Page 14 of Ink & Ambition

Jolting from my own chair, I run after him—yes, run because his over six foot strides are much longer than mine at just over five foot. Racing around to block him from entering the house, I step onto the bottom stair in front of him, bringing usalmostface to face.

“I don’t need you for your dad’s money, Alex,” I say with all the sincerity I can muster. I wasn’t planning on asking him to fund any of the project in fact. I am planning to use as many of the newspaper’s resources as I can, including use of the recording space on campus.

“Then why are you asking me to do this with you?”

“I don’t need your money, I need your dick.” Alex’s eyes widen and I’m sure they match my own. I slap my hand over my mouth and mutter, “Oh my god, I didn’t mean that,” through my fingers.

“Please, sunshine,” Alex’s eyes swim with laughter as he pulls my hand from my mouth. “Please explain what you meant then because I am truly on the edge of my seat.” He hasn’t released my hand from his but I pull it free to help gather myself back to equilibrium.

“It’s a known fact that you are pretty much number one on every girl’s list of guys they want to get with at this school,” He opens his mouth, but I don’t allow him to interject as I continue, “and if they had a platform to try and get your attention, well…”

“So you really do want me for my dick?”

“I really do,” I nod, serious for a moment but then both of us bust out into a comfortable laughter.

Alex pulls himself together first but the lightness stays on his face. “That must’ve been so hard for you to admit.”

“It certainly wasn’t easy,” I nod, relaxing with him.

“Do you know anything about producing a podcast?”

No.“I’ve got a couple friends on the newspaper who are willing to help,” I shrug easily. “So…what do you say?”

“Well…what’s in it for me?” He asks, taking a noticeable step forward. I should’ve anticipated this reaction but for some reason, it didn't occur to me to have some incentive for him to help me. I thought he would just do it out of the kindness of his heart.You naive idiot.

My gaze locks with his and I know I don’t have an answer to his question. Even if I did, I’m not sure I could even voice it with his lips so close to mine.

For the longest moments of my life, Alex remains silent again, his eyes piercing mine back and forth. Back and forth. He continues to hold my gaze for a minute longer and just as I’m about to open my mouth to say who knows what, Alex looks above my head into the windowed door. I’m watching his features change when all of a sudden, it’s as if a light bulb hasgone on in his head. Like some dots have been connected that he wasn’t sure how to connect before.

“You know what, forget it. This was stupid of me to ask you for any–”

“I’ll do it.”

“You’ll–”

“On one condition.”So close. “I need your help to pull off the senior Greek prank.” His eyes are wild, a very sudden shift from the levity of a few seconds ago.

I cock my head to the side, as if I’m not sure I’ve heard him correctly. “I’m sorry, the what?” He shakes his head.

“I’ll explain it all later, just…do you agree to the terms?”

“The terms? Alex, what are you talking about?”

“I help you, you help me. Seems like a fair deal to me. So…?”

This sudden shift in demeanor stresses me out but all I hear is that he said yes to my proposal and that is the only reason I sheepishly say, “Let’s do it.”

Alex’s face bursts out into the most brilliant smile I’ve ever seen and for a moment, I’m completely blinded by it. He grabs my shoulders and gives me a quick shake. “Great! I’ll text you later to discuss the details,” he says, moving me to the side so he can continue up the stairs and into the house.

The brush off is so abrupt, I have no time to register the fact that he doesn’t even have my phone number until he’s already gone. I’m left alone again in the backyard of Alex’s frat house with the sickening feeling I’ve just made a humongous mistake.

Chapter Eight

Margot

“So,hesaidyes?”Sydney asks, excitedly.

I shrug with a lazy grin on my face. “He said yes.” Of course I was accosted for details the second I walked back inside the kitchen. I left nothing out as I told them the whole story.

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