No Easy Choices (A New Adult Romance) by Trista Cade Page B

explain our little...misunderstanding.”
                  “What misunderstanding?” Harper demanded. “That boy is off limits. He’s no good for your reputation, or ours.”
                  “That was the misunderstanding,” I said patiently. “Javier’s family are not drug dealers. In fact, his father’s dead. Years ago, even.” I looked at their faces, some concerned, others entirely confused. A few of the sisters had already dissolved away to their bedrooms once they figured out there was no wedding to help plan.
                  “But Andie, you can’t be serious. You’ve got Jackson! Why on earth would you choose someone like Javier when you could have Jackson?” Kennedy was genuinely in a state of upheaval over my inability to make what was, in her mind, the clear and better choice. “I mean, he’s...Jackson! Star of the football team Jackson! Son of one of the founding partners of the largest accounting firms in the state JACKSON! The governor was his godfather JACKSON!”
                  I laughed. “Why does everyone keep giving me this guy’s resume and family tree? If he’s so awesome, why doesn’t one of you date him?” Only, no one laughed. They looked around awkwardly, like someone had just farted during a sistership pledge.
                  And there was a perfectly good reason no one answered. Because Quinn had been standing behind me the entire time. Standing with her arms crossed and one foot tapping.
                  “You had one responsibility, and that was to represent this sorority like a true lady, and you couldn’t even do that right.” Her face began to turn red as she hissed. “I handed you one of the most amazing guys on this entire campus, and you’re going to throw him away for a dirty, drug-dealing, foreigner? Well, you two completely deserve each other. I don’t think you’re worthy of following Jackson down a sidewalk, let alone getting to actually date him.” She turned on her heel and left the room, a small posse of sisters tagging along after her.
                  “Wow. Guess there’s gonna be another emergency vote tonight, huh?” I began, only no one laughed along. Even Kennedy looked a little uncomfortable, clenching her arms to her chest tightly and looking down at the floor. “Well, thanks for a lovely evening, all of you. I’m going to bed.”
                  I made it all the way to my room before the tears fell.
     
    Chapter Fourteen
     
                  “Andie?” Javier asked, smiling through his confusion at finding me standing on the metal landing outside his door, doing my best to stay dry under the doorway’s tiny awning. “You are all right? What is wrong?” He pulled me inside, taking my bag and placing it on the floor before reaching for a throw blanket off the back of his sofa and wrapping it around my shoulders. Seriously? He’s a guy AND he’s got throw blankets! Why does everyone think there’s something wrong with this guy? I think he’s perfect!
                  “I’m so sorry to show up like this, I just wasn’t really sure what else to do,” I stammered, realizing for the very first time that showing up in the middle of the night on someone’s doorstep is not a “romantic damsel in distress” move, but more like a “crazy stalker who doesn’t know what boundaries are” move.
                  “It is no problem, but what is wrong? Now I am worried for you.”
                  “Well, the sisters had a secret meeting and before they could do something stupid like vote about me, I just quit. I’ve called my parents and they’re going to come down and help me find a new place to live, but for tonight...” I cringed, “...could I maybe sleep on your couch?”
                  “Absolutely not,” Javier said firmly.
                  “Oh. I’m sorry.