Page 69

This…is all Lance’s fault.
Dax’s expression twists up. “What’d you say? It’s hard to hear you because of the music.”
I’m fucking relieved he gave me an out, so I say, “I saidhi, fine. Sorry, I thought you said how are you…” It’s the closest I can think of, but he’s looking at me strangely, like he knows that doesn’t fit.
“You should win some prize for making it here before the rest of the guys,” Dax says.
“Yeah,” Lance adds. “We got a Sigma Alpha–Alpha Theta Mu rumble going down tonight, I guess. We were gonna just do this for a while before things get going at Zeta Tau later.”
“And how was the date?” I ask, searching between them forany indication that Dax has him under a sex spell.
Dax casually hooks his arm around him.
Get your greedy fucking hands off him.
I’m such an asshole. Dax is a good guy, one of my own, and it’s not like he knows he’s hitting on the guy I’ve been experimenting with. Neither is doing anything wrong, which just makes me that much more frustrated with the whole damn situation.
“We had a great time,” Dax says. “Pressed him for plenty of details we can use to destroy Alpha Theta Mu.”
Lance glares at him playfully. “Oh, that’s what it was really about, wasn’t it? Well, you did a good job getting me to let my guard down.”
Dax shrugs. “Kind of my thing.”
Lance laughs.
I don’t make him laugh like that. Wait, yes I do.
“Come on, Ty,” Dax says. “Show us what you got.”
I’m usually a good dancer, but right now, I’m tense as fuck. Dax moves close to me, strutting his stuff, and it’ll be less awkward to go along with him, so I do. Besides, now that it’s clear they’ve been having a good night, I need to remind Lance I can be fun too.
I can be cool.
Which is totally not something that cool or fun people ever have to think…
Dammit.
“There you go,” Dax says before getting closer to Lance, who doesn’t seem fazed by the move. “Come on. You know how to work that ass.”
Lance spins around and pushes back until his ass is against Dax’s hips.
I’ve always known Dax to be a damn good dancer, and theway he’s rolling his hips puts on full display the kind of rhythm I’d expect a guy like him to have. And seeing the way Lance moves that ass…
My face is on fire. I could fucking lose it and deck my Sigma Alpha bro over this stupid shit. As Lance pulls away from Dax, laughing at his move, my fists are clenched, my shoulders stiff.
“You mind if I chat with Lance for a sec?” I force out through my teeth, summoning every ounce of strength I can muster.
“Sure, man.” Dax shrugs. “Let me grab you a drink while you do that. Your usual? Tequila and soda?”
“Yeah, that works. Thanks.”
He rushes off, and my nerves settle. Lance waits for me to say something, but when I just stand there, silent, he finally asks, “What did we need to talk about?”
I rest my hand on his shoulder, guiding him through the crowd to a dark spot in the corner of the dance floor, mostly to buy time to regain my senses and not say something wild or stupid, but also because I figure we need to actually hear each other.
As we settle by the wall, I turn to him. “How was the date?” I ask, unable to disguise my irritation.
“Um…fine.”