“That…would be great, Olivia,” Harper said slowly. Hesitantly. “Thank you.”
Olivia flashed a quick smile to me. I couldn’t stop the wide, stupid grin from spreading across my face. And Olivia beamed as though she’d just made a great discovery. A final break through. Harper looked up at me and her eyes shined.
Harper had agreed to go and, for some reason, I thought that was a major milestone. I couldn’t quite figure out why she was so resistant to having a good time, even if it was just going out with friends for dinner. The small amount of food she consumed bothered me. Over the weekend I’d actually hear or feel her stomach growl with hunger. But I’d ask her to eat and she’d say she wasn’t hungry. For anything, but me. That had made me smile, but it also concerned me. I knew she trusted me, but there was a room full of Harper that she hadn’t allowed me entrance into. Hopefully, one day, she would.
But for now, she’d accepted Olivia’s invite, and she’d even agreed to see me in public. Another milestone. I’d broken through at least the outer wall she had carefully constructed around herself, and all was good. I later waited in the common room of the Delta House while she ran upstairs to change.
And that’s when I overheard something I wished I’d not have.
“I still think Harper was wrong,” the girl said. She and two others stood by the hearth. I stood by the front door. They hadn’t seen me and even if they had, they probably didn’t know I was waiting on Harper. “The Dare was her idea. She wanted to get back at the Kappas. And that loser brother of Brax Jenkins’ was specifically her choice from the get-go. Her test subject.” She formed air quotes. “Her big reformation project.”
My breath froze in my lungs. Maybe I was hearing them wrong?
“I heard her tell Murphy that he was a lost cause,” another said. “That there was no reforming him and that she didn’t want to get in trouble with the law. I bet that’s why she called off the Dare. She just didn’t want to lose.”
“Probably,” the other said. “Kind of lame if you ask me. She’s our president. We were supposed to be getting vengeance for Olivia and Macie.”
I’d heard all I needed to hear.
I’d been part of a fucking sorority prank?
I didn’t look back. Didn’t look at the girls.
I just walked out the door.
When I stepped off the staircase, I saw Kane’s back just as he was leaving out of the front door.
Why was he leaving?
“Hey, Harper,” a voice called. It was Anna.
“Hi,” I answered, and headed out the door. Kane was halfway to his truck. “Kane!” I called. He didn’t stop, and I hurried faster. “Kane, wait!”
He stopped, but kept his back to me. Even when I reached him, he didn’t turn around. His broad shoulders sagged, and he was looking down. Brax and Olivia stood by Brax’s bike, watching silently from afar. Confusion on both their faces.
Then Kane turned and faced me. And I saw pain in those coffee eyes.
“A dare, Harper? That’s what I was a part of? An experiment?”
Fear froze my words. He wasn’t shouting. Not with his voice. But his eyes screamed at me. “No—oh, no, Kane. How…did you find out?”
Anger flashed in his eyes. “So it’s true?” His voice was calm, but anger simmered just beneath the surface. Anger and hurt. Both I sensed like they were mine.
I nodded. “Yes.”
He stared at me, those eyes blaring as he searched my face. “No buts? No excuses?”
“No,” I said quietly. “There was a Dare. In the very beginning. But I—”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to hear it, Harper.” He turned to open his truck door, then turned back to me, leaned close for only my ears to hear. “I. Trusted. You,” he said harshly, emphasizing each word as they cut into me. His eyes dug into mine, angrier than I’d ever seen him. I wanted to explain. I wanted to tell him how wrong he was, how wrong I’d been, but I couldn’t. I knew it would be useless. Silently he turned, got in his truck, and didn’t look at me once as he started the engine and pulled away.
Inside, I trembled. My stomach hurt. My breath wouldn’t come.
What had I done?
I stared at his taillights as they disappeared into the darkness, and an ache came over me, a pain that hurt worse than anything had in a long, long time.
Olivia hurried over to me. “Harper, what’s wrong with Kane?”
My lips were numb; I trembled where I stood, and an ache so painful it almost caused me to double over, started in my stomach. I couldn’t even bring myself to look at her. All I could do is stare into the direction Kane left in. “It’s…my fault,” I said quietly. Brax had come to stand close to us, but he remained silent. “I came up with a plan to get back at the Kappas for their annual Dare,” I said slowly. “For what they did to you, and then Macie Waters this year.” I sighed, while Olivia and Brax both silently listened. “I came up with a reformation plan to get back at the Kappas.” I looked at her then. “A bad boy makeover.” God, how stupid it sounded now. “Three of us chose our subjects.” I sighed. “Kane was mine.”
“Christ almighty,” Brax muttered under his breath. “Gracie, let’s go.” He turned and headed back to his bike. His gait was fast, determined, and angry.
“He’s just protective of his brother,” Olivia offered kindly.