Page 11

“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. Likewowwow.”
“Looks like Ty Lancaster can’t give you any hell about your approach,” Ash adds.
“Thebig guywas 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 justabout 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 aboutanythingand 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 setin, 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.”
“Two years in a row would be nice.”