Page 59 of Ink & Ambition

Kai looks over at me. “What about emotional warfare?” I raise my eyebrows at him in question. Kai continues. “Clearly, shithead Ryan did this. What’s important to Ryan right now?”

The wheels turn and click instantly. “No. Leave her out of this.”

“Come on, man. Take your personal feelings out of it. We all deserve revenge. She’s our best option.”

“I fucking said no, Kai. That’s the end of it. Think of something else.” Leaving the unopened beer on the table, I walk upstairs to my room. As much as I’m pissed that Margot’s shitheadboyfriend pulled this shit on us, I can’t exactly blame him. That’s what happens between rival frats. I just didn’t realize he would stoop so low as to vandalize our house.

We need to do something. If we just let this lie, they’ll think they’ve won. And they haven’t fucking won. Not even close. But I can’t involve Margot. Not again. And not now that we’re so invested in the podcast together. And the friendship…

I need to think of something good enough to get my brothers off my back that doesn’t include any innocents this time.

Sitting on my bed, I pull out my phone to try and google some inspiration. But instead I find myself pulling up my text thread with Margot and sending her a message. Maybe it’s petty but I need her to see what herboyfriendjust did to us. I text her a picture of the outside of our house with no context. She answers within a minute.

Omg what happened??

Your boyfriend

Ryan did that? Why?

Just some frat prank war bullshit

But that's too far. That's vandalism! Are you sure he did that? It really doesn't seem like him…

Is she serious right now? Of course, her angel boyfriend Ryan would never stoop to my immature level and pull a prank like this. My anger builds as I think about her standing by his side, supporting him against me.Some fucking friend…

Of course you'd take his side

What the hell, Alex! I'm not taking sides. I'm just saying it doesn't seem like something he would do

And you know him so well

By not taking sides, you're not taking mine. Just forget it

She calls my phone, but I ignore it, throwing the device down on my bed and heading back downstairs. If she wants to support him, fine. She can help him pick up the pieces after the fallout.

The boys are still sitting on the couch, no doubt brainstorming our next move. I stand directly in front of Kai. “What do you have in mind?”

A slow smile curls onto his face and I take a resigned breath. This is probably a terrible decision but at this point, all I see is red.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Margot

Alexdoesn’tshowupto public speaking class, nor does he answer any of the calls or texts I sent after he sent me that picture yesterday. I know he’s pissed at me for what I assumed about Ryan but I don’t feel bad about that. In all the time I’ve spent with him, he hasn’t given me any indication that he could do anything so vile. But that doesn't mean that I don’t believe Alex. The whole thing is very confusing and all I want to do is talk to Alex about it. I can only hope he’s not so pissed that he’ll flake on the podcast.

After class, I head toward the library to wait for Alex in the study room. When I walk up to the desk, Edith gives me a smirk. “Your gentleman friend has already picked up the key,” she says with a wink.

I can’t help the relief I feel as I walk down the stairs toward the room. I know Alex and I are in for a difficult conversation but at least he showed up to have it.

The door is wedged open a crack to allow me to enter without knocking. I open my mouth to apologize to Alex right away butwhat I’m met with instead causes me to shut it, just as the door closes behind me

Alex is sitting at the table but he’s not the only one. Devon, Kai and Keith are also sat with him, all four of them looking directly at me.

“Hello?”

“Have a seat, Margot,” Alex says, his voice oddly cold. It’s then that I realize that all four of them are sitting on the same side and there’s only one empty chair across from them. Like an interrogation.

I hesitate at the door. “I’m not sure I want to…”

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