Page 23 of Chasing Xander
And there it was. Xander crossed his arms and waited. He focused on his breathing, hoping it would calm his racing heart. But nothing could cool the heat rising up his face.
“You’re a smart kid, and you’ve got a bright future ahead of you. But you need to start applying yourself more.”
He groaned. “I know.” He’d heard this same spiel every day for three months this past summer.
“I won’t lecture you again, but I want you to know that if you need help, I’m here.”
“Does this mean you’re not going to take away my trust fund?”
“No.” He shook his head. “As your mother and I told you before, flunking out of college is a serious deal, and it’s not something we’ll tolerate. There need to be consequences for your actions.”
Xander clenched his jaw and looked away. He didn’t agree with his parents’ choice of punishment, but he hadn’t argued with them. He knew better. “For the record, I’m not flunking out of college. I failed three classes.”
“Yes, and now you have to repeat those classes, which means you also have to pay for those classes again. It’s an unnecessary expense.”
He shifted in his seat. His father had worked on Wall Street his entire life, and he was very smart when it came to money. It was a skill he’d instilled in all of them from an early age.
“You know, I should make you pay for those classes.” He wagged his finger in Xander’s direction.
“Fine, I’ll pay for them. Whatever.” The knot in his stomach tightened again, causing his appetite to vanish. “I’m a fuckup, okay? I get it. You don’t need to keep telling me.”
“Alexander.” His father’s disapproving sigh had him frowning.
“Sorry.”
“You’re not a fuckup. You just got a little lost last semester, but I know you can straighten out. Right?” He raised a brow. “Maybe distancing yourself from that frat isn’t a bad idea, either.”
His father thought RAT house was too much of a distraction and a waste of time, and from the start he had disagreed with Xander’s choice to join. It grated on Xander that his father had been right—the fraternity was a huge distraction. But it was also his home away from home.
Deciding not to engage in that argument, he said, “I’m joining study groups and looking for a tutor. I promise it won’t happen again.”
“That’s my boy.” His father winked and patted Xander’s hand. “But I meant what I said. If you need my help—for anything—you call me.”
“Thanks, Dad.” He smiled. This time it was genuine.
Chapter Eight
“Do I have to go?” Celeste flopped on her bed and whined.
Kylie stared down at her. “Are you serious? I went to that stupid activities fair with you, and I’m going to the Sigma house mixer with you on Sunday. You owe me.”
Sitting up on her elbows, Celeste groaned. “Yeah, but a frat party? It’s just going to be a bunch of drunk people hooking up.”
“Okay, first of all”—she held up one finger—“you can’t possibly know that. And second, what do you think being in a sorority is? You’re the one who wants to immerse herself in Greek life. I thought for sure this would be something you’d be excited to do.”
“Sororities are more than parties and drinking.” She stuck out her tongue. “It’s about sisterhood and making lifelong friendships and helping our community.”
Sighing, Kylie shifted on her feet and put her hands on her hips. “You’re really not going to go with me?”
“I’m exhausted,” Celeste whined. “I really don’t want to get all dressed up to go out.”
“C’mon. Please? I told Xander we’d go. Plus, Finn will be there.”
At that, Celeste’s face lit up, and she smiled. “Now that is a very compelling argument. You should’ve led with that.”
Kylie laughed. “So…does that mean you’ll go?”
With another groan, Celeste let herself fall onto her back again. “I don’t know.” She draped her arm over her face. “It’s been a long week.”
