Ritual - Palm South University

It seems we’re always mixing signals, but here in his arms, I don’t care. I’m just thankful we’ve finally gotten out of our own way to be together.

“Yeah, I didn’t really have time to shop,” he says coldly, shrugging out of my grasp. “I actually need to go check on something at the DJ booth, but I wanted to say hi. I hope you have fun today.”

I swallow, shivering at the cool breeze once he’s no longer holding me. “You say that like I won’t be spending it with you.”

Adam runs a hand through his hair, looking off toward the DJ booth before he looks at me again. Of course, I can’t see his expression under his dark Ray-Bans, but I don’t have to see his eyes to notice the avoidance in them.

“Of course, you will,” he says unconvincingly. “But I’ll be running around a lot, too. I have to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

I nod. “Right.”

Adam takes a step toward the DJ booth, but I reach out for his arm, spinning him in place.

“Adam, what’s going on?”

He sighs, but before he can say anything, I hold up my hand.

“And don’t tell me it’s nothing. You’ve been a class-A prick to me since the night of your concert. I know you got ragged on for spending time with me, and that your fraternity brothers need you around as president. I get that, and I’ve been supporting it. But it’s not fair to be a jerk to me, or to just ignore me completely. Just because you need to be more present at Alpha Sig doesn’t mean I get placed on the back burner.” I frown, stepping into him and wrapping my hands around his forearm. “I’m still your girlfriend.”

Adam chuckles. “Oh, are you?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, nothing — except I wasn’t aware that girlfriends lied to their boyfriends about hanging out with their exes.”

The blood drains from my face, but I still hold onto him. “I’m not trying to hide anything from you, Adam. I’ve been trying to talk to you for weeks about it.”

“About what? The fact that you’re hanging out with Grayson behind my back?”

I inhale a hot breath. “Not behind your back. Like I said, I’ve been trying to tell you.”

Adam scoffs, ripping away from my grasp. “Do you hear yourself, Cassie? You’re hanging out with your fucking ex-boyfriend who cheated on you and oh, by the way, also came between us.”

“I’m not hanging out with him, okay? We have a class together, and we’ve been assigned lab partners, and yes, he apologized to me about what happened and I listened, okay? He wants to try to be friends, and I’ve lost so many people in my life…” I swallow. “I just don’t want to write someone off because of past transgressions.”

“He’s in your Genetics class?”

“Yes.”

“And why didn’t you tell me? I picked you up for lunch every fucking day after that class.”

“I’ve been trying to tell you,” I fume. “But you’ve been all caught up in Alpha Sigma stuff and hellbent on ignoring me.”

“Oh, so now it’s my fault.”

“I don’t even understand why this is a fight,” I say, throwing my hands up.

“You do, Cassie, or you wouldn’t have hidden it.”

“I didn’t hide it.”

“Well, you certainly didn’t tell me outright, did you?”

I know he has a right to be upset — I do, deep down in my gut. But for some reason, I’m defensive, and annoyed, and pissed off that he’s accusing me, and that all this time that I thought he was focusing on his fraternity, he was really just ignoring me for sport. To make a point. To drive that point home.

That is not how a healthy relationship functions.

“Jesus, Adam,” I say, holding my hands out, palms up. “You already won me. Okay? I’m yours. And that’s not changing. But I don’t want to have to hurt someone, either. I know it’s hard to understand but… Grayson is my friend.”

“No.”

“Adam.”

“No,” he says again, shaking his head forcefully. “I’m not okay with that.”

“He’s not a bad guy, okay? I know he fucked up, he hurt me, he was an asshole to you, but he had a lot of shit going on that neither one of us knew about, okay? I mean, would you want someone to judge you in your darkest hour?”

Adam grinds his jaw but doesn’t reply.

“He’s changed,” I continue, voice softer. “And he’s not asking me on a date or hitting on me. He’s asking to be my friend.”

Adam laughs, crossing his arms as he tongues his cheek. “You actually believe the words you’re saying to me right now, don’t you?”

I frown. “You know he even asked about us? He asked how we were doing, Adam. He knows we’re together, and he’s happy for us.”

“Bullshit,” Adam says, his voice high-pitched and desperate as he thrusts his hands toward me. “It’s all bullshit. Are you so blind, Cassie? Of course he asked how we were, because he’s just dying for one little fuck up on my end so he can slip back into your heart, and then into your pants. He doesn’t want to be friends. He wants you back.”