The Night My Ex Lost A Billionaire!

Busboy returns

CHAPTER FIVE

Pendleton University hadn’t changed in four years.

The gate looked the same. So did the fountain. Even the cracked tile outside the library hadn’t been fixed in years.

Jensen walked through the main gate.

He strolled past the fountain where freshmen always took their first-day photos. A huge statue of the founder stood erect at the courtyard.

There were only three weeks left until graduation.

Three weeks until the last excuse for him to play poor ran out.

His dorm door was unlocked. Jensen gently pushed past it and stepped into his room.

“You’re alive!” Coleman jumped off his bed.

“I called you eleven times.”

“I counted nine.” Jensen replied.

“I rounded up for dramatic effect.” Coleman pulled him into a quick, hard hug.

Noticing his wound, Coleman winced.

“Yeah… You look like shit.”

“Fair enough.” Jensen sighed and sat on his little bed.

“Rose really did you dirty, man. Whole floor’s talking about it.” Coleman paused.

“You good though?” He asked.

“Better than good, actually.” Jensen said with a smile.

Coleman raised an eyebrow but choose to let it go.

That was the thing about Coleman, he never pushed past a closed door, especially not with Jensen.

“Oh, that reminds me.”

Jensen pulled a hundred dollars from his wallet and held it out.

“Got paid. This is yours.”

Coleman looked at the cash like it had insulted his mother.

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“It’s what I owe you.”

“Jensen.” He shoved the money back toward Jensen’s chest. “We don’t do this. Brothers don’t keep receipts.”

“Coleman, don’t -“

“Put it away or I’m eating it. I will literally eat the bill.”

Coleman waved his hand.

Jensen smiled and pocketed it. When the time was right, he’d properly reward Coleman for everything. He just had to wait a bit.

Suddenly, the door slammed open.

Matthew Bening walked into the room. He had a frown on his face that soon melted into a smirk when he noticed Jensen. Everyone knows Matthew and Benjamin are thick as thieves.

Even Coleman was a little scared of their third roommate.

“Well, well. The busboy returns.”

Matthew walked closer.

“Heard Rose dumped your sorry ass. Smart move, honestly.” Matthew’s eyes glittered. “Even roaches know when to leave a dying building.”

“Matthew, leave him alone!” Coleman cut in.

“I’m not talking to the charity case’s friend.” He shot Coleman a glare before his gaze stayed locked on Jensen.

“I’m talking to the help right here.” He added with a smile. Coleman quietly backed off.

Once, Matthew had beaten him up behind the dorms. He never told anyone. Not even Jensen.

Matthew dug his hand into his pocket and flung a fistful of crumpled bills at Jensen’s face.

“Go fetch us beer,” he said. “Bottom floor. You’re good at fetching, right? It’s basically your only skill.”

The bills hit the floor. Jensen didn’t look down.

“No.”

The room went quiet.

“Excuse me?” Matthew arched his brow.

“You heard me.” Jensen finally met his eyes. “Pick those up yourself.”

Matthew’s face flushed.

“You don’t get to say no to me, motherfucker!”

“I just did. Twice now.” Jensen casually replied.

Coleman could sense trouble in the air. Scared of what Matthew could do to Jensen, he quickly stepped in.

“You know what, I’ll go get the beer.”

Coleman crouched and started picking the money, but Matthew tried to grab his shirt.

Jensen intercepted and stopped Matthew’s hand midair.

“You dare touch me?” Matthew growled.

He swung first.

Jensen leaned out of the way without much interest. Matthew followed with a kick aimed at his stomach.

Jensen caught the ankle mid-air.

One twist. One sweep. Matthew hit the floor before he understood he was falling.

Coleman gasped.

Jensen’s foot came down lightly on Matthew’s chest, making sure he stayed down.

“Are we done?” He asked.

Matthew’s face burned, humiliation pooling somewhere under the anger. He knocked Jensen’s foot away, scrambled upright, and bolted out of the room. The door slammed hard enough to rattle the hinges.

Coleman let out a low whistle. “Ten out of ten. No notes.”

“He’ll be back,” Jensen said.

“They always do.” Coleman dropped onto his bed.

“Speaking of things I don’t want to deal with alone. Graduation dinner. You coming?”

Jensen hesitated. “Not really my kind of scene.”

“It’s not about the scene, man. I don’t want to walk into that room solo. You’re the only person in our entire class I actually like.” Coleman propped himself up.

“Come on. For me.”

Jensen thought about the noise, the small talk, four years of classmates who’d never once asked if he was okay. Then he thought about Coleman standing alone at the edge of a room that had never once made space for either of them.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll go.”

“Knew it.” Coleman grinned like he’d won something.

Behind the door, Matthew eavesdropped on the conversation. A slow smile replaced his rage.

“Graduation dinner. This animal is going.” He thought to himself.

“Might as well milk this opportunity.” He nodded and pulled out his phone.

While he walked, he texted Benjamin.

[Send me some cash. And I’ll help you dispose of Jensen for good.]

He smiled wickedly as he strolled out of the hallway.