Bender (The Core Four #1)(45)

Clearing my throat I felt the need to defend myself. “I would be, but I chose to hold myself back. I don’t want to apply without knowing for sure that I am giving myself the best foot forward. The program is highly competitive, and I want to ensure that my grades are up to par. I chose to retake a few science classes. I should be good to go after this semester. I’ll submit my application and hopefully I’ll know if I got in by the spring.”

Luke was smiling down at me, and I noticed Veronica curling her lip. “Oh, well that’s good, I guess.”

I nodded, unable to say anything else without it coming across as rude. While I was talking I realized that the group of guys who were pledges were glancing at me every now and then, then turning back to their conversation. I ran my tongue across my front teeth, self-conscious that I had something on them. Why did I get the distinct impression that I was being talked about? Luke’s hand rubbed across my back, bringing me back to the other four still talking to me. RJ and Brent both had brown hair and green eyes. In fact the longer I looked at them, I realized that they could pass for twins. With their tall stance and wide shoulders, I wondered if they were on the football team. Nothing about those two screamed average. In fact, both were very handsome.

“You okay?” Luke asked, laying his forehead on my temple.

“Mmmhmm.”

“Y’all look like you’ve gotten cozy.” I think it was RJ who said that.

Luke once again became rigid. “I suppose we have. Keegan’s a sweet girl.” I leaned further into him at his compliment.

The smiles that spread across those four faces made something in my stomach turn. “Good to hear, Luke, good to hear,” Brent said in an almost sarcastic fashion.

“So how far have you two taken things?” RJ asked.

“Excuse me?” I said.

“Fuck off Brent.” Okay, I’d gotten the two guys mixed up.

Holding his hands up, palms out, Brent said, “Hey man, just asking. I didn’t know how serious y’all were. Maybe I wanted to ask Keegan out later for myself.”

My brows drew together. “That’s a bit rude, don’t you think?”

If looks could kill, Luke looked like he wanted to throttle Brent. “Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “But in case you haven’t got the memo, we share around here.”

The giggle that came out of Veronica’s mouth made me ill. “Well I don’t.”

“Hey Princess, just stating that you’re a fine piece. And when Luke’s done with you, I’d gladly take a ride.” This time it was RJ piping in.

“Enough!” Luke growled.

I was so flabbergasted at the turn this conversation took, I had no response. Needing to take a step back and gather myself, I looked up to Luke and said, “I need to use the restroom.”

Gritting his teeth, he nodded. “Down the hall, it’s the third door on the right.”

Without a backwards glance I rushed into the house and tried to find the bathroom. I needed a little bit of solitude. When I found the correct door, I had to wait for two other girls to go in and do their business. When it was my turn I went inside and locked the door. Sagging against the wood I tried to push away the feeling of panic. In that moment Camden came to mind. If those guys had said all of that in front of him, he would have leveled them to the ground. Luke seemed just as upset over their harshness, but there was something else there that caused him to bite his tongue. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it wasn’t right. Having never been to a frat party before, I had to wonder if this was just the way that these guys behaved. Luke had never once treated me like an inconsequential object, but maybe at one point he had acted like them. He was in grad school now, so that must have caused him to do a little growing up and see that women weren’t play things. I deserved to be treated with respect. Even though my outfit said trashy, on any other given day, I was very reserved. Steeling myself I decided I wouldn’t expect Luke or anybody else to stand up for me. I would demand a certain level of respect from these guys, and they would need to know that I wouldn’t tolerate anything less. Washing my hands and checking my ridiculous makeup, I wondered where Macie and Dodger had gone off to, and if they had worked out their issues. No way would they have sat back and listened to the load of crap I’d just heard. Drying my hands I unlocked the door and stepped into the hall. I was greeted by the same cat-like eyes that had been glowering at me outside.

“Are you having fun?” Veronica asked, her tone sounding weird.

“I guess so. All this,” I said looking around. “It’s not really my thing, but I’m having an okay time.”

“It’s all been one big joke, you know that right?” she said to me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, confused.

“Luke dating you, bringing you here to this party.”

“I’m not following you.”

She sighed in annoyance. “It’s what they do. They find a Plain Jane girl to see if she will fall for the guy, and then they bring them to this party for the friends to judge how in deep she is. They do it every year.” She casually looked at her finger nails.

I shook my head. “Luke would never do something like that.”

“Oh really? So you honestly thought that someone like him would go for someone like you? Sorry to burst your bubble sweetheart, but Luke and I are an item. We have been since high school. I let him take on the challenge, because the winner gets a vacation to Cozumel, and I wanted it. He gives me whatever I want.” Her full lips contorted into a sadistic looking smile.