Page 9 of #PhiThetaForever

His voice is strangely serious, which makes me pay attention. "What's up?"

"Listen, I know Sigma Nu screws around a lot, and we probably haven't given you the best impression. That's my fault. It takes me a little while to get back in college mode every year. We want you to pledge, though. Seriously. You'd be a total asset to the fraternity. Not to mention, we could help you out a ton after you graduate. I know you're working toward sports physical therapy, but you know damn well you're good enough to play NFL."

"I mean . . . I've never thought about pro football." I rub my hands up and down my pants, unsure where this conversation is even going.

"Man, you're one of the best Quarterbacks the college circuit has seen in a long time. Pledging Sigma Nu opens a world of opportunity, man. We've got alumni in the NFL, both players and team owners. If you don't go pro, we've got alumni that range from bank owners to non-profit CEOs. They could certainly help you get your own therapy practice off the ground. I know your dad's a Senator, and some of his friends are Sigma Nu. That's the best part of a fraternity, D-man. Not just the brotherhood and fun while you're in college, but the help you get after college too."

"I don't know, man. That all sounds amazing, but . . . "

"But you're worried about your girlfriend. Listen, you said she's the love of your life, right? And y'all support each other. So, if she knows pledging Sigma Nu can help you with your future, especially a future that involves her, she'd support you, wouldn't she?"

As much as I hate to admit it, Bo's making sense. Lena and I always said we'd support each other's decisions and dreams no matter what. We've already proved that. And if Sigma Nu can help with the future I've envisioned or help me paint an even better one for Lena and I . . . wouldn't she support that? "I'll talk to her."

Bo claps and woots as we settle in with the rest of the team. "Awesome. Plus, you said you have an hour after the game, right? We're going to hang in the parking lot and celebrate a little after the game. We can toast to you pledging. The guys are going to be thrilled."

I take a deep breath and finally focus on the coach. The botanical garden is only twenty minutes away. If I hurry in the shower, I can hang with Bo for twenty minutes or so and still make it to Lena before I'm supposed to. Tomorrow, after church, we can sit and chat about Sigma Nu. Maybe she can sit down and really talk to Bo, and he can really explain the benefits to her. Hell, perhaps I could even consider going pro for a while after college. How amazing would that be?

Lena and I could travel together. She could really come to games and enjoy it. It could be amazing.

10 Lena

Justus: Want more help with the lantern release? If you haven't started already.

I smile at my phone, momentarily distracted from my building anger that Declan is thirty minutes late and not answering his cell.

"Is that him? How long until he gets here," Jas says, jumping down off the back of the rental car and walking over to me. I'm so unbelievably glad she's here. Not just for the lantern release, but because having Jas around calms me. Even though we often talk either on the phone or through text, I miss her not being here for classes. I can't fault her, though. Her Gran is one of the sweetest ladies to ever grace this Earth, and knowing she's sick and probably won't survive until the end of the year . . . there's no way Jas could leave home. My heart breaks for her a little, knowing what she's preparing for.

"No. It's one of my friends. Wanting to know if we need another hand with the lanterns."

Me: Declan is late. If he isn't here in the next fifteen minutes, I'm doing it without him, so if you can get here, we'd love to have you.

Looping my arm through Jas's, we head across the grass and join Darcy, Jackson, and Candice in the middle of the outdoor garden. They have a small circle of stone benches where we've sat all the lanterns. That way, we can easily light and release each one. Jas and I sit on the bench next to Darcy, with me in the middle.

"Darcy told me about what Declan did last weekend," Jas says with a bit of apprehension in her voice.

I give Darcy a sideways glare before resting my head on Jas' shoulder. "He messed up, Jas. He knows he did. Darcy beat the hell out of him. It's over, and we've moved past it."

Jas shrugs her shoulder, forcing me to sit up and look at her. "Honey, you know I adore Declan, but if it was a one-time screw-up, why is he forty minutes late to something as important as this?"

"I don't know. He'll be here, though. Relax." I give her a smile, and she sighs but returns it.

A moment later, lights hit us from the parking lot, and I turn around as Justus' truck pulls in next to my rental car. Standing up, I give the girls a tight grin and head over to meet him. When I get to the truck, and he hops out, the look on his face makes my stomach knot. His eyes are sad, and he shoves his hands in his pockets.

"Justus, what's wrong?"

He takes a deep breath and then looks directly into my eyes, freezing me in place. "I don't think Declan's coming, Lena."

"What? Of course, he is. He wouldn't miss this. He—"

"He's at the Sigma Nu Pledge Tailgate Party."

My heart drops, and pain shoots through my chest. Declan wouldn't ditch me on a night as important as this for a pledge party for a fraternity he said he wasn't pledging to. Without saying anything, I take out my phone.

Me: Are you pledging Sigma Nu?

Declan: Hey babes. Litsn, we cn tlak abuot thsi tomorwo. Sory I dint say nethng.

I stare at my phone, tears building in my eyes at the jumble of mess that is his text.