Saying Goodbye, Part One (Passports and Promises Book 1) (13 page)

I made an attempt to pull away, but there wasn’t much room in the elevator. Everyone else seemed oblivious, but I knew Max was very aware of what was going on. Two spots of color bloomed on his cheeks. He tried very hard not to look at us, but his eyes met mine as I exited the elevator, jumping out first to get away from Dylan and his show of territorialism.

Max seemed disgusted with me. I couldn’t blame him. I was a little disgusted with myself.

The suite, airy and gorgeous, consisted of three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, and a bar. Greg tipped the porter, and he deposited the bags in our rooms. Greg and Max shared a room with two single beds, and Gabriela and Bethany would share the other, which meant Dylan and I were together.

I’d been looking forward to the formal for weeks, but now it felt distasteful to share a bed with Dylan when Max slept in the next room. Dylan had no such qualms. He came up behind me as I stood in the doorway, wrapped his arms around my waist, and whispered in my ear, “I can’t wait to get you in that bed, Sam”

I shivered, but not from desire. His breath smelled strongly of whisky and I detected a note of pot coming from his skin. It may have been because of time he’d spent in Max’s room, which always smelled like pot, but I had a feeling Dylan was high as well as a little buzzed.

I turned around and forced a smile onto my face. “It’s a beautiful room. I need to thank Greg.”

I tried to step away, but Dylan grabbed my arm. “He used his dad’s hotel miles. It’s no biggie. I thanked him already.”

“I really should thank him, too.”

He took a flask out of the inside pocket of his jacket and offered it to me. “Have a sip first.”

I shook my head. “I’ll wait for dinner.”

Dylan wanted me to stay in the room, but I pulled away and slipped past him through the door. He took a long drink from the flask, watching me the whole time.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

T
he tables were decorated with fine linens and the plates tipped with gold, but instead of enjoying the evening, I watched Dylan with a wary eye. He’d had more to drink than I thought possible, but still didn’t seem as intoxicated as he should.

“They water these down.” He shook his head in irritation and held up his glass for more. The waiter attempted to ignore him, but couldn’t when Dylan began waving his arms. The waiter didn’t have much of a choice. He brought Dylan another drink, his face grim. After he left, I glared at Dylan.

“What?” he asked; his expression hardening.

I leaned forward so I could speak softly. “When did you start drinking so much?”

He lifted a single, dark, arrogant eyebrow. “When did you turn into such a fucking
bore
?”

I blinked, feeling like I’d just been slapped. Everyone at the table knew we were in the middle of a fight, the atmosphere tense and uncomfortable. The band started playing, and Greg bent his blond head close to Bethany’s. She nodded and they got up to dance. Max stood and offered his hand to Gabriela. She took it and they left as well. Dylan and I were the only ones remaining at the table, and I was dangerously close to tears. I felt like I sat next to a stranger. Dylan put down his napkin and straightened his jacket.

“It looks like we just scared everyone else away.”

“You scared them away, Dylan. Not me.”

He tilted his head to one side, trying to get me to glance up at him. I kept my gaze on the plate of half eaten food in front of me. He let out a long frustrated sigh.

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

My lip started to quiver and he swore, putting his hands on my shoulders and turning me to face him. “Please don’t cry, Sam. I can’t take it if you cry.”

“Why are you acting like this?”

I took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears, but a single tear escaped and fell over my lashes. Dylan caught it on his finger as it made its way down my cheek.

“Because I’m a jerk and an idiot and I don’t deserve a girl like you.” I looked up at him in surprise, and he continued. “I was jealous. I knew Max would be here, and it made me uncomfortable.”

“Me, too.”

“Really?”

I nodded. “He’s my ex. It’s kind of weird.”

He took my hands in his. “I’m glad you said that. I’ve been a ball of nerves. Drinking helps me chill.”

I touched his cheek with my hand. “Just don’t drink too much, okay?”

He kissed me softly on the cheek. “Anything for you, Sam.”

Mary Grace took the podium, and welcomed everyone to the formal. Then she announced the new class of potential Thetas and the girls stood in a row: bright, shiny, full of promise. Each of them held a single white rose in their hands.

“Each of these ladies has chosen a Big Sister, someone they admire. Someone to guide them through the next four years, protect them, lead them on the Theta path. This is not a relationship to be taken lightly. It’s a lifelong bond. If someone calls out your name, think long and hard about whether or not you should accept. If you can’t commit yourself one hundred percent, it’s better to give the honor to someone else.”

