Page 114

“First party of the season!” Ryan hollers, and it’s on.
The guys aren’t in the living area long. They’re off getting things ready to bring it, sending out group texts to get the neighboring frats and sororities over here. By the time we’re finished setting up, I’m at a DJ table in the living area, playing my mix, chatting up Ash and Colin.
“This’ll be interesting,” Ash says.
“Yeah,” Colin follows. “In all my time at Peach State, this was the last thing I ever expected would happen between Alpha Theta Mu and Sigma Alpha.”
“Tell me about it,” I say, reflecting on my own personal rivalry with their president.
Marty approaches with some drinks for us, handing them out.
“You see Ty around?” I ask as I take mine, and he smiles; he knows how hung up I am on my man.
“Can’t even be away from the guy for a whole hour,” Marty observes.
“It’s taken us longer than that to set this up,” I insist.
“Barely.”
“It’s cute,” Ash says. “Trust me, I don’t like being away from this guy for too long. I miss my Colin when he’s gone.” He’s already got his arm around Colin, and tugs him closer.
“And I miss my Ash Ketchum,” Colin says before they share a kiss.
Marty makes like he’s about to throw up. “I hope you guys don’t become this bad.”
“No promises,” I say.
Marty cringes, and Ash and Colin are so involved in each other, I doubt they even heard him.
“Glad we got that sorted out,” Marty adds. “But I’m not thrilled that little asshole is still going to school with us.”
Marty’s not the only one who has ill feelings toward Miles Tanner since the incident, and I get it. It’s been a huge catastrophe caused by his recklessness. But I have to stand up for him. “It was an accident. And he turned himself in, fully cooperated with the police, and will be doing community service with this on his record. Does he really need to also get expelled?”
“We both know,” Marty says, “it’s likely because his daddy had the cash and Peach State didn’t want to lose his generous donations. Anyone else would’ve been kicked to the curb. At least Omega Psi expelled him.”
Not that they had any say in it. The IFC voted, so he was out regardless, unless Omega Psi wanted to face even more sanctions than they already were because of the incident.
“Hey, guys,” Angie says, approaching the booth.
“Oh, hey, Angie.” Marty’s frustration with Miles Tanner vanishes, a grin flashing across his face, his eyes lighting up. He’s been getting this way more around Angie recently, and Iknow my friend well enough to know he’s got a bit of a crush on her. It’s adorable, but Angie seems totally oblivious to it.
As they chat, I notice Ty and Ryan on their way over. Ty comes right around the table, wrapping his arms around me from behind and nibbling at my neck. “That worked out well, didn’t it?”
“Very,” I say. “Now we just have to make sure the guys don’t kill each other.”
“Yeah, Mart,” Ryan says. “You hear that? You’re gonna have to make sure not to kill me.”
Marty shifts his attention from Angie, with a very different look than the one he gave her. “Maybe if you bothered to pick up around your side of the room,” Marty says pointedly. “Or put on some earphones…or wore some goddamn underwear.”
“Oh, come on.” Ryan nudges him with his shoulder. “You gave me all that hell about not wanting to room with me, but now we’re roomies.”
“Because I fear for any of my friends having to be the ones to suffer with you.”
“I haven’t been that bad.”
“Yet.”
“The rulebreaker and the obsessive rule follower,” Ty whispers in my ear. “What could possibly go wrong?”