Page 74 of Player
"That guy isn't worth it," he finally declares. When I don't respond, he seeks out my gaze before exclaiming, "He's a huge jerk!"
"At least he doesn't pretend to be someone he's not."
Bradley stays silent, but I can tell I've hit a nerve.
"You think I didn't know?" I press. He stares at me, incredulous, and a little... disappointed? My heart tightens. "I never imagined I'd have to justify my romantic choices to you one day, Bradley."
"And I didn't know my little sister was a slut."
His words hit me more violently than Player's fist earlier. They strike me to the core of my heart.
"What did you expect from him?" he spits.
I straighten up to face him. "From him, I expected nothing, but from you on the other hand..."
A flash of doubt passes through his eyes.
"You're my brother, but that doesn't give you the right to choose who I sleep with," I hammer out. I'm surprised I'm able to stand by my choices in front of my brother. Despite thejudgment he passes on me, on Player, and on what we were doing together, I can't bring myself to regret it. The guilt has given way to something else and has for some time now. What exactly? I couldn't say, but the result is clear, I'm ready to own what I did with Player.
Bradley adds nothing more. He heads to my room and goes inside. When he comes out loaded with his gear, I can't help but feel a flash of anger. "You're just going to leave like that?"
He freezes and turns his head toward me. "I'm sorry, Dixie Dix. I didn't want things to happen this way."
"You should have thought about that before you got into a fight with him."
Suddenly, I get the impression he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, and I feel compassion for him, but I can't let the harsh words he said to me slide. He went too far.
"He was disrespecting you," he adds.
"And that gave you permission to hit him? Is that what they teach you in the military?" He takes the blow stoically, but I continue, "Is that the education Mom and Dad gave you?"
This time, he fully turns to me, and his gaze is filled with pain when he answers, "We can see where their education has led us."
With that strange remark, he leaves the dorm, and I’m left… confused.
30
PLAYER
The dean leavesme waiting in the hallway for more than two hours without any sign of letting me into his office. I pace back and forth in front of his door, nerves on edge. My lower lip is split, and I can still taste blood on the tip of my tongue. I think with satisfaction that at least the other guy has a black eye he'll be sporting for a few days. I'm sure his higher-ups will be asking him some tough questions.
That guy pushed me to my limit, and rearranging his face helped me release the anger simmering inside me.
The image of Dixie rolling on the ground flashes through my mind, and a strange sensation tightens my chest. I did that. However, I don't have time to dwell on it as the office door swings open, revealing a middle-aged man whom I recognize from having seen him several times in college brochures—Dean Stevens.
His gaze lands on me. "Mr. Boardman, you may come in."
His voice is curt. I enter the room, taking in my surroundings. Everything here is solid wood and old stone.
The dean takes his seat, his attention fixed on me as if trying to size me up. I wonder what he sees, before dismissingthe thought. I couldn't care less what he thinks of me. I just want to get out of this office as quickly as possible.
"Sit down."
It's not an invitation, but an order. I comply almost despite myself.
"I'm not going to beat around the bush. My friendship with your father doesn't give you a free pass atOld Meyer University." He pauses, no doubt to let his words sink in. "We do not tolerate violence of any kind. You violated several campus rules today."
I'm tempted to argue that the other guy started it, but I think better of it. Anyway, it doesn't change the fact that I also gave him a beating. Truth be told, I don't regret what I did at all.
