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“Funny that you said I won because it feels like you won, making me so hung up on the Alpha Theta Mu prez.”
“Maybe we both won,” I mutter, leaning toward him and taking a kiss.
We’ve kissed so many times since that first time, but this feels utterly different. There’s a connection between us that’s deeper than before, beyond the fun we’ve shared. We’ve been competitors and rivals all these years, but regardless of how much I’ve wanted to beat his ass so many times before, in this there aren’t any losers. And even if there were, I wouldn’t mind losing to him.
30
Ty
The hospital releasesLance a few hours later.
I’m sure the staff is relieved to clear the waiting room of all the frats. Lance’s parents offer for him to stay with them, but he insists he’s fine and that he has to help us all navigate the new living situation at Alpha Theta Mu. They can’t put up much of a fight, since the docs have cleared him, and aside from his voice still sounding scratchy, he seems to be back to his old self.
“Feels like some fucked-up karma,” Ryan says from behind Lance and me as we walk up the drive of Alpha Theta Mu, both our frats following. “We have to stay with our rivals? Really?”
“You’re welcome for our house saving your asses,” Lance teases.
We share a look, and he’s wearing a bright smile. Despite all the bullshit, things have felt lighter since I told him how I felt and I heard those magical words from him:“I love you.”
Almost makes me feel like I don’t have to track down Miles Tanner and kick his ass for what happened last night.
But only almost.
“See?” Ryan says. “Where are we even gonna talk shit about Alpha Theta Mus around here?”
“I think we just say it to their faces now,” Keegan jokes aswe reach the front porch.
As I turn back to the guys, Dax adds, “I’m kind of excited about the idea of staying here. Alpha Theta Mus have been good to me.”
I wonder which of Lance’s crew he’s messed with. Not to mention, Ash and Colin are always particularly friendly with him.
“We should come up with a game to determine who’ll sleep in whose room,” Jaxon suggests.
“Whoever loses sleeps with Marty,” Ryan teases. “And I don’t just mean in his bed.”
“I don’t like this,” Marty says.
Ryan drapes an arm over his shoulders. “I’m kidding. You know I wanna keep you all to myself.”
“That’s happening over my dead body,” Marty says through his teeth.
“Just chill, will ya? You are so uptight. Oh wait. That’s your thing, right? In that case, why don’t you show us around, and maybe you can give us the breakdown of the rules so we can at least know what we’re violating as we’re doing it.”
“That’s actually not a bad idea,” Lance says. “Marty, you can manage that while Ty and I…”
“Oh God, of course. I’ve got you, man.”
Marty can act like a prick, but he’s been right here for Lance and me since everything went down. I understand now why they’re such good friends—Lance clearly knows a good guy when he sees one.
“You’ll warm up to me,” Ryan tells Marty. “I promise, I won’t cuddle you too hard.”
“Again, we’re not rooming together,” Marty insists.
Ryan simply heads into the house like he owns the place.
“Can we still get Ty to execute him?” Marty asks Lance.
“I can hear you!” Ryan calls from inside. “Going to the kitchen. I need something to eat.”