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Ty: Hey, what’s up?
I hesitate, struggling with what to tell him.Been thinking about my dead brother all day because of our chat last nightseems like a conversation killer, so I go for the next best thing.
ME: Not much.
ME: You ready to see me earn way more money than you for charity?
TY:Youmake more thanme? Not gonna happen.
ME: Pretty sure it will.
TY: Depends. You gonna be wearing that G-string? In which case, I’d say you’re not playing fair.
I snicker. The fact that we’re joking around like we normally would sets me at ease, assures me I didn’t do anything to make him uneasy during our conversation.
TY: Speaking of which, not seeing any prank from Alpha Theta Mu. You guys give up?
ME: Oh, you’ll be getting it.
TY: Counting on it. Looking forward to being impressed.
ME: Have I let you down before?
TY: You definitely have not.
There’s a rush because I know he’s talking about the stuff we’ve been doing.
ME: Seriously, though. Before we just go back to normal, I wanted to let you know, if you did need to talk to me again about anything…and I do mean anything, I’m open to that.
ME: And also, if you don’t want to talk, I get that too.
The ellipsis appears, then disappears.
Oh, the cruel world of texting!
TY: I can think of some things I’d want to get together with you to do, but it only involves the fun stuff.
I chuckle.
ME: Could use that after the day I’ve had.
TY: You should swing by.
ME: Must get ready for the auction. We don’t have much time.
TY: Do we need much time? ;)
I don’t hesitate before replying:Are you at Sigma Alpha now?
*
I’m surprised whenI find myself at Sigma Alpha.
But despite everything going on in my head—or maybe because of it—I want to see him again. I want to know he’s truly okay after our chat.
Ty greets me at the door in a tank top and athletic shorts. His hair’s a little tousled, and is it just me, or does he look even sexier than he did last night?
“Hey, man,” he says. “Thank you for coming over.”