Page 16 of Notorious Man on Campus

Brick turns to me but doesn’t say anything, treating me to an indifferent stare and a shrug. Dooley sighs and pats my shoulder.

“Let me tell you what our reticent friend can’t bring himself to explain. I’m sure he’s told the tale too many times and is exhausted from the effort.” Dooley tosses Brick a mock censuring frown. That gets a small smirk from Brick.

“Coach Radz ordered that all social media about wild parties at SPU has to stop. Especially about BMOC House and the football team,” Dooley continues.

“I don’t know what to say about that.” I look between Dooley and Brick to make sure it’s not a joke.

“It’s not a joke,” Brick says because he always reads my mind and I think he likes to let me know he can, just to fluster me.

“Okay.” I lick my lips because it’s what I do when I’m flustered, and I notice his eyes flick to my tongue. Wrong move. I shut my mouth and take a breath to slow my suddenly rapid pulse. “Can I help?” I have no idea what else to say and it’s my go-to line whenever a problem comes up.

“Sure. You can help Dools monitor TikTok, check the SPU hashtags, and make sure there are no vids of our party.”

“Great. I’ll do that.” Before I can say more he turns away. Dools gives me a high five like we’re now part of the team.

I’m doing my part to get along. But Brick’s being Brick the prick. Not a thank-you, not even a nod or a blink. Snobby strangers I can handle, but Brick… well when he puts his mind to it, his hate for me chills my bones.

“How’s your day?” Dooley says. “Have you climbed to the next rung of the SPU social ladder?”

“Does it count if I don’t care?” Except I do. A little. Brick’s mouth quirks in a genuine half smile. Call me flattered.

“You’re funny.” Dooley grins. “Tell me what happened.”

I don’t want to be a big baby, but I mention that a few of the lovely girls noticed that I was dressed differently than they were. “I met Willow. She asked me about living at BMOC House. Asked if I’d seen Brick in his boxers yet.” I wrinkle my nose and laugh, because it’s silly. She’s silly.

“That’s bullshit,” Brick says. His face is a thundercloud, a far cry from the usual forced neutrality, as if the storm has burst through his bubble of indifference. The effect on me is shameful. My insides heat up and I feel the blush rise, though it’s not about embarrassment. His hate has always been tough to take, but this burst of protectiveness, almost as if he cares, is crazy. It’s dangerous. No matter how much I tell myself I need to keep up my guard, to hate him, I don’t really have it in me. He angers me, fuck yeah. But I could never hate him.

“What did you say?” Dooley asks.

“Nothing.”

Brick relaxes, getting control of his momentary show of giving a fuck.

“Good answer,” he says to me. Dooley frowns and punches his arm.

“Don’t encourage her. She needs to fit in and win the girls over.” Dooley leans in and pseudo-whispers. “No need to worry about winning over the guys. You have that down.” I notice Brick roll his eyes, one of the few facial gestures he allows himself. He pulls a black licorice stick from his pocket and sticks it between his teeth, making me smile.

“You still love those horrible licorice sticks.” He blinks at me.

“Don’t tell me they’re bad for my teeth.” A shadow of his old less guarded self passes across his face, the way we were after I’d won him over four years ago. It took months back then, and I wonder if I can do it again before the year ends. God help me.

“Whatever.” Dooley waves a hand. “You especially need to win Willow over. She’s president of Kappa Kappa Gamma, the most popular sorority house on campus. Brick’s female equivalent. In fact, there’s talk of Willow and Brick as candidates for king and queen of homecoming—”

“Bullshit,” Brick says with no anger, like he’s stating an obvious fact.

“I thought you liked her?” Dooley says. Brick shrugs.

“Like’s a strong word. We hooked up once. Don’t feel a desire to do it again.”

Dooley shakes his head, grinning. “Cold. And so you.”

I laugh and they both look at me as if I’m inappropriate.

“What? It’s funny. Brick, you haven’t changed.” It’s not exactly true because I think he’s gotten more… neutral. Less alive. Not that he doesn’t still have a powerful presence, but it’s like he’s bottled up his emotional energy and the only place he really lets it go is on the football field and maybe with his teammates and friends.

Maybe I’m worrying about nothing because what’s wrong with that? And why should I worry about Brick anyway?

“I’ll take that as a good thing,” he says, his bland tone of voice clearly adding not that it matters what you think. If I didn’t know him, know his past and the damage, how broken he is, I’d think he was an ass and I wonder why the girls love him. Just because he’s hot and on the football team?