Harry:
Tiffany gave a wave to Brit as she pulled away with Erik in her Volkswagon Beetle. I was glad to see them go and not surprised at all when Tiff turned to me and said, “Was it just me, or was tonight really weird?”
“Um, it was different.” I forced a smile, trying my best to ease her nerves. I could feel the anxiety wrapping around her. She cloaked herself in it.
“Why don’t they like you?” It was a simple question, but it came with a loaded answer.
“We used to hang out but…” I shrugged. “Things change.” Her face fell. I didn’t give her a real answer, and I felt she needed something that wasn’t so vague, so I added, “When my cousin still lived here, before he became internationally famous…” I rolled my eyes. “We all had a lot more in common. Without David, I guess I wasn’t really welcomed in the group.”
“Oh.” She looked pensive for a minute. “They are pretty tight knit. Even with Brit welcoming me with open arms, I admit I went through a period of adjustment.” She forced a smile. “Um… do you want to come back to my place? Walking Dead is on tonight.”
“As much as I do love rotting meat, I have some school work to catch up on.” Could she tell I was lying? I hoped not.
“Yeah, me too…” Her voice trailed off. “Thanks, though. It would have really sucked to have been alone with those two.”
“Yeah, I bet after weeks apart they’re unbearable. They were intense when they saw each other every day.” I pushed up my glasses and bit my lip, suddenly feeling jealous of Erik and the way he could bestow affection on Brit at any moment.
She nodded and opened her car door.
“Hey,” I called to her.
She turned and looked at me hopefully. Acting on impulse, I reached over and pulled her into my arms. I needed to hold her because in twenty-four hours, she might not even be speaking to me. My fate rested on Brit. I squeezed her tight, inhaling the perfumed scent of her hair and pretended just for a moment that she was mine, and the mistakes of my past weren’t chasing after me.
When I finally let her go, she looked at me confused. “What was that for?”
“You just looked like you needed a hug. Like you said before… weird night.”
“Oh.” She tucked a loose hair behind her ear and smiled as she got in her car. “Well, thanks, I guess.” I gave a wave and closed the door of her mini coop. She pulled away a moment later, and I raced to my own jeep. I had to get to Brit before she got to Tiff.
I parked my jeep outside the sorority house, feeling my stomach tie itself into knots. It had been two years since I was last inside. I was grateful that Tiffany lived on campus and not here. This house was haunted to me. But sometimes you had to face your demons. Getting out of my car, I headed toward the stairs, not at all surprised when the door opened and Brit was there, with Erik by her side.
“Thank you for not saying anything,” I began. I was grateful. “You could have thrown me under a bus, but you didn’t. I appreciate that.”
“I didn’t say anything for one reason and one reason only. I love Tiffany, just like I love Kristen, and when it comes to those women, my claws are out, ready to protect. I may not have said anything tonight, but that doesn’t mean I won’t say anything tomorrow.” Her chest was heaving. She was ready to rip me a new one, that much was clear. I guess this was the moment that she never had all those years ago. She was entitled to it.
Erik put a reassuring hand on her arm. “We were just surprised to see you tonight. That’s all.”
I felt like they were Tiff’s parents, and I was asking for permission to court their daughter. I had to remind myself that I was older than them. I was only a year older than Erik, but still, I was older. “I understand. Brit, I know you don’t owe me anything.”
“Ha! I owe you less than nothing.” She crossed her arms, and again, Erik gave her a squeeze. They were a tough army to penetrate.
“I know, but I’m still going to ask you for something.” She glared at me like if she could scratch my eyes out with her bare hands she would. “I’m asking for one thing and one thing only. Let me tell Tiff on my terms.”
“No.” Damn. She didn’t even take a second to consider it.
“Brit, please. I’m literally begging you here.” I pondered dropping to my knees and wringing my hands together in prayer. I mean, what pride did I have left?
She turned to Erik and gave him a look as if to say he could let go of her. He dropped his hands to his side as she stepped forward. She was a bit smaller than I remembered but still an intimidating little thing. She pointed her finger and jabbed me hard in the chest. Ow. “Why should I allow you the slightest opportunity to manipulate what really went down?”
I took a breath. I knew Brit was just defending the people she loved, but I needed her to give me this. “I have no intention of manipulating anything. Just hear me out.” I ran my hands through my hair. I needed her to agree to this. “Hear me out, and then you can decide.”
She narrowed her eyes.
I knew she hated me. Fuck, for the things I did, I hated myself. But still, I had to make her see my intent. “Please, Brit.”
Then a miracle happened. She shook her head, and I knew she was going to give me one moment of reprieve. “You’ve got five minutes,” she said.
Brit whispered something to Erik, and he just gave me a glare, then said, “I’ll be in the living room if you need me.” He kissed the top of her head and left us alone. She stepped aside to let me into the sorority house. I looked around at the pictures of Delta Sigs on the wall, at the vestibule that led to the enormous living room, the polished wooden staircase that led to the bedrooms. It was all how I remembered it. I hadn’t been inside in years. Not since…
Well, that was another time.
The house was quiet. I was glad for that. It’s always easier to confess when there’s nothing to distract me, no crowd to witness my shame and ultimately condemn me. But I wasn’t facing the easiest judge.
Brit plopped down on the stairs, crossed her arms over her knees, and looked at me like she was impatiently waiting. “Well, convince me.”
“I promise you I’m coming clean to Tiff on Wednesday night. Everything will be out in the open. You have to understand it’s not that I don’t want to tell her. I plan on it. I just have to do it my way.
She looked at me, her eyes scanning mine trying to sort out the truth. Finally she exhaled and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Wednesday, not a day later.”
“I promise! Scouts honor” I raised my fingers in the boy scout salute. She didn’t seem impressed. “I mean it, Brit, thank you. I seriously owe you,” I said as she walked me to the door.
“Yes, well, I’m hoping you’ll prove me wrong. I’m only allowing you this because Tiffany really likes you.”
“You know, you used to like me, too.” From the way Brit’s face twisted, I realized I had overstepped her gracious hospitality. “I’m sorry. I just meant…”
She put a hand up to silence me. “I know what you meant.” Brit crossed her arms and took a step closer. “Once, when I was little, there was this beautifully wrapped present under the tree with my name on it.” She smiled, recalling the memory. “There were still several days before Christmas, and the waiting was torture. Finally, the big day arrived, and I tore open that present only to be vastly disappointed when I saw what was inside.”
I tilted my head and knitted my brow together, not understanding.
Brit reached forward and fixed my tie. “You see, Harry, I realized a long time ago it’s what’s inside that matters.” She rested her hand on my chest. “And all you are is pretty packaging.”