“That’s not why we’re friends,” I stated flatly. He was bringing our friendship into it by suggesting it had to have some benefit other than the fact that we loved each other and wanted to associate with each other. We lived together for God’s sake!

He looked between us, not believing there were no benefits outside of just friendship. “Great example: Your mother was a rare talent, and others will expect you to be just as good as her, if not twice as much. This includes not holding a relationship with a man that could threaten your throne.”

“I’ve not heard you speak about your father, and I suspect there is a valid reason for that. Garrett may know who you are, but you don’t know who he is. It’s a dangerous game you’ve been playing with him this semester and you will be caught in the crossfire. No one like us stays safe for long.”

Brent Vaughn, the playboy, telling me what life was like. The guy who plays baseball and gets into fist fights for fun? No way.

He had to be bonkers.

Or sent by his grandfather with a threat or something.

I held up a finger. “As the known player of the school, you are telling me that I need to be careful of my associations? That sounds like the exact opposite of what you do.”

He probably was thinking I was dense with the expression on his face. He had to close his eyes and breathe before responding to me. “Do you know my grandfather?”

I pursed my lips, unsure of what answer he was looking for. Augustus Vaughn was top dog of anything in this country. I’m sure he had politicians in his pocket like a mobster would. If Brent was in line to inherit such a large conglomerate, why was he such a...him?

“I had a meeting with him earlier this week and he was telling me to keep my head down. Something big must be in the works. Can’t be good if your name is circulating like this.”

Kelly broke up the intensity with the sound of her own stomach screaming for food. “Sorry. I’m super hungry since my popcorn is all over the floor. Can we order some food?”

“Might be more productive with food.” He pulled his phone out. “What are we in the mood for, girls?”

“Pizza and garlic knots. Oh! A brownie thing. Maybe some regular breadsticks...” Kelly was quick to answer. She loved her pizza.

She might also be very, very stoned at this point.

“The pizza needs to have as much meat as possible on it or she likely won’t eat it in her, erm, current state.”