uncontrollably and I should be thinking about my founders but instead I’m thinking about Skyler. Adam is getting closer and closer to me, and if I fuck up and don’t give the right answer again, my pledge brothers and I are going to be stuck in this pool of ice water for another round.
Focus, Kip. Founders – think founders. George Ruthenlaw, Harry Winters, James Johnson, Skyler Thorne.
Shit!
“Pledge Jackson,” Adam says, walking to stand in front of me. My teeth are chattering under my lips as his eyes bore into mine. “Name the three founders of Alpha Sigma who helped the sisters of Pi Gamma Zeta sneak out of their dorms when they were founding their sorority.”
I take a deep breath and try to let my brain do the work on its own. I’ve studied my founders more than my actual schoolwork. I know this.
“Harry Winters, Edward Sanders, and…” I pause, waiting for the last name to come to me. I know this, I know this.
“Ten. Nine.” Adam starts to count down and my pledge brothers groan. Some shout out encouragements, others choose to offer profanities. I block everything out and zero in on the book of our founders, on our history. Think, Kip, think.
“Clarence Bell?” I say, though it comes out more like a question. Everyone shivers and is quiet for a minute, waiting on bated breath. Finally, Adam simply nods and moves on to the next pledge. I let out a relieved breath, but it’s not over yet.
As Adam asks the final question to Christopher, the pledge next to me, I catch his eyes shifting over to me still. He seems almost pissed off that I answered correctly, and I can’t help but feel it has something to do with Skyler. I heard they had a fling last year, but apparently it’s a fling Adam hasn’t let go of yet. Ever since I bid on her at the auction, he’s been giving me the cold shoulder – a complete one-eighty from the bromance flirting that was happening the night of rush. This is the last thing I need. As if things aren’t complicated as it is, now my president is aiming his arrows at the target he glued on my back.
So much for flying under the radar.
Thankfully, Christopher answers the last question correctly and we all simultaneously jump out of the water. A few of the brothers watching throw us towels and tell us to wrap up our feet while they grab us some hot water to sip. I sit down on the couch next to Kade and cross my arms over my chest, still shivering.
“Holy balls, I’m freezing,” Kade says, but a huge smile is plastered to his face. He loves this pledging stuff, maybe a little too much, actually.
“I’m pretty sure I need a wheelchair, no way my legs work now.”
He laughs a little. “You better make them work – don’t you pick Miss Poker Star up at seven tonight?”
I smile a shit-eating grin that I can’t help but have when someone mentions Skyler, no matter how badly I wish I could. “She can push me around in the wheelchair. That’s romantic, right?”
“Totally. Candles, roses, and wheelchairs – the perfect recipe to get laid.”
“I should patent that.”
Kade and I laugh just as Adam walks up. The severity of his facial expression makes us both cut our laughs short and cough a little. He hands us two cups of hot water and Kade immediately sips his, which I know burns the shit out of his tongue but he doesn’t say anything.
“Kip, can I talk to you for a second?” Adam asks and before I even have the chance to answer, Kade jumps up and moves to join a few other pledges by the pool table. Adam takes his place and looks over at me, studying.
“Are you taking Skyler out tonight?”
I sip the hot liquid from my cup and nod, avoiding words for as long as I can. I’m not ever the kind of guy to back down from another man, but he’s my president and I respect him. I don’t want to piss him off and I damn sure don’t want to get kicked out of Alpha Sig before I even officially get in.
Adam sighs and runs his fingers through his hair, staring
Focus, Kip. Founders – think founders. George Ruthenlaw, Harry Winters, James Johnson, Skyler Thorne.
Shit!
“Pledge Jackson,” Adam says, walking to stand in front of me. My teeth are chattering under my lips as his eyes bore into mine. “Name the three founders of Alpha Sigma who helped the sisters of Pi Gamma Zeta sneak out of their dorms when they were founding their sorority.”
I take a deep breath and try to let my brain do the work on its own. I’ve studied my founders more than my actual schoolwork. I know this.
“Harry Winters, Edward Sanders, and…” I pause, waiting for the last name to come to me. I know this, I know this.
“Ten. Nine.” Adam starts to count down and my pledge brothers groan. Some shout out encouragements, others choose to offer profanities. I block everything out and zero in on the book of our founders, on our history. Think, Kip, think.
“Clarence Bell?” I say, though it comes out more like a question. Everyone shivers and is quiet for a minute, waiting on bated breath. Finally, Adam simply nods and moves on to the next pledge. I let out a relieved breath, but it’s not over yet.
As Adam asks the final question to Christopher, the pledge next to me, I catch his eyes shifting over to me still. He seems almost pissed off that I answered correctly, and I can’t help but feel it has something to do with Skyler. I heard they had a fling last year, but apparently it’s a fling Adam hasn’t let go of yet. Ever since I bid on her at the auction, he’s been giving me the cold shoulder – a complete one-eighty from the bromance flirting that was happening the night of rush. This is the last thing I need. As if things aren’t complicated as it is, now my president is aiming his arrows at the target he glued on my back.
So much for flying under the radar.
Thankfully, Christopher answers the last question correctly and we all simultaneously jump out of the water. A few of the brothers watching throw us towels and tell us to wrap up our feet while they grab us some hot water to sip. I sit down on the couch next to Kade and cross my arms over my chest, still shivering.
“Holy balls, I’m freezing,” Kade says, but a huge smile is plastered to his face. He loves this pledging stuff, maybe a little too much, actually.
“I’m pretty sure I need a wheelchair, no way my legs work now.”
He laughs a little. “You better make them work – don’t you pick Miss Poker Star up at seven tonight?”
I smile a shit-eating grin that I can’t help but have when someone mentions Skyler, no matter how badly I wish I could. “She can push me around in the wheelchair. That’s romantic, right?”
“Totally. Candles, roses, and wheelchairs – the perfect recipe to get laid.”
“I should patent that.”
Kade and I laugh just as Adam walks up. The severity of his facial expression makes us both cut our laughs short and cough a little. He hands us two cups of hot water and Kade immediately sips his, which I know burns the shit out of his tongue but he doesn’t say anything.
“Kip, can I talk to you for a second?” Adam asks and before I even have the chance to answer, Kade jumps up and moves to join a few other pledges by the pool table. Adam takes his place and looks over at me, studying.
“Are you taking Skyler out tonight?”
I sip the hot liquid from my cup and nod, avoiding words for as long as I can. I’m not ever the kind of guy to back down from another man, but he’s my president and I respect him. I don’t want to piss him off and I damn sure don’t want to get kicked out of Alpha Sig before I even officially get in.
Adam sighs and runs his fingers through his hair, staring
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