Iced Out (Leighton U #1)(70)

“In class or at practice most of the time. Sometimes the gym. And when I’m not at any of those places, I’m usually at the library. You know, studying? Because we’re in college and supposed to be learning things?”

Though I do my best to keep the defensiveness out of my voice, I’m not sure I succeeded, because Holden’s eyes harden on me, and I can tell he’s well on the way to sniffing out my lies.

“Okay, then where the hell are you sleeping? Because it sure as hell isn’t here.”

What the fuck?

“I’ve been here pretty much every night this week?” I tell him, though it sounds more like a question because I’m not sure where he’s getting this idea from. The only night I wasn’t here was earlier this week, when I stayed with Quinn at his parents’ place, and that’s not something I thought anyone would notice.

“Pretty much?”

I gape at him, nearly at a loss for words. “Are you actually about to sit here and treat me like a teenager by asking me where I’ve been past my curfew?” A scoff escapes me, and I shake my head. “Did you body swap with my parents or something?”

“You wanna talk about body swapping?” he counters, brow arched. “Because getting into a fight on the ice sounds a lot like something de Haas would do, Oakley. Not you.”

“News travels fast, I see.” My focus flicks to Camden and Braxton, wondering which one of them opened their fucking mouth first about what happened tonight. “But I’m assuming you didn’t hear the part where I stopped the fight.”

“Yet the gash below your eye tells a different story.”

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

“Give it a rest, Hold,” Cam pipes in. “He’s right. He was trying to stop it when he got decked. Can’t blame him for that.”

“I’m just concerned for my best friend.” He motions to the other guys on the couch, his eyes locked on me. “We all are. I’m just the only one willing to fucking say something.”

A twinge of guilt smacks me in the chest, no matter how unwarranted it might be. And it’s at that moment, I almost tell them. Break the last and final rule Quinn and I put into place.

But I just can’t.

Even if I wanted to, even if Quinn and I agreed to cutting out this final rule altogether, I still fucking can’t. Not with the way Holden snarled his name at me moments ago. None of these guys have any love for Quinton, especially with the way we’ve acted toward each other the past few years. They’ve all been around to see it.

There’s no way they’d ever understand this thing happening between the two of us.

“Earth to Oakley?” Holden’s voice cuts into my thoughts.

I realize he must’ve said something I missed while I got lost in my thoughts, and I shake free from the fog. “Sorry, what?”

There’s venom laced in his laugh. “See, this is exactly what I’m talking about. Even when you’re here, you’re not here. So where the fuck are you, man?”

His tone sets me more on edge than finding the four of them sitting here waiting for me like some goddamn intervention.

I drop my bag to the floor and toss my arms out to the side, doing my best to ignore the pain lancing through the shoulder I really need to get some ice on. But if Holden wants to start shit instead, fine.

Like he was quick to point out, this isn’t the first fight I’ve been in tonight.

“I’m busy, Hold. I have a life outside of this house. One involving school and practice and studying and friends other than you.”

Braxton lets out a low whistle. “Mom and Dad are fighting.”

“Oh, fuck off, Braxton,” Holden snaps. But when his eyes shift to me, I see the hurt in them. Hell, I can feel it radiating off him in waves.

I know what I said was harsh, but goddamn. It needed to be said.

Just because everyone in this house are good friends doesn’t mean we need to know where everyone is at all times, and more importantly, who they’re with. That’s fucking insane.

Holden’s lip curls back. “You don’t have to be a dick about it.”

Oh, but I think I do. Because I’m a grown-ass man, and there’s no reason I should need to explain myself, let alone check in with any of them like they’re my goddamn babysitter or something.

“Fine,” I say, dropping into one of the empty spaces on the sectional. “You wanna have a little house meeting about when we’re allowed to go somewhere or not? Maybe we need to make it a rule where everyone’s schedule should be posted on the fridge. Then we know when everyone is coming and going. Does that sound good?”

All four of them keep silent at my ridiculous suggestions. And yeah, they are ridiculous, like this entire conversation has been from the start. But I’m on a roll, and I just keep going.

“Or better yet, maybe we sit around and braid each other’s hair while talking about the people we’re sleeping with?” I don’t wait for a response, nodding my head over to Braxton. “Let’s start with you. What twisted sister are you fucking these days?”

Braxton looks unperturbed by being put on the spot, a bored expression painted on his face when he mutters, “Kinsley.”

“Shocking turn of events,” I muse, my voice tainted with sarcasm as my attention shifts to Theo. “And what about you? Anyone special in your life that’s been eating up your time?”