Page 13 of Gabriel
“Nah. I think she’s still torn up over this summer.” He gives me a knowing smirk. "She knew the score when we hooked up. Guess her feelings got hurt or whatever when no one wanted a relationship after the lay. You know how it is."
I frown and mull over his words.
“She doesn’t seem like your usual type.”
Austin likes slutty, and there is nothing about Cecilia that gives off theI’m easyvibe Austin usually gravitates to.
He snorts. “She isn’t now. But she was back then.” He licks his lips, and dude has no idea it makes him look like a straight-up creeper. “She used to party with Zeta Pi a lot. She was on the cheer squad, too. Always came to the house in her uniform, and fuck me sideways,” he bites his fist, “it showed off all her assets, if you know what I mean.” He winks. “Didn’t take long for herto get a reputation for being easy. Guess she didn’t like it. She pulled a complete one-eighty out of nowhere.” He shakes his head. “It’s a damn shame.”
Huh. That seems … odd. I wonder if —
"She tried to kill herself a month ago,” he adds.
It’s like the fucker can read my mind.
"Yeah?" I play dumb as if I wasn’t the one who found her. I don't know her. Don't owe her any loyalties. But a voice in the back of my head tells me to keep my mouth shut on the matter, and that voice has never steered me wrong before.
"Yeah. Guess all the rumors and slut-shaming got to be too much for her.” He shrugs again. “It’s too bad. If she wasn't fucking crazy, I'd tap that again,” He chuckles. “Get enough booze in me and I still might. She's fine as fuck. You never know. A few shots and shit might happen."
"Right." I work my jaw as an uneasy feeling settles in my gut.
"But, seriously, man. Take my advice and steer clear of that one. She's got some serious damage. You do not want any part of that.”
Austin’s going out of his way to steer me away from her. Is he just looking out or is there something I’m missing here?
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out, silencing the alarm. “I gotta head out. It was good catching up,” I tell him and turn to leave.
Austin falls into step beside me.
“Don’t you have a class to get to?” I ask.
“I can be a few minutes late. Besides, you seem interested in CeCe, and I think you need the whole story on that chick.” He drops the cocky persona, his face suddenly solemn. I slow my steps and wait for him to fill me in.
He doesn’t take long.
“Over the summer she cried rape to get a bunch of guys expelled.” He shakes his head. “It was fucked up, man. She could have ruined a lot of people’s lives with that accusation.”
My eyes snap to him.The fuck?“Was she raped?” That would explain ... a lot.
"Nah, man. It wasn't like that. I was there. She threw herself at me and some of my boys. Everyone was drunk. Things escalated. It shouldn’t have happened the way it did, but I can tell you for a fact that no one made her do anything she didn’t want to.” His jaw tightens. “She was just pissed off that no one wanted her afterward.” He snorts. “She thought she was clever, but there's a video—“ He catches my expression and holds his hands out in front of him. “I didn’t record it,” he rushes to add. “One of my Zeta Pi brothers did. And yeah, it was fucked up. But it’s a good thing he did.”
I force myself to unclench my jaw. Did the fucker even have her consent for it?
“It was the proof we needed after she went to the school board and tried to get us all expelled.”
I stop in the middle of the hall, hardly believing what I’m hearing right now. She?—
I shake my head. Fuck.
“She cried foul but the whole thing was dropped by the school. It's not a problem for me or any of my boys, but it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I'm just giving you a warning. Shit with us was dropped because we had that video and we had witnesses. The whole damn house knew her game, but you're one guy. I'd hate to see her try and flip the script on you. I’d stay far away from her if I was you.”
I nod. Yeah. Fuck. I don’t have time for that kind of drama. But if she really did all that—"Why were you talking to her, then? If she cried rape, I'd think you'd want to avoid the chick at allcosts.” Not cozy up to her and shit. Who does that? Something’s fishy here.
"I don't know, man. I guess I feel bad for the girl. I mean, she's got issues, but I don't want to feel responsible for her offing herself. I'm not heartless."
When he puts it like that, it makes sense.
“Anyway, I gotta go, man. Good catching up. And the party this Friday, you'll be there?"
