Suited

Twenty Four

I didn't waste any time. I locked the door but didn't start the car. He gave me a second before asking what was wrong while I was gathering my thoughts. I took another second before I asked "Did you rape a guy in New York?"

He didn't look phased. "I slept with a man while we were intoxicated and thought he wanted to play rough rather than stop. We should have implemented a safe word but, again, I was drunk."

That made a hell of a lot more sense, except, "I didn't know you drank that much."

"I don't, really. That night was just..." He grimaced.

"You were getting away from Haydn?"

"You know we were together?" I nodded. "Okay. Yes, and I don't enjoy alcohol much anymore. I don't like me with copious amounts of it."

"And he was drunk too?"

"His name is Wade. Yes. Also my doing. I did what I could to fix things, and Haydn made me call to apologize, but that's not really something that's easily forgivable. I don't expect him to."

He wasn't panicking, nor was he thinking super hard about his answers. I had a feeling he thought about it before. He didn't look guilty, rather he just accepted his actions. He was rather quiet. I asked how he tried to rectify it, and he said he put Wade up in a hotel room with food and gave him aftercare, and then there had been an apology.

Then he looked guilty. "And your Father arranged an out-of-court settlement on my behalf."

"How much?"

"Ten grand and he somehow spun things to make it sound like I was drugged so I wouldn't get deported. I don't know exactly how he managed that."

"He has connections for everything," I said. "How do you think I never got booked for using?" Or drinking underage. Or destruction of property. Or theft. Or assault. Being in a frat was wild.

He nodded. "Yes, that's true. I apologize. I should have told you sooner. That's not something to find out about someone."

I shook my head and started the car. "It's fine. I love you anyway. Can we stop at the store? I need a dinner ham."

"Y-Yes." He said that like a question. "I love you too. Forgive me, I'm confused."

I was out of the garage, starting down the street now. "About what?"

"I assaulted someone. You should be upset."

"I punched a girl in the face. It's bad, but it's been handled. You won't disregard my safe words, and I won't punch you. Deal?"

"What?!" He laughed, but he sounded uncomfortable. "I can't imagine you punching that hard."

"I don't, but I had more meat on my bones back then. In college. I think I broke her nose." I remembered as I pulled up to the red light, "The parties were insane. There was this room where the guys in my frat would take girls in and give them reviews or something."

"What do you mean?"

The light took its time turning green, but I waited nonetheless. "They'd get them super high and fuck in there and then write out what they thought of them on the wall." I saw Signore's face melt into shock in the corner of my eye. "I never did it," I clarified, "I haven't even been in it; it was a rumor. I barely partied, to begin with."

"That's despicable."

"Yeah, but the school never did anything about it. It's probably still around."

"I... I am glad you aren't going back to campus. Are you still—um—is pledged the word?"