Read Online In Every Heartbeat by Kim Vogel Sawyer - Free Book Online

Since Bennett’s finished, I’ll just eat with you. Assuming there’s anything left.”
    Pete looked at Bennett. “Do you want to stay and visit with us while we eat?”
    Bennett snorted. “Nah. I’ve been here long enough.” If he’d left sooner, he might have been able to avoid giving the concert. Of course, that hadn’t been without its benefits. He glanced over his shoulder. Caroline and her friends continued to gawk at him, all looking moon-eyed. He couldn’t resist waggling his eyebrows at the trio, which created another round of giggles, before turning back to Pete and Libby. “I’m heading to my room—gonna enjoy my last afternoon of freedom before classes start tomorrow.”
    “All right. We’ll see you at supper?”
    Bennett nodded. “I’ll be here.” He dumped his tray in the bin and headed for the doors. He encountered Jim and Ted heading out at the same time. He clapped Jim on the shoulder. “Hey, thanks for giving me the chance to sing.” He raised one eyebrow. “The ladies sure like it when a fella sings to ’em. You did me a real favor.”
    Ted cleared his throat. “You’re about the worst singer I’ve ever heard.”
    Bennett laughed. “Does that mean you don’t want me to pledge . . . what was it again? Delta Cow Delta?”
    Ted scowled. “That’s Delta Tau Delta.”
    Bennett feigned embarrassment. “Oh. That’s right.” He rubbed the underside of his nose with his finger, hiding his smile. “Sorry, fellas.”
    Jim said, “You’re welcome to pledge, but we’re only taking three new members this year. So . . .”
    Bennett knew what the man was intimating—his chances weren’t good. Nothing new there. When had Bennett ever received a break? The two started to walk away, but Bennett dove into their pathway. “Hey, before you go, can I ask you a question?”
    Jim shrugged. “Sure.”
    “Do you know a tall guy . . . curly hair. Name’s Roy?”
    The two gaped at him. Jim said, “Hey, you’re the one who . . .” He grabbed Ted’s arm.
    Ted grunted and pulled away.
    Jim gave Ted’s arm a whack and grinned from ear to ear. “You know who we’ve got here? This’s the guy who socked Roy in the nose last night. Am I right? Wasn’t that you?”
    The admiration in the man’s eyes almost made Bennett blush. Almost. He puffed out his chest. “Yep, that was me.”
    Jim shook his head. “I’ve never seen anybody stand up to Roy like that.” He leaned forward and added conspiratorially, “He’s a big man around here, you know.”
    Bennett snickered. “He didn’t look so big all bent over, holding his nose.”
    The other two laughed, although they glanced around as if afraid someone might overhear them.
    “So are you friends of his?” Bennett withdrew a slice of bread from his pocket. He munched while he waited for an answer.
    “Oh, not friends exactly . . .” Jim scratched his head. “But we know him.”
    “You mean, know of him,” Ted added. “He’s in Beta Theta Pi, like most of the athletes. We, um . . .” He cleared his throat, looking at the ground. “We don’t mix much with that group.”
    Bennett swallowed a smirk. “Oh. Well, thanks.” He stepped off the porch.
    “Wait!” Jim stumbled after Bennett, Ted on his heels. “Are you going to pledge Delta Tau Delta? You can even bring your friend—you know, the one Roy was pestering. His wooden leg’s no problem for us.”
    Bennett’s fist formed without effort. So Pete’s wooden leg wouldn’t bother them, huh? For reasons he didn’t understand, the statement rankled. He pressed his fist against his thigh to keep from popping Jim right in the mouth. “As I said, I don’t know if I’m going to pledge. I’ll let you know.”
    Without waiting for a reply, Bennett turned and headed for his dormitory. By the time he reached the rock building, he’d made a decision. He would pledge to a fraternity. But it wouldn’t be Delta Tau Delta. He had his sights set on Beta Theta Pi. And he intended to bring