“I’m very sorry to approach you like this,” the dean said, and our eyes connected. I saw that he didn’t want to be here, yet he was. “I realize this is quite the insult to such an active and promising student here at Alpha U, but a matter was called in to the campus police and it is this university’s duty to follow up.”
Ah. I see. So whoever sent them here went around the dean and straight to the campus police because they knew the dean wouldn’t entertain causing trouble for his star athlete.
Fucking Zach.
“It’s not a problem,” I said easily, totally relaxed. “You have a standard to uphold.”
“We received an anonymous call about a theft in the dean’s office,” an officer said, stepping forward. “Of course we went to his office to confirm that something was indeed missing. It seems his nameplate is gone.”
Rimmel’s hand reached under my jacket and curled against my back. I knew she was thinking of the object they were after and its presence in her jacket.
“As I said…” The dean spoke to the officers. “I’m not sure what happened to it. The cleaning service could have knocked it off the desk and broken it.”
“We have to follow up on all leads in the matter of theft,” the officer replied.
“Of course.” The dean motioned at me.
“What does this have to do with me?” I asked like I was bored.
“We have reason to believe you’re the one who took it.”
I laughed. “Like I don’t have anything better to do than steal shit from the dean?”
The officer who had said nothing so far looked embarrassed. His friend, however, would not be deterred. I would bet money that Zach paid him to do this here and now.
A small crowd had gathered not too far from where we stood and watched with apt attention. Zach was not only trying to keep me out of the Omegas, but he was also trying to destroy my reputation.
Sneaky bastard.
“Please empty your pockets,” the officer said.
“Are you serious?” I asked sharply.
Everyone looked at the dean, who looked like he had a bad case of diarrhea. “I’m afraid he is.”
I shrugged. “Sure. No problem.” I turned slightly toward Rimmel and curved my hand around her elbow to lead her a few steps to stand beside Ivy. “Stay here.”
Her eyes were anxious when she looked up at me. I winked.
I made a show of reaching in my varsity jacket pockets, showing that they were empty. Then I slid it off my shoulders and tossed it to the officer. “Feel free to check the inside,” I told him.
As he did that, I handed my cell to Rimmel and pulled out the pockets of my jeans. Then I took off my shoes and held them upside down and lifted the ankles of my jeans to show I had nothing in my socks.
“Roman,” the dean said, worry in his tone, “you don’t have to go that far.”
“Yes, I do,” I said. “I want to be sure everyone here knows I am no thief.” I said it loud enough that whispers broke out across the watching crowd.
Then I reached for the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head in one fluid movement. A couple girls over on the porch whistled and hooted. I waved at them.
I held out my arms and spun, letting the shirt hang from my fingers. “I think it’s pretty obvious I’m not concealing some block of wood.”
Then I stopped and grinned. I reached for the buckle on my jeans. “Shall I take these off too?” I directed the question to the officer with my jacket.
He flushed. “That won’t be necessary.”
Everyone was silent when I put my shoes and shirt back on. When I reached for my jacket, the officer said, “I’m going to need to search your vehicle.”
I laughed and tossed him the keys. “Have at it. It’s the green Challenger over there.”
“We know which one it is,” the quiet officer muttered.
I glanced at Rimmel and her friends. “You ladies go ahead. I’m going to watch Barney and Fife here to make sure they don’t scratch my paint.”
Ivy and Missy glared at the officers before turning to walk away. Rimmel hesitated, her eyes never leaving me.
“It’s all right,” I said. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Who’s that?” the officer said, stepping closer to look at Rimmel.
My annoyance level skyrocketed. I spun, blocking her from sight. “No one you need to concern yourself with.”
“Well, if she’s with you—”
“She’s not,” I said, hard.
The dean stepped in. “We did not come here to harass our students.”
I stared the officer down until he lamented and turned toward my car.
Of course they found nothing. All they accomplished was looking like a bunch of idiots. When the one leading the witch-hunt mentioned searching my room, I laughed.
“I live on private property, not on campus. If you want to search my place, you’re going to need to call my father, Anthony Anderson. You might know him?” I asked. “He’s a lawyer.”
“That won’t be necessary,” the dean said immediately. “Gentlemen, I think it’s obvious the tip you received was a waste of everyone’s time.”
The officers left and before the dean followed, he looked at me apologetically. “I’m sorry about this, Roman.”
“Thanks,” I replied.
Three steps toward the party, I heard the officer say, “Is that a frat party? Maybe we should—”
“No,” the dean said loudly. “You’ve already made us look like big enough idiots for one night. Let’s go.”
On my way inside, the crowd gathered around as I passed by. I spent long moments shaking hands, laughing, and shooting the shit with people I didn’t really want to talk to.
I wanted to get to Rimmel. And then I wanted to pound Zach.
Inside, the crowd was considerable, but it wasn’t hard to find her. My eyes seemed to know exactly where to look. She was standing over by the keg in between Ivy and Missy with a beer in her hand.
She looked totally out of her element. When she saw me walking toward her, the relief in her eyes was clear.
“What happened?” she said over the loud, thumping music.
“Nothing.” I grabbed the beer out of her hand and took a healthy drink. “It’s all good.”
I handed the cup back to her and she took a small sip and made a face. “How do you drink that stuff? It’s nasty.”