Still Jaded (Jaded #2)(65)

"I can't. Sorry." My voice had grown hoarse. I turned to the counter and held onto it with both hands. I felt off-balance.

"Sheldon?"

"I'm okay. Really." I pushed upright and wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. I thought I'd been doing okay throughout the week, but Denton's words came out of nowhere. I was gutted.

"Chinese?" He opened his mouth to say more, but the buzzer interrupted.

Something dropped in my throat and for a moment, I wondered if my worst fear was going to come true. When I crossed to the monitor, I expected to see Bryce with her but saw Carolina and Leah instead. Relief went through me as I buzzed them through.

"Who is it?" Denton asked behind me. I heard the crackle of a bag and turned to see him pop a few chips in his mouth. He grinned and offered me the bag. "Want some?"

"No," I chuckled. "I thought you wanted Chinese?"

"I do."

He gestured to the door with the bag. "Figured I'd wait to see who the surprise visitors are. Our plans could change." Then he pretended to frown. "I thought you didn't have any friends except the two."

"Ha ha, you're so funny." But as I went to the door, I was a little embarrassed to admit that he was the only other friend I had. Then, with a fake forced smile on my face, I swept open the door. "Hey guys!"

Leah frowned immediately and stayed put. Carolina smiled and moved around me. She went inside first and then stopped in her tracks. She stared, mesmerized, at Denton.

He waved the bag. "Hi."

"You know Denton Steele?" Leah laughed. "Who don't you know? Do you know that Ronaldo soccer guy—wait. You probably do." As she popped on a stool, she muttered, "Figures."

Carolina was still frozen in place. "I didn't know about him. How did I not know about him? My research is impeccable."

"You researched me?" Grabbing the bag from Denton, I handed it to Leah. I wasn't sure how I felt about Carolina poking into my life. "What'd you do? Hire a private investigator?"

"Becky Lew wanted to be a sister. When we rejected her, she offered information about Corrigan to bribe her way in. I hadn't heard of him, but she told me that he was going to be the future president of Alpha Mu. I thought she was a head case, but then I started hearing Corrigan's name around campus and I called her back. She told me everything." Carolina's eyes looked more focused and less shocked as she turned to me. "She painted you wrong. And she never said anything about him. Is he new?"

"Either you're too smart or you like to sound like a computer. He has a name, and no, Denton used to be my neighbor. I've known him almost as long as Corrigan and Bry—Corrigan."

Denton's eyes shot to mine, but he smirked. "I kind of like being talked about as if I'm not here. It's a nice break from the usual fans. They don't respect physical boundaries."

"You're not helping," I hissed and stepped towards Carolina. "What are you guys doing here? Corrigan's not here."

Leah shot off her stool. "We don't come here because of him. Do you think that?"

I whirled around, shocked at the vehemence in her voice. "Uh…" What I saw in her eyes took my breath away, for a moment. She seemed determined. "Most people don't like me for me. Can you blame me for thinking otherwise? I've been told that I have an aggressive personality."

Leah looked offended. "I could hang out with Corrigan at his frat house, remember?"

"Except he hasn't been there lately."

"Still." Leah looked away. Her shoulders stiffened.

I frowned as I glanced towards Carolina. She looked less offended—which unnerved me—but also riveted as she continued to stare at Denton.

I snapped two fingers in front of her face. "He's not an animal on display and we're not at the zoo. Stop gawking."

She tore her eyes away with an effort and then smiled. "Sorry. I'm not used to curveballs. He's a curveball. Also, he's better looking in person than on the screen."

Leah choked back a laugh. Then I turned and saw Denton merely smile and lift a shoulder.

I rolled my eyes. "You can act somewhat embarrassed about that."

Denton laughed.

The sound seemed genuine and it sent waves down my stomach, which jolted me.

He shrugged. "What do you expect? I get most girls yelling at me, 'You're so hot!' This is nothing. This is almost respectable."

Enough was enough. I looked at Leah. "What are you guys doing here?"

She looked at Carolina, who cleared her throat. The human computer was back in place. "We need your help. Correction. We don't need it, but we'd like it. The Alpha Mu House is doing their annual pledge banquet. They've asked Zeta Gamma Phi to be their dates for the evening—"

Leah cut in, "Next year it's going to be us."

Carolina gave her a pointed look and then cleared her throat, again. "As I was saying, Zeta Gamma Phi is going to be busy since their entire house will be at the event…" She left the sentence hanging and gave that pointed look to me.

"You're going to break into their house?"

"What? No." Carolina looked horrified. Then she smiled and I saw the cunning girl that I'd met in class a few days ago. She continued, "Yes, but it's all in good fun. It's Prank Wars after all."