Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 437(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Eh, he was making this big deal that I could never do what he does and have a one-night stand, and I wanted to show him up.”
“You don’t do what he does,” Ash points out.
“That’s none of his business, is it?”
The guys get a kick out of that.
“Guess you had to get him back after that prank last night,” Colin notes.
“Even the guy who wasn’t here knows about it?” I ask.
“Yeah, everyone was posting about it in my feed. Pics are hot, though. You should be proud.”
Marty cringes. “I feel like maybe we’re all operating off different definitions of pride.”
“Couldn’t you guys have just left the park?” Colin asks.
I reflect on the moment when I made the call, when I could hear Kacey in my head, saying, “Sometimes you just gotta own it.” He’s been gone for so many years, yet I still follow the words of wisdom my big bro left me with before I lost him.
“Just some advice I heard once,” I say, not wanting to bring the mood down—or upset myself—by getting into it.
“Well, it definitely made the night extra sexy,” Colin says before refocusing on Ash. “And you looked especially sexy.” He continues fondling his man, offering a few kisses along his neck. Ash closes his eyes, rolling his head back as he gets into it.
Everyone in the kitchen gets so quiet, I can hear Marty gulp and Angie tear open her protein bar.
“Sorry, that’s rude,” Ash says as he snaps out of his blissed state.
“None of us were complaining,” Angie observes, fanning her face with the bar. “But if the show’s over, I should be heading out. I told some friends I’d meet them for pickleball.”
She rounds the kitchen island and stops beside me. “We should hang out sometime. I’ll hit you up on Insta, big guy.”
She winks playfully, and as she leaves, Marty looks shocked, though he waits till she’s gone before he says, “Wow. Like wow wow.”
“Looks like Ty Lancaster can’t give you any hell about your approach,” Ash adds.
“The big guy was a joke,” I insist. “There’s no vibe there, but she seems like a fun person to hang out with.”
“What?” Marty seems bewildered. “Angie’s hot.”
“Come on,” Colin says. “Being into someone isn’t just about their looks. It’s a connection. A spark. And you know it when it’s happening…or it sneaks up on you.” He gives Ash a pointed look, which makes my fratbro glow.
I can’t help myself. “Colin, you graduate and suddenly you’re…what? The wise elder of Alpha Theta Mu?”
“Depends on whether or not Ash thinks a wise elder is hot.”
Ash sneaks a look to Colin. “It’s definitely hot.”
Marty glares. “Pretty confident Colin could have said just about anything and Ash would have said that.”
“Yeah,” I say. “But we can’t fault him. Colin can be pretty fucking charming.”
Ash confirms with a nod.
“Okay,” I say, “can you guys let me finish my breakfast and get out of here before making me vomit it back up?”
Ash groans. “It’s been a week.”
“From what you said when I first came down here, it’s maybe been an hour.”
“Hey!” Marty snaps. “Let them have their fun. It’s not their fault you got friend-zoned in record time.”
Asshat. He’s got this cocky smirk on his face, so pleased with himself for the dig.
“As president of Alpha Theta Mu, I banish you from this house.”
We all enjoy a laugh, and with Colin here, it reminds me of some of the best times I’ve had at the frat with my buddies.
4
Ty
“Get that set in, come on, really kill it,” Ryan urges as I pump barbell reps. I start to strain, and he encourages me along. “One more, bud.”
I force the final rep before my friend steps in, hoisting the bar up and resting it on the rack.
“Fuck.” I sit up, catching my breath. “I’m just trying to stay fit, not sign up for the team.”
He snickers. “You’re fit, man, but you ain’t this fit.” He flexes his biceps, his cut-open tank giving me a view of the impressive musculature he’s crafted over his years of training. When it comes to his body, Ryan doesn’t play around, which is why we work out at a gym a few blocks from campus. It’s never as busy as the one at Peach State, and it has updated equipment—musts so my linebacker buddy can keep on top of his game. “You sure you can’t come tonight?” he asks. “We have a hot party planned, and I think the president deserves to enjoy it.”
“Nah. I’ve got work, and then I have a paper I need to work on, and it’s better I do it this weekend so I don’t have to think about it next weekend during TaskFrat and afters.”
“Fair. We gotta crush Alpha Theta Mu again. Get a good enough lead on them, and they won’t be able to get as close as they did last year.”