The girls came to the microphone, introduced themselves, and then said the name of the Theta they had chosen as their Big Sister. When it was Emma’s turn, she looked straight at me.

“Samantha Barnes.”

Everyone clapped as I walked up to the front of the room and hugged Emma. “Thank you,” I said.

“Do you accept?”

“Of course, I do.”

She handed me the rose, and for the first time tonight, something had gone right. I’d always wanted to be a Big Sister, and I adored Emma.

The music began again, and I took my seat next to Dylan. An empty glass sat next to him. He’d drained yet another drink, but seemed okay. He leaned forward and touched his lips to mine, once, twice, three times.

“Congratulations, Sam. You’re a Big Sis.”

“I’m excited. I really like her.”

“And I really like
you.
Dance with me.”

The band played a slow dance and I swayed in his arms. The lights were low, his arms strong and warm, and friends surrounded us. For just a moment, everything felt back to normal. Then the music picked up, and Dylan started drinking again. As the evening progressed, he got wilder, screaming out the lyrics to the songs. At first, we laughed and danced with him, but soon it felt like too much. Maybe I was way too sober, and maybe I was a bore, but the crazier he got, the more uncomfortable I became.

“What’s up with Dylan?” asked Bethany as we trundled off to the restroom together.

“I have no idea.”

We heard him screaming even from the bathroom. Gabriela paused as she applied her lipstick.

“I guess he’s having fun,” she said, and a worried frown puckered her brows.

Dylan was ruining the night for everyone. I left the bathroom and marched over to him, planning to tell him to stop acting like a fool, but froze when I saw Mary Grace come onto the dance floor with Zach McGaffrey. I turned around to warn Gabriela, but it was too late. She saw him and came to a dead stop, all the color draining from her face.

Any hope I’d had that they could just ignore each other disappeared when Zach looked right at Gabriela and then leaned forward to whisper something in Mary Grace’s ear, a nasty grin on his face. Gabriela took a step backward and stumbled. Thankfully, Bethany steadied her or she might have fallen. The expression in her eyes was more than I could bear.

I didn’t have a plan. I ran on pure adrenaline mixed with a healthy dose of righteous indignation. I walked up to Zach and slapped him across the face.

“Get out.”

He lunged toward me, but Greg appeared out of nowhere and held him back. Mary Grace’s mouth opened in shock.

“What is going on, Samantha?”

I pulled her aside. Greg whispered furiously in Zach’s ear, trying to calm him down. My palm print blazed on his face, the bright red outline of my hand glowing on his pale, freckled cheek.

“You need to stay away from him.”

Her big blue eyes widened in surprise. “Why?”

I leaned close to her and stared straight into her eyes. I didn’t want to risk anyone else hearing what I had to say.

“The night we sent out the first round of bids, he drugged Gabriela and raped her. He drugged Bethany, too, but Max kept her safe. I won’t let him come near Gabriela or Bethany ever again, and I can’t let him hurt you, either.”

I watched as a myriad of emotions flashed across her face. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“It wasn’t my story to tell. It was Gabriela’s. I’m only telling you now because I’m afraid and I want him gone.”

“What should I do?”

Our dilemma was solved when Max walked up to Zach. “I think you need to go, McGaffrey.”

The entire room went silent, watching as Zach’s face turned an unhealthy shade of red. “I’m a guest, just like you, Max. Maybe you should leave, and take the trash out with you.”

His gaze landed on Gabriela, and he let out a cruel laugh at the shattered look on her face. Fortunately, the laugh didn’t last long. Max morphed into an airborne missile and slammed into Zach, punching him so hard Zach fell to the ground. I’d never seen Max hit anyone, but now he almost pulsated with fury. Greg joined Max, standing by his side.

“He’s right, Zach. Just leave.”

“Some brothers you are.” Zach’s eyes searched the room until he found Dylan, doing shots at the bar. The only person in the room not paying attention to the drama unfolding on the dance floor.

“What about you, Dylan? Are you going to tell me to leave?”

Dylan raised a shot glass to him and then drank it down. “No way, McGaffrey. I’ve got your back.”

He walked over and stood behind Zach. He no longer had on his jacket or bow tie. His shirt appeared filthy from all the rolling around he’d done on the dance floor, and he was drenched in sweat. He swayed slightly, barely able to stand up at this point.

