Ritual - Palm South University

I chuckle, dropping him to the ground to the tune of light applause and other brothers joining in on his sentiments.

It’s a moment that should fill me with pride, but instead, I only feel dread. Because the moment Kade is out of my arms, Cassie’s in them.

“You’re doing amazing!” she squeals, hugging me hard before she presses up on her toes to give me a kiss. Her soft brown eyes are bright and wide under the hanging lights spanning the massive length of the yard — a last-minute touch I’d added to make it feel like a backyard barbecue — and her hair is smooth and straight, angling at her chin in a way that makes me stare at her lips.

“Thanks, babe,” I say, but I immediately release her.

I don’t miss the way she frowns up at me, but luckily I don’t have to answer for my actions. Jess is next in line to congratulate me.

“Not bad for an Alpha Sigma shindig,” she says, cocking one brow.

“Is there a compliment hidden somewhere in there?”

Kade shakes his head, clapping me on the shoulder. “Trust me, coming from this one?” He points a thumb at Jess. “That is a compliment. A high one.”

She narrows her gaze at him, but then smiles, poking him hard in the ribs until he releases his hand on my shoulder and throws his arm around hers, instead. She crosses her arms like she’s annoyed, but I don’t miss the way she leans into him.

I have no idea what the fuck those two are.

They’ve been doing something close to seeing each other, and something equally as close to being mortal enemies, ever since the end of spring semester. But I’ve given up on trying to figure them out — especially since I have my own fish to fry.

After a few more notes of congrats, conversation moves away from me, everyone falling back into what they were discussing before I showed up. One of the students we hired to walk around with red plastic cups of beer on fancy serving platters walks past us, and I snag a beer from them, draining half of it in one swallow.

“Need some booze for those nerves, huh?” Cassie teases, threading her arms around me and looking up at me with her gorgeous eyes again. I usually love them, the way they always seem to find me, to light me on fire, to fill me up from the inside.

Now, I just wonder what else they’re hiding.

“Something like that,” I murmur.

“Everything is perfect,” she says, looking around at the packed yard. It’s the same place we had the concert in prior years, but we’ve completely transformed it this time around. The lights strung high above us, criss-crossing the space between the fake plants on either side, make it feel like a private, exclusive event. We found clever ways to weave the casual in with the fancy, the backyard family feels with the black-tie event vibes. Music plays from the stage, where the next groups of karaoke singers are getting set up, and without a doubt, I know that everyone is having a blast. “It’s everything you wanted it to be and more.”

She’s right.

And yet, I’m counting down the minutes until it’s over, until I can be alone again.

I sigh, chugging the last of my beer before trading it in for another. Cassie takes it away before I can drink too much.

“Hey,” she says on a giggle, raising one eyebrow. “Maybe save the celebrating for after the event? You still have to get up there and emcee.”

“I’m fine,” I say, snatching the beer back from her. I don’t mean to, but in the attempt, half of it splashes onto her shirt.

She gasps, stepping back from me, shocked at first, but then laughing. “Jerk,” she says, shoving me playfully as she flicks the liquid off her hands. She even pegs me with a few droplets. “You’re lucky you’re cute. And that I happen to loooove you.”

Cassie drags out the word love, long and sweet and adorable, coming in to cuddle me again regardless of the wetness of her shirt.

My jaw clenches, heart stopping altogether when I look down at her. “Do you?”

Her smile falls, brows tugging together. “Of course I do.” Then, her eyes search mine, her arms tightening where they hold me. “Adam, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

I can’t help the smile that unleashes itself on my face, and it’s an evil one — one accented by a chesty, one-syllable laugh before I drain my beer again. I toss the red cup in the nearby trashcan, shaking my head as I peel Cassie off me.

“I better get back up there.”

She grabs my hand and pulls me back. “Adam,” she pleads. She doesn’t say anything else, but her eyes say everything her mouth isn’t.

Talk to me.