“Hey, man!” Todd cried in a hushed voice as he struggled to hold me back. “There are school officials out there, for fuck’s sake! If you guys start fighting in here and they hear it, that’s probably the end.”
“The hell with this frat,” I snapped, straining against Todd, who was using his entire body weight to keep me from murdering Jace.
Jace grinned from the safety of being behind Todd. “What’s the matter, Livingston? Why so mad? Are the rumors actually true that you're in love with your sister? Because I don’t see what it matters to you one way or the other if I go out with her to help save your ass.”
I didn't realize that, in my anger, I was probably giving the vibe that I cared about Bella in a far more intimate way than should be proper.
I took a deep breath to calm my anger and pushed Todd away from me, resigned to keeping my anger in check from there on out. “That’s because I don’t want her to go out with such a douchebag. She’s still my stepsister, you fucking jackass.”
Jace laughed. “Is that the real reason? Or is really because you just want to keep it all in the family?”
“Dude, Jace,” complained Todd. “Stop fucking instigating and trying to get Stefan all riled up. This is serious shit we are in, and we don’t need infighting tearing us down.” Todd turned to me and gave me an imploring look. “Come on, Stefan, you’re not thinking rationally. Your cooperation affects us all, and it ultimately benefits you and Bella. I mean, look at how politically correct the world is nowadays. Frats get shut down because of people making racist jokes. What the hell do you think is going to happen when people are going around saying Alpha promotes prostitution?”
I clenched my jaw angrily, my blood pressure rising. I had to admit, Todd’s words had merit. I just didn’t want to go along with the scheme for obvious reasons. But if I didn’t go along with it, it would definitely confirm to Jace and even Todd that there was something more going on between me and Bella than just an accidental one-night stand.
“Fine,” I grated finally. I glared at Jace menacingly. “But I want to make one thing clear—you’re not to lay a hand on Bella while this is going on, you understand?”
Jace snorted. “How the hell do you expect people to believe she’s my girl if I’m not banging her?”
I swallowed back the rage that rose in my stomach, not willing to be baited anymore. “Not one fucking hand,” I growled. “Or else you lose that hand.”
Todd stepped in between us again, as if anticipating me to lose control any moment, but he needn’t bother. I was done with the conversation. I turned to leave the room, but I paused when Jace called my name.
“Yo, Livingston.”
I paused with my hand on the doorknob, my back to my two frat brothers.
“What if she puts a hand on me? She’s kind of too hot to resist.” Jace was testing me, but I'd already had enough.
I walked out and closed the door behind me.
Chapter 13
Bella
I had no idea what to do. Hanna and Veronica’s plan was absolutely idiotic, and I felt cheaper even thinking about the whole thing. I was still not sure if I should tell Stefan or not.
I also feared the stress that the whole situation was putting on my body. My mom had told me long ago that stress in her life had caused her a miscarriage. I wasn't going to let that happen to me. Not our baby.
I walked into my dorm room, exhausted after being hounded by Hanna and Veronica. The rumors appeared to be getting worse, and there was talk of Kappa being disbanded.
I didn’t care one way or the other what happened. I just wanted to be left alone because I had more important things to worry about.
The aroma of pastries greeted me as I closed the door. Sara, who had cut one of her classes, must have been cooking her cupcakes again.
Cooking was her favorite pastime, and I must admit, her cupcakes were damned good. She 'd been trying to get me to learn how to bake, explaining to me that it would help relieve some of the stress that I’d been going through.
Sure enough, I saw her behind the counter as I set my books down on the couch.
“Hey, Bella,” she greeted me cheerfully. Sara had her hair pulled back in a bun and was wearing a pink apron over her blue jeans and white t-shirt. “How was your day?”
“Do you have to even ask?” I muttered. “It was horrible.”
She frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“What is that you’re making?” I asked, changing the subject. “It smells absolutely wonderful.”
I wasn’t really a pastry eater—I usually ate like a bird to maintain my figure, but my stressful day had me absolutely ravenous.