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“How doyoufeel?” I press.
His gaze drifts. “It’s been rough, but better now that the docs said you’ll be fine.”
“And I will be.” I feel a tickle in my throat and cough. “Despite how I sound,” I joke, which earns a smile. When I groan, he tightens his grip on my hand.
His phone buzzes, and he checks with his free hand. “It’s Ash and Colin.”
Last update was that the vet checked Frat Cat and he was fine. Still sick with his infection, though. There was some talk about Colin and Ash returning to be here for us, but I made sure Ty let them know they needed to go on their trip. Frat Cat and I are fine, and we’ll be even better by the time they return.
“They said they almost booked a flight back but then changed their minds. Unless something happens here.”
“Fair,” I say as he messages them back.
“Also, there are pics on Instagram of the damage to the house.” Ty shows me images of what Sigma Alpha looks like now. The fire must’ve progressed fast because the side with Dax’s room is now an open space with charred pieces of wooden frames.
There’s a sadness in Ty’s eyes. It’s there every time the topic of Sigma Alpha comes up.
I can’t even imagine if this had happened to Alpha Theta Mu. It sucks that he has to deal with this. Still, as terrible as what happened to Sigma Alpha is, I’m just glad everyone made it out safe.
That I got to see Mom and Dad and my friends again.
That the last time I kissed Ty won’t be the last.
And that he’s right here next to me, where he belongs.
His gaze returns to me, and he studies my expression.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
His brow creases. “Sorry?”
“Not about saving Frat Cat, obviously, but I didn’t mean to put everyone through all this.”
“The fire put everyone through this, not you.”
He rests his phone on his thigh and cups my cheek, running his thumb over my flesh. “You didn’t do anything wrong. And I don’t want you thinking anything different. You were…perfect.”
The way he says that, so sincerely, looking me dead in the eyes, takes me by surprise. He’s been acting differently since the fire. Although, I guess it shouldn’t surprise me because I’m different too.
It reminds me of those thoughts flashing through my head in the smoke. The things I wished I’d told him. How much I care for him. How strongly I feel it.
All the things I want to share with him now that we’re alone, but a sound catches my attention before the door flies open and Ryan barges in, Ty practically jumping out of his seat from the shock. “Fucking hell, Ry.”
His Sigma Alpha bro heads in with Marty right behind him. “Hey, buddy, how you holding up?” Ryan asks as he plops down in a chair beside Ty.
I study him for a moment. “When did you get pants?”
“I’ve always been wearing pants,” Ryan says, glancing around as if concerned about my mental well-being. “You didn’t think Marty and I would be returning to the hospital in just those loincloths from last night, did you? Dude, what are they pumping you up with?”
Marty, standing behind him, rolls his eyes.
“Did you need me to answer that still?” Ty asks.
“The guys grabbed some pants for us,” Marty explains.
I open the notebook Ty gave me, pull the pen from the spiral binding, and scribble onto the page, showing the words to Ty:Kill Ryan. Thank you.
“What did he say?” Ryan asks.