“Parker?” I snorted in disgust. “Is that like a reverse nickname you have for him? Instead of shortening the name, you add to it?” My top lip curled up. “How unfucking cute.”
She reared back and cursed. “I knew you’d be mad, but you’re not holding any punches.”
“I don’t have to!” That was enough. My hands formed fists, and I kept them tight against my sides. They dug into me the more I talked. “You lied to me. Did you know who I was the whole time?”
She didn’t respond, not at first. Then, a quiet, “Yes,” came from her.
My hands flew up. I knew it. “What was the plan? Were you supposed to spy on me? My god.” A new and so horrifying thought came to me. “Were we even supposed to be roommates? Did Sebastian do something to switch our roommates? I got my dorm assignment late.” My gut clenched. I felt like I’d been kicked in the stomach. “Was that because of your brother?”
Again, there was no answer.
The guilt was there. I knew enough.
I shook my head. “I can’t believe you. I can’t believe any of it.”
“Yes. Okay?” A new frenzied plea was in her voice as she surged toward me. “He didn’t inform me about the feud. I had to see it for myself, that first day of classes. When I saw how you guys reacted to him, I knew something was up. I already really liked you, so I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to lose a potentially great roommate.
“When I cornered him at the house the next week, he told me everything. It was why he hadn’t shown up on moving day. He was supposed to help me move in. He explained everything, talked about how Mason burned down his fraternity house, and how he started a fight and beat up a bunch of his brothers.
“I don’t know what my brother’s done, but I’m guessing he’s done something. He claims that he hasn’t, but I’m not an idiot. I love my brother, but I’m not blind to the things he’s capable of. I know he can be ruthless, and I begged him to leave it all alone. He said he would, and then Logan crashed his party and started a massive brawl.”
“Logan did?” A harsh laugh ripped from me. “Really? Sebastian went to the trouble of making us roommates, of planting a spy in my own room? You think your brother was going to drop everything, but it’s Logan’s fault. It’s because Logan crashed a party and started a fight. That’s why your brother won’t drop this whole thing?”
My hands were up. My eyes were bulging out. My face felt hot, so it must’ve been red all over. I wanted to grab ahold of my hair and try to pull it out.
Instead, I yelled, “Are you an idiot?”
She jumped back, startled. Her eyebrows bunched together.
“All of this started because Mason wouldn’t be some stupid trophy for your brother to use. Sebastian couldn’t control him. That was it. Because of that, he tried to run Mason down with a truck.”
Summer’s mouth fell open. A dumbstruck expression had her pinching her lips together. “No.” She started to shake her head. “No, he wouldn’t. That doesn’t seem like—”
“You’re clueless.”
Her eyes jumped to mine. A cloud of disbelief was there, and I saw another no forming on her mouth.
“Yes.” I clipped my head up and down. “Not no. Yes. Your brother tried to get Mason and hit Marissa instead, his stalker. Sebastian paid her off, and she transferred colleges. He and his friends jumped Mason last year too.” An easy wave rolled over me. “Did you…” I was scared to ask. The thought sickened me. “Did he ask you to spy on me?”
“Uh-huh. But no, I wouldn’t do that.”
My eyes narrowed. She’d answered that too quickly.
“What did he ask?”
“No, Sam. I told you. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“But he did ask?”
“Sam…” Her voice broke.
I had her, and she looked away. Her jaw was starting to tremble.
I grew quiet. “What did he ask, Summer? I have to know.”
“He asked about your family—your mom and dad. He wanted to know about your stepbrother. That was it.” Her eyes swept down and to the side. The corner of her mouth twitched.
There was more. “Summer?”
“He came over one night.”
He’d been in the room. I was trying to tell myself that was logical. She was his sister, but my entire body clenched. An ice storm blasted in my veins. He’d been near my desk, my bed, my clothes. I’d leave my purse in the room sometimes.
Beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead, but I had to ask, “Was he alone in the room?”
“No.” She shook her head, but her gaze was still turned downward. “I might’ve gone to the restroom.”
“Summer!”
“He wouldn’t do anything,” she argued.
I shot back, “He already has.”
She flinched, letting out a deep groan. “I’m so sorry, Samantha. I really am. I didn’t want to tell you because I knew you’d freak, and I liked you. I didn’t want you to move out, not until you got to know me.”
“It’s too late.” The fight started to lesson. I had to move out. An ironic laugh bubbled up my throat. “It’s funny. The very guy who I need to be kept safe from is the only other guy besides Mason who has a key to our place.” I fixed her with a look. “Sebastian does have a key, doesn’t he?”