Fallen Crest University (Fallen Crest High #5)(15)

“Let us get our books and head to the house. Is it too early to start partying?” Logan moved forward but stopped short.

Looking over his shoulder inside of the door, I saw the reason, and a chill filled the air. Park Sebastian and three of his friends were coming from the basement door that led into the bookstore. The tension dramatically went up. My jaw clenched. I wanted to go for him, but Nate saw Sebastian the same time I did. Nate’s hand clamped down on my shoulder, as if anchoring me in place. Logan was in front of me. I didn’t know if he was going to hold me back or lunge for the dickhead himself.

If this was going to happen, I glanced over my shoulders—there were witnesses here. I wanted it to be done where there were none so I went inside. Logan and Nate followed behind.

“Look who it is. The current stars for Fraternity Assholes: Where Are They Now?” Logan said.

I shared a look with Nate. I hadn’t realized how thankful I was for having my brother with us until that instant. As if sensing my thoughts, Logan moved to the side, and I stepped next to him. We were shoulder-to-shoulder, gazing down at Sebastian and three of his friends. Judging from the hostility on their faces, I figured they were fraternity exes as well.

Park Sebastian.

My eyes roamed over him. He looked like the same preppy dick that he’d been last year. His hair was gelled and combed to the side. Polo shirt. Khaki cargo shorts. A bag of books in one hand and a flask in the other.

“Logan Kade.” Sebastian showed his perfect teeth. “And the big brother with his best friend. Well, this is lovely. All three of you together.” He met my eyes for a second. A sinister dark look passed there, and he craned his neck to look behind us. “Is that it? Just the three of you? No one else?”

My eyes narrowed. He was looking for Sam.

I started forward, but Logan beat me to it. He slapped a hand on the wall next to me. His arm blocked my advance as he drawled, “Who do you love, Sebastian?”

Sebastian tensed. “What do you mean?”

“Girlfriend? Sister?” Logan’s voice chilled.

He fights. I talk. That’s our thing. His old words filtered back to me, and I knew that was what he was doing. He was doing his job.

Nate moved around us, and Logan slid over, making room for him. When Nate stood in front of me, Logan took a step with him. Both of them were edging me backward just slightly. They were protecting me.

“Why are you asking?” Sebastian’s question was wary.

“I need to know who to target.” Logan grinned at him. “I’m very, very single this year, if you didn’t know, and since you enjoy threatening someone we care about, I figure it’s the least I could do. You target ours. I’ll target yours.”

“I think you’ve already taken enough from me.”

Logan touched his ear and leaned forward. “What was that? What did you say?”

Sebastian gritted his teeth. “You heard me.”

“No, no.” Logan pretended to clean his ear out and stepped forward again. “Seriously, I couldn’t hear you. What did you say?”

“I said,” a low growl emanated from Sebastian, “you’ve already taken enough from me.”

“What are you talking about? I think I have a wax problem.” Logan threw me a smirk over his shoulder. “Who knew a buildup of discharge could be such a problem?”

He was going to hit Sebastian. I saw the promise in Logan’s eyes and knew he was getting closer for a sucker punch. Sensing my tension, Nate glanced at me from the side of his eye. He knew something was going to happen.

I couldn’t fight.

Sebastian would use it against me.

That was what I was telling myself. Not here. Not now.

Logan edged forward one more step.

He was going to, no matter what. I looked up and around. If my little brother was going to hit Sebastian for me, I could help in some way. There was a camera in the corner of the doorway. It was rotating around the entrance and the other set of stairs that led to the top floor of the bookstore.

Logan and Sebastian were still talking, but I eased forward. Logan glanced at me, and I nodded to the camera.

He looked up and shifted backward an inch.

A sudden rush of air left Nate, and I knew he figured out what was going on.

He muttered under his breath, “We’re doing this?”

Sebastian couldn’t hear him. He was still fixated on Logan.

Nate added, “Okay. Tell me when.”

I threw him a side grin. He got it, grinning back at me.

This, right here, was what I’d been missing all last year—besides Sam, of course. She was the constant, but this camaraderie with Logan getting a person worked up and Nate ready to join in.

Sebastian got silent, looking between us.

Logan sent Nate and me a small glare. I flashed Logan a grin back. Relax. I moved forward and snuck a peek to the camera. It was rotating back, moving at a slow pace.

Logan caught the look and gazed up as well.

In ten.

“I’m not sure if you’re aware of this threesome dynamic,” Logan started.

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. Logan was too cocky, too sure of himself. Sebastian’s head lifted to the side as he kept skirting among all three of us.

Nine.

I was next to my brother. They came from the basement section of the bookstore, so Sebastian was blocking his friends from us. His three friends were down a few steps, too far but close enough where they could catch Sebastian.