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“Oh, come on,” Payton says.
Marty points out the window. “They’ve got their phones out and looking this way. They’ve been told this is what’s gonna happen.”
Marty’s right. It seems everyone’s noticed our arrival, and they’re already chuckling, clearly anticipating the big reveal.
Heat stirs in my chest and flares in my cheeks. “I can’t believe that asshole duped us like this. And I fell right for it.”
Even worse, I’m jealous that it’s a damn good prank. When he’s good, he’s good.
“Hey,” Ash says. “This isn’t your fault. Someone had to prank us. And we got them last year.”
And we got them good too, thanks to the help of one of our guys’ beloved family pet hog, Jasper. Jasper is like a people-person—a people-hog, I guess—but that’s hard to tell when all two hundred and fifty pounds of him are tearing toward you. We let him loose in the Sigma Alpha house during Greek Week. We’d already sprayed the guys’ costumes with lavender, which apparently Jasper adores. So all the frats and sororities had to do was set up lawn chairs and enjoy the show as Sigma Alphas with ripped togas or in the buff hauled ass from their house like they were running from Michael Myers.
“And what we’re wearing is not that weird for a TaskFrat event,” Ash adds.
He’s right, but at least when we’ve worn Speedos, all the other frats were wearing the same.
“Do we have time to go back to the house?” Marty asks. “Or maybe I can get someone to bring us a change of clothes.”
“We’re barely on time as it is,” Payton says.
“They clearly don’t need us for setup,” Marty adds.
It’s true, but in the back of my mind, I hear a familiarvoice, one that’s with me every day, here for me, encouraging me along.
“Sometimes you just gotta own it.”
“We have to own it,” I say, the way he would have.
“Huh?” Marty asks.
A powerful determination rises within me. “Everyone in this car, when we get out, we are strutting like we’ve never strutted before.”
“Fuck,” Marty groans, since of the four of us, he’s the most self-conscious.
“Ash, text the guys at the house so they can change before they get here. But we’re already here, and we’re not running. We all look hot as fuck in this, and if we act cool, then Ty Lancaster and his Sigma Alpha goons can laugh it up all they want, but they’ll know they didn’t get the best of us. Then we stomp their asses in the competition.”
My confidence in my plan surprises even me. I never considered myself much of a leader. Hell, even running for president of Alpha Theta Mu was a joke until it wasn’t. But the longer I’ve been in the role, the more natural this leadership has felt.
“Everyone on the same page here?” I ask.
Ash shrugs. “Colin told me I look hot as fuck in this earlier, so I feel good.”
“Not a huge surprise for an exhibitionist,” Payton teases, but that’s true. So it’ll be great having Ash at my side.
“I…hate…this,” Marty says, gripping the steering wheel like he’s considering bailing. “Can I at least keep on my jacket?”
“No,” I insist. “No fear. Give them nothing.”
He sighs, but he must know I’m right.
“On my count of three,” I say, “we get out. Fucking ownit. We all in? Marty?”
He takes deep breaths, his hands locked on the steering wheel as he seems to be trying to control his anxiety. “Don’t expect a miracle,” he says.
“Fair.” I take the lead, getting out on my side. Ash and Payton follow, and then Marty gets out, stripping out of his jacket, but still wearing his discomfort on his face. Despite his hesitation, I’ve always been able to count on him to have my back. And today is obviously no exception.
As laughter erupts, plenty of phones are out to capture our humiliation.