Wild(92)

            The officer shrugged. “I don’t know. You’re free to go though. The charges are dropped.”

            “Dropped?” I echoed, stopping in my tracks.

            “Thank God,” Annie erupted, lurching forward.

            “How?” I asked, skepticism leaking out in my voice.

            “Who cares?” Annie hissed, closing a hand around my arm. “Let’s get out of here.”

            The officer answered me though. “Turns out one of your friends confessed that he broke into the house and didn’t tell any of you. We’re letting all of you go and holding him.”

            Him. Andy, of course. I knew without having to be told. I guess I should be grateful he did the right thing and admitted that we were all innocent.

            “See!” Annie exclaimed, eyes flashing. “We should sue.”

            The officer’s lips thinned and she looked tempted to slide the cell door shut on us again.

            “Annie,” I tugged on her arm. “Let’s go.”

            By the time we were all discharged with our few belongings returned to us, predawn light was creeping in through the blinds of the police precinct. I didn’t see Logan or any of the other guys from last night around and I figured they had already been released. Or maybe we were being released first and they were now getting discharged.

            When we stepped out into the lobby, Emerson was there waiting for me.

            And so was Pepper.

            I groaned internally. Reece and Shaw stood behind them. Mortification washed over me. This was the scene I had wanted to avoid.

            “Georgia, are you all right?” Emerson and Pepper stopped before me, looking me up and down. Here, in the fluorescent light of the police station, my dress looked even more shocking. I’m sure I looked like a train wreck . . . hair a mess, makeup smeared.

            “I’m fine. It was a mix-up. The party . . .” I didn’t feel like admitting at the moment that I had gone back to the kink club. I was satisfied to just call it a party. “Well, the guy throwing it broke into the house . . .”

            “Yeah. It’s all over campus.” Emerson nodded, her eyes wide.

            My stomach twisted sickly. “It is?”

            “Yeah, on the news, too,” Pepper added, looking grim.

            “Oh, God. On the news? W-why?” I shook my head, wondering why something like this was so noteworthy.

            “Really, Georgia?” Emerson looked at me as if it should be evident. “A sex club broke into the Dartford dean of students’ house. You think that wouldn’t get out? Just tell me. Was Chippy the Squirrel there?”

            Emerson’s attempt at humor fell flat.

            Acid surged up my throat. Clearly, there was no keeping the kink club a secret. “The dean of students?”

            If Andy was in front of me right now I would seriously throat-punch the guy.

            “Georgia, are you all right? What were you doing there?” Pepper’s brow knitted with worry. “This is so not like you.”

            That’s right. Stepping outside the box wasn’t like me. I looked from her to Reece. They made no mention of Logan, and I could only guess they didn’t know he was involved yet.

            Her gaze flicked back to my dress before returning to my face. “And you missed Emerson’s show. At the gallery in Boston, remember?”

            I closed my eyes with a groan. I had totally forgotten. On top of getting arrested, I sucked as a friend. Another consequence for living life outside my box. “I forgot. Em, I’m so sorry.”