Page 37 of Frat Around and Find Out (Peach State Fratbros #1)

Marty jumps between him and the door, which seems like a mistake given how Ty’s charging for it. I wish I had the strength to try and stop him, or even call out to him, but it’s too much for me.

“He turned himself in to the police,” Marty says. “He’s got legal troubles and likely getting suspended, if not expelled. He’s gonna pay enough for this.”

“Lance could have died last night!” Ty barks, and Ryan is on his feet in no time.

“Come on, man,” Ryan entreats. “Lance needs you right here.”

This seems to snap Ty out of it as he turns back to me and takes a breath. “You’re right.”

“Miles seems like a good guy,” I finally manage. “And it was brave to turn himself in, accept responsibility.”

Now that Ty’s thinking rather than reacting, I can tell he hears me. But I sympathize because if the situation were reversed and Ty the one in this bed, I’m not sure I’d be so understanding.

“Doesn’t change that what he did was stupid and dangerous,” Ty says, “which is exactly what we were talking about at the emergency meeting earlier this semester. If they think there won’t be consequences for this, they’ve got another thing coming.

It’s just like we said. Their frats don’t take safety into consideration, and they clearly don’t do a good enough job stressing it.

Fuck, I hope that guy knows Lance is hurt.

I hope he knows he could have killed people last night. ”

“Ty, please sit down,” I say.

He doesn’t hesitate, like he’s following a directive. I take his hand, which is cold and rigid, but as I grip, he relaxes, taking in what seems like a first decent breath.

“Sorry. I’m stressing you out,” he says.

“It’s fine. It’s a lot.”

He kisses me, rubs our cheeks together before resting his forehead against mine, like he just needs to be close to remember I’m still here. That we’re safe, and that’s what matters.

“So what are the Sigma Alphas doing?” I ask. “Where is everyone?”

“Here,” Ryan says.

“What?”

“ Everyone’s here,” Marty confirms. “All the Alpha Theta Mus and the Sigma Alphas.”

“Did you guys think we were not gonna be by our presidents’ sides at a time like this?” Ryan asks.

“Angie’s here too,” Marty adds. “I wish you could be out there to see all the guys losing their minds trying to impress her.”

“I saw you chatting her up too. For like ten minutes,” Ryan observes.

“Shut up. I was trying to keep everyone else from bugging her,” Marty insists, but as his friend, I can tell by the red in his cheeks that’s not entirely honest. He likes her. A lot.

“I didn’t want to overwhelm you with knowing they were all out there,” Ty tells me.

Earlier, it probably would have been, but now it feels nice to know they came.

Doesn’t surprise me, though. Despite our differences, it’s clear we have frats with some amazing guys.

“And,” Ty adds, “we still have to figure out where we’re gonna be staying now that we don’t have a house to go back to.”

“Yeah,” Ryan says. “The cops told us they have to finish processing the scene before we can recover our things. Also, we need to sort out the insurance.”

“Let me know if you guys need help with any of the paperwork,” Marty says. “Believe it or not, I’m really good at hounding insurance companies.”

“No one would not believe that, Marty,” Ty says. “But we appreciate it.”

As much in a fog as I’ve been since the fire, one thing is crystal clear. “I already know where the Sigma Alphas will be staying. At Alpha Theta Mu.”

Ty and Ryan both look shocked.

“There’s not enough room,” Ty points out.

“We could share beds until we can get air mattresses,” Marty says. “Stock up on food. My guess is Ryan will need a pantry for himself.”

Ryan smiles. “At least you’re taking the right things into consideration.”

“Are you sure?” Ty asks me.

“You think it’s too early for us to move in together?” I joke, and he smiles, but then his expression turns serious.

Something’s on his mind, but obviously, there’s plenty to consider with all that’s happened.

He bites his lip. “Yeah, I think my boyfriend might as well learn what a real cover hog I can be. It was bound to come out sooner or later.”

We kiss, and Ryan says, “Okay, on that note, I’m gonna go gossip about this Miles Tanner shit with the crew while the lovebirds work out their nest situation. And now that I’ve been thinking about it, I might swing by Kappa Mu for a minute.”

At a look from Marty, he amends, “Maybe more than a minute.”

“It was the TMI part I was giving you a look for,” Marty clarifies.

“TMI? That’s not what I got, and not from her.”

It’s clear by Ryan’s expression that he’s joking, but Marty cringes and starts for the door. “Maybe you should room with Will…all the way on the other side of the frat.”

“And here I thought we were getting along so well…”

Ty smirks. “This is gonna be interesting.”

As much as I don’t want to do this here, seeing him like this, and getting to be alone for what might be some time before we get back to the frat, I know what I have to tell him.

“Ty—”

“Shh. Rest your voice. Besides, I…I want to tell you something.”

I quiet, wondering if there’s more news that happened while I was out.

“I know we haven’t been seeing each other long,” he says, “but keep in mind we’ve known each other long before we started messing around. And I’ve always known you were a cool guy. Even joking around with you was fun, and…” He hesitates. “I don’t expect you to feel the same.”

I can tell where this is going, and I just want to assure him. “Ty—”

“No, please. Let me say this. Neither of us knows what’s gonna happen next in life, and how quickly things can change, and I don’t want to go another minute without saying how I feel about you. I love you, Lance. I’m in love with you.”

A warm spiral swirls in my chest, soothing me. Not just from his confession, but the truth of everything he’s saying.

“And I loved you before this stuff, but it took the fire to make me realize how much. And I’m sorry if this is moving too fast, but I can’t pretend to feel differently. I won’t. I—”

I jot down in the notebook, and he asks, “What are you doing?”

I show him the words: I love you too, Ty . “That’s what I was trying to say,” I tell him. “But you just had to win at that too, didn’t you?”

He chuckles. “Guess I did win.”

“Fuck you.”

“I like when you say that like Darth Vader.”

We share a laugh as he leans close.

“You love me?” he asks.

“Yeah. I love you.”

“Funny that you said I won because it feels like you won, making me so hung up on the Alpha Theta Mu prez.”

“Maybe we both won,” I mutter, leaning toward him and taking a kiss.

We’ve kissed so many times since that first time, but this feels utterly different.

There’s a connection between us that’s deeper than before, beyond the fun we’ve shared.

We’ve been competitors and rivals all these years, but regardless of how much I’ve wanted to beat his ass so many times before, in this there aren’t any losers.

And even if there were, I wouldn’t mind losing to him.