He was completely trashed, but it didn’t make his actions any more acceptable. I shot him a dirty look and he stared at me, perplexed.

“I think Sam is mad at me,” he said in a very loud stage whisper.

Zach laughed, a show of pure bravado. His cheek still bore the angry mark from my hand and his eye had begun to swell from Max’s punch.

“Sam is a bitch. You’re all bitches.” His blue eyes scanned the room, landing on Gabriela. “And whores”

“Then it’s a good thing you’re on your way out.” Mary Grace gave him a little finger wave. “Goodbye, Zach. You’ll never attend a Theta function again. Ever.”

He straightened his jacket, shot me one more evil look, and stomped out of the room. For just a second, we all heaved a collective sigh of relief, then the music started again, and everyone attempted to go back to what they were doing. Dylan stood with an empty glass in his hand, completely confused. I turned around to look for Gabriela and ended up slamming right into Max. He put his hands on my upper arms and studied my face. We were exactly the same height, so it was easy to look directly into his eyes, no neck strain involved.

“Are you okay?” His voice was low and full of concern.

“No,” I said. “I didn’t know what I’d do when I saw Zach again. I guess that question is answered, huh?”

He laughed and picked up my hand. My palm was still bright right. “You hit him hard. Nice job.”

“So did you. Thanks, Max.”

He shrugged. “It was the least I could do.”

Dylan had started dancing again, swaying to the music by himself, and my heart sank. He was completed wasted.

“What’s wrong with him, Max?”

Max sighed. “He shouldn’t drink.”

Dylan decided to lie down on the floor and stare up at the lights on the chandelier above him. He spread out his arms and made imaginary snow angels. I swallowed hard, trying not to cry. Tonight had been ruined, but in my heart I knew other things had been ruined, too. Dylan had turned into someone I barely recognized.

Max gave me a gentle kiss on my cheek. “I’ll take care of him. Go find Gabriela.”

“Thanks, Max.”

I found Gabriela and Bethany in the ladies’ lounge with Mary Grace and several other Theta sisters. Emma was among them, her blue eyes enormous and worried in her heart-shaped face. I patted her shoulder as I joined them. Her first Theta formal and it had been nearly ruined only minutes after she’d chosen me as her Big Sister. I’d have to talk with her about it later. Right now, the focus had to be on Gabriela.

Mary Grace and several other Theta sisters surrounded her in a protective cocoon made of taffeta and lace. The lounge, full of red velvet chairs with gold accents on the walls and in the carpet, was like stepping back into the past, to a time when women really did powder their noses. I sank down onto a velvet chair, and took Gabriela’s hand. She shook from head to toe.

“I didn’t realize it would be so hard to face him.”

I stroked her hand. “You handled it magnificently.”

She let out a tortured little laugh. “No, I didn’t. I just stood there.
You
were the magnificent one. Thanks for smacking him.”

I snorted. “The least I could do. Castration was my second option.”

Mary Grace had an arm around Gabriela’s shoulders. “You should have told us. We all would have stood up for you. What are you going to do now? Will you press charges?”

Gabriela shook her head, a thread of panic creeping into her voice. “I can’t.”

“He deserves punishment for what he did to you,” I said.

“I agree with you, Sam, but I can’t do it.” Her dark eyes filled with tears. “I can’t face him again. I can’t see him again. I don’t want to do this anymore.”

I grabbed a tissue from the table next to me and handed it to her. “What do you mean?”

She let out a shaky sigh and dabbed away her tears. “I want to move back home next semester. Transfer to the Johnstown campus.”

“No.” My voice came out louder than I intended. I lowered it, trying to calm down. “You can’t. It’s like letting him win.”

“I don’t care about winning. I just want to feel safe again.”

She put her head on Bethany’s shoulder, and we waited with her until she felt ready to go back to the party. When we reentered the ballroom, we stayed only long enough to gather our purses, and then went back to the suite. Greg and Max remained at the party to keep an eye on Dylan. I wanted nothing to do with him.

I followed Gabriela and Bethany into their room, twisting my fingers. They shared a king sized bed, and their room was an exact copy of the one I was supposed to share with Dylan.

“Would you two mind if I slept here?”

“Of course not,” said Bethany, slipping out of her heels. “You don’t want to stay with Dylan, I take it.”