Page 117 of Break Points and Face Offs

“It isn’t even ten o’clock yet, Ma.”

I follow Will into the kitchen, walking so close I bump into him when he stops.

“Relax,” he whispers. “No one’s gonna take you out and shoot you.”

After enduring the most awkward breakfast of my life, we’re back in my car and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“You wanna head to the library when we get back?” Will asks while he flips through the playlists on his phone and I drive us back to Princeton.

“Actually, I have something I need to do at the frat house.”

26

PRIESTLEY

Iwait in the living room where we used to watch movies as a group. The changes are subtle since I left, but noticeable enough to make me pause. That gross beanbag from the club house has a permanent place now in front of the TV. There are new photographs on the mantle of the current generation of fraternity brothers doing some sort of volunteer work. One of Nate posing shirtless at a charity car wash.

I hear the front door open and straighten my back. Ben freezes when he sees me sitting there.

“Priestley, hi.”

I try for a warm smile, though I’m not sure it does much to put him at ease. Whatever Nate’s told him about my reformed character, it’ll take more than second-hand news to repair Ben’s opinion of me. I spent four years on his back about every little thing. If he’s going to start seeing me in a different light, it has to come directly from the horse’s mouth.

“Is everything okay?” Ben asks.

Elias bumps into him in the doorway. He’s carrying overstuffed grocery bags like they weight nothing. The second he sees me, he glowers. I have to stop myself from glowering back.

“Yes, I’m just here for a visit.”

“Jamie isn’t here,” Ben says uncertainly as I stand.

“I’m here to see you, actually.”

“Oh.”

Elias steps around him so he’s shielding him with his body. Surely he knows I’m not violent? I rarely even raised my voice when I was president. That was not my father’s style of leadership and I learned everything I know from him.

“I came to apologize.”

Ben blinks at me with those big, guileless, brown eyes. He nods and Elias’ impressive shoulders relax a little.

“Let’s go in the office.” Ben turns to Elias. “You okay to put away the groceries?”

Elias nods and then shoots me a warning glance. “I’ll just be in the kitchen.” Turning back to Ben, he adds, “Shout if you need me.”

My heart pounds as I follow Ben into the executive office. Unlike Nate, he doesn’t take a seat behind the desk. He perches on the edge, biting the inside of his lip.

“Congratulations on becoming VP,” I start.

Ben’s face softens a little. “Thank you.”

“I always knew you had the potential to run this place.”

He looks down at his hands.

“Nate’s told me how I made you feel while I was president.” I let that statement settle for a moment, waiting to see if he wants to add anything. When he doesn’t, I go on. “I’m sorry, Ben. I don’t want to give you excuses, but I need you to know that if I was ever hard on you, it wasn’t because you were bad at your job. It’s because I saw your potential and was impatient for you to reach it.”

He swallows, nods.