Page 61 of Ink & Ambition

“Okay,” I sigh in relief.

“Did Alex tell you I did? Because he probably just—”

Alex hits the large red button on the screen, disconnecting the call instantly.

“Hey!” I cry, snatching the phone off the table and out of his reach. “You got your answer, okay? He didn’t do it.”

“And you really believe him? Everything he just said was pure bullshit, Margot.”

“Why wouldn’t I believe him? Why would he lie?”

“Because he wants to get in your fucking pants! God, how naive are you going to be?”

I’m shaking my head, shutting out his hateful words. What have I ever done to him to make him so cruel to me? All I’ve done is try to be his friend. I should’ve known better than to let him in enough to have any control over my emotions. Lesson learned.

Alex’s fingers are pinching the top of his nose. “I didn’t mean that.” His voice sounds pained but for once, I don’t really care. The only thing keeping me from storming out that door is the fact that I did make a deal with him and he is helping me with the internship contest.

“I’ll help you with the prank. Only because I made a deal with you and I need you to keep upholding your end. But I refuse todo anything personally against Ryan. Figure it out.” I stand up and head toward the door.

Alex stands too but doesn’t move toward me. “Wait, please. Don’t go. What about the podcast meeting?”

I open my phone, find the website and click publish. “I’ll plan the next episode myself and email you the script this week. See you Saturday.”

Pulling the door open, I leave before he can say another word. I don’t look back as I continue up the stairs and out the library doors. After a quick text to Sydney, I only have to wait about three minutes before she’s pulling up in front of the library.

I see Alex leave the library as I get into Sydney’s car. He spots me in the car and starts to walk toward us, hurriedly.

“Go. Go, go,” I say to Sydney, and she confusingly moves the gear shift into drive and pulls away from the curb.

“Any particular reason why we’re running away from Alex?”

I sigh, watching Alex’s tall form disappear in the mirror. “Let’s pick up a bottle of wine on the way home. We need a girl’s night.”

“Get me another slice,” Danika says as I pull a piece of pizza from the box on the counter. Grabbing another for Dani, I place it on my plate as I walk back over to where they’re sitting. We’re about three-quarters finished with the bottle of wine and nowhere near close to figuring out what I should do about this whole Ryan and Alex thing.

Sliding the slice onto Dani’s plate, I plop back onto the couch next to Sydney. “Can one of you just tell me what to do, please?” I ask, taking a sad bite of my third slice of pizza.

“What are you thinking?” Sydney asks.

I sigh. “I honestly don’t know what to believe. Or who. On the one hand, it would make sense that Ryan would lead the charge for his frat house in retaliation for the KA prank.”

I place the plate on my lap and lean my head back against the couch. “But on the other hand, vandalism like that is so disgusting, I can’t picture a nice guy like Ryan doing anything like that. And then lying about it?”

Shaking my head, I look back over at Sydney and Dani who are looking back at me with twin sympathetic looks.

“It’s definitely a tricky situation,” Syd says, tapping my knee a few times before looking over at Danika for back up.

“I think it all comes down to who you trust more.”

I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Alex was your friend first. In terms of seniority, he should have your allegiance over Ryan. But you and Ryan are involved romantically and that can trump friendships.”

I blink, listening to insightful words.

“So, I think the real question is: Who do you trust more? Because it can’t be both, especially not in the case where they’re telling you different things.”

“Who should I trust?”

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