like a giant, especially standing behind Erika. He’d folded his thick arms over his barrel chest and was acting like her bodyguard. I knew he was itching to sweep her into his arms again and carry her away.
I’d always wondered if I’d fit between Zeke and Levi, but somehow I knew it would work. Between the two of them they can figure anything out. I can’t figure out how Erika and Tank are going to work, and from the way they were acting I don’t think they’ve crossed into that territory either. I know what Tank wants though. I could see it all over his face. It was the face of a man who wants something but won’t let himself have it or touch it. Zeke and Levi used to have that look when they were around me.
“Hey.” My voice wobbles when I hear her voice.
“Liv.” Erika says softly. “It’s fine. It’s just crap. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I know some of those books weren’t crap,” I sniffle, trying not to cry. She doesn’t need my tears and I know they would probably make her cry, too. At least it did when we were at the dorm room last night. She told me she wasn’t crying about the room but crying because I was so upset. That only made me cry more because it was so freaking sweet. So we sat there and cried while three huge men stared at us like the world was ending and they had no idea how to stop it.
“It’s only stuff, Liv,” she reassures me again. “Rather have all my crap trashed than not have ever met you. It’s worth it.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. I might be about to cry, but I’m smiling because I know she means that.
“Why don’t you tell me about Tank?” I ask tentatively. That makes her laugh. I lie back down with the phone to my ear. I know I won’t be able to sleep, but Erika will help me pass the time until my men come home.
Chapter Ten
Zeke
It’s still dark out since Levi declared this needed to be done before his early morning run and practice. It shouldn’t be hard. Alphabet boys are like most bullies—soft and scared when you confront them.
“What’s the plan?” the giant beside me asks. Tank texted me earlier to say that he wanted in on whatever revenge we were planning. I told him it wasn’t revenge, just a clarification of campus rules. He didn’t care. He just wanted in.
“We’re burning the place to the ground.” See, the rules are, you mess with us, and we salt the earth with your bodies.
“Okay. Where’s the gas? I’ll get to pouring.”
“It’s metaphorical,” I reply with a slap to Tank’s massive shoulder. “We’ve promised Olivia that we can’t go to prison because only one of us gets conjugal rights.”
“Can’t you just switch it up? You guys look alike.”
“We could, but Olivia is convinced we’d get caught out. To her, we’re as different as night and day.”
Tank’s eyes flick from Levi to me and back again. He doesn’t buy it. We’ve come up against this before and there’s no point in arguing—either with strangers or Olivia. People are going to believe what they’re going to believe.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re doing everything by the book.” I check my watch. The moving company should be here any minute. Sure enough, as soon as I’m about to text my contact, a big semi makes the turn down the street.
“Right on time.” Levi rubs his hands together gleefully.
Tank, however, isn’t as happy. “What’s that? We don’t need outside reinforcements…or witnesses,” he grumbles under his breath.
“Trust me, Tank. Like I said, we promised Olivia we wouldn’t get in trouble.” I wait until the semi pulls up to the curb and two men hop down.
“Zeke Audley?” The tall driver comes over to shake my hand.
“That’s me. My mirror over there is Levi.”
The man nearly trips over his feet to rush over to my brother. “Shit, Levi Audley? You were a monster last weekend. Three sacks? You going pro this year? Everyone says you are.”