Mad Boys (Blue Ivy Prep, #2)(96)

He didn’t answer.

Fuck—did I go? Or did I wait?

Blowing out a breath, I waited an agonizing five minutes for an answer, any answer.

“Ace,” Lachlan said. “We need to go now.”

Dammit. I stared at the phone with no response from Jonas and not even a note that said he’d read it yet. Babysitting me wasn’t his job. Lachlan was here.

Jerking the door open, I found the pair of them glaring at each other, but all at once their expressions changed as they focused on me.

“What do I need to wear?”





Thirty-Nine





LACHLAN


When Jonas texted to say Ace would be on her own, and he was stuck, I’d read the message three times before I sent a response.

Me



And you want me to go look after her?





Jonas



Do I need to text Ramsey?





Oh, hell no. I had this.

Me



Just checking.





Avoiding Ace was not my favorite activity, but nearly six hours of police interrogation, the arrival of the attorney Dad hired, and Dad’s cautions on the phone… yeah, I’d taken a step back. Maybe I could see what was going on better from a distance.

Ramsey was fucking infuriated that we’d all been reported, even Jonas, for harassing a female student. The alleged harassment involved the suggestion of sexual battery, but the student in question had not gone that far.

They also wouldn’t tell us who it was. The school intended to protect the so-called victim from any kind of retaliation. Yes, Ace had definitely called my ass out while she’d been foggy, unfocused, and concussed. Called me out and thrown me under the bus.

I still had the tire tracks to prove it.

The problem was—

I hit the top step of their floor, turned the corner and then just paused. Who was standing in front of the suite door but RJ fucking Wallach.

Dressed in slacks, a button-down, and a jacket, he looked like he was picking her up for a date. A heady amount of violence thrummed through my system as I strolled down the hall to where he’d begun to knock on the door.

Amusingly, RJ seemed less than situationally aware but then movement at the door across the hall had me shifting my gaze. The door definitely moved, closing almost softly. What the fuck was Payton up to now? That had me flicking my gaze back to RJ just as Ace’s voice floated through the door.

“Who is it?”

The corner of my mouth kicked up. Good girl. Don’t just open the door.

“Hey, Blue,” RJ said in a mock whisper. What an ass. Blue? How fucking original was that stupid goddamn nickname? I’d like to cram the whole syllable down his throat until he choked on it. “I’m here to pick you up.”

“For what?” Skepticism rifled the words and I had to bite back another smile. Even more because RJ hadn’t noticed me yet. I owed McCallum a case of booze. The initiations were coming sooner than the Fire and Ice Dance.

“You know what for, you finished the last puzzle.” The smug amusement scraped over my nerves.

“I can’t.” Good girl. Don’t accept fuck-all from this asshat.

“Come on, Blue,” he said, his sugary tone vomitous. “You finished all the plays, but there’s one step left…”

“Look.” Anger populated that single word. Yeah, she was never coming out of there, and I fucking approved. “RJ, I’m not—”

Unfortunately, I needed her to say yes now, but I wouldn’t let her take a single step without me there.

“It’s okay, Ace.” RJ whipped around like I’d stabbed him. Sadly, I hadn’t. “You can open the door.” Yet.

The speed at which she opened the door massaged some of the raw spots left by the interrogations. “What the hell are you two doing together?”

There was my girl. “C’mon, Ace, you know you wanna know. It’ll be fun.” Didn’t she look adorable all dressed to stay in…

Locking my gaze on hers, I urged her to trust me. I had her back. C’mon, Ace. Do it.

“Give me a sec,” she said, shutting the door.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” RJ demanded in a low voice that wouldn’t carry, and I smirked at him.

“If they didn’t tell you then, I don’t see the need to enlighten you.”

RJ’s expression darkened as he glared at me. Yes, the rules were the rules. Didn’t mean anyone had told me to be here, but the beauty of it was, he couldn’t ask to verify. So, suck it up jackass.

This has been a long fucking time coming. Hands in my pockets, I fisted them to keep them there and not beating him black and blue.

He didn’t answer.

“Ace,” I said, holding RJ’s eye contact until he looked away. “We need to go now.”

When the door opened once more, I met her gaze and smiled slowly.

“What do I need to wear?”

Good girl.

Fifteen minutes later, I strolled with Ace and RJ toward McMillan building. A/V classes, equipment, and soundproofed studios were there. Aware of her attention swinging back to me in repeated suspicion, I caught her eye and winked.

“What are we doing?” she leaned in close to me, her voice a soft whisper. Lifting an arm, I settled it over her shoulders and tucked her closer. It was just starting to get dark. The clouds overhead, the rapidly declining light, and the blanket of snow over the campus gave it a kind of ethereal feel.