Page 40 of Frat Around and Find Out (Peach State Fratbros #1)

Lance

“I ’m so on edge,” Ty says, arms wrapped around me as we lie in my bed.

It’s not the first time Ty’s said this today, since we called an emergency meeting for both frats.

After the fire, the guys stuck around at Alpha Theta Mu through finals.

It took about a week before they could recover their belongings.

Then Ty went to North Carolina to visit his mom, and I stayed with my parents for the holiday.

After Christmas, I flew out to stay with him at his mom’s place for a bit, since FaceTime and calls weren’t enough and I was missing my man. Plus, I was excited to meet his mom.

Throughout finals and the break, Ty’s been navigating insurance and consulting with Sigma Alpha’s attorney, working through the details of the complex situation and the whole insurance runaround more than a few times.

Now we’re back at Alpha Theta Mu, and today he finally got some answers, even if they weren’t the ones we were hoping for.

We share a kiss, one of the many we’ve shared since that very first kiss.

But it’s much different since the first time.

Really, since we exchanged I-love-yous.

It means so much more than those passionate, tongue- filled kisses that set my flesh on fire. It’s not just the heat anymore; it’s something deeper that reaches into my soul. Knowing Ty sees more of me than most, just like I see more of him.

As I pull away, I admire the Alpha Theta Mu tee he’s wearing, short because I cut it into a crop top for TaskFrat. Since we first began exploring this naughty pleasure, we’ve had maybe a little too much fun wearing each other’s frat spirit wear.

“I don’t want to do it.” Ty groans. “Why don’t you run the meeting today?”

“We’re both running it, and you know you wouldn’t want me delivering the news.”

“The guys aren’t gonna be happy. Maybe if I fuck you one more time, that’ll make it easier.” He practically attacks me, his mouth on mine, his greedy hands all over my body, sending that familiar rush through me. Soon, his face is buried against my neck as he licks and nibbles.

“This is something that should be a reward after the meeting,” I tell him.

“I don’t think you really want that.” He seizes my hard cock, stroking.

As a surge of excitement pulses through me, I grit my teeth. “Seriously, though. You said you had five minutes like ten minutes ago.”

“It hasn’t been that long.”

“It really has.”

He grunts, prying away from me before checking his phone on the nightstand. “Oh, fucking hell.”

He hops up and starts for the door.

“Ty—”

He spins around, and I grab at my own top, his Sigma Alpha hoodie .

“Oh…” he says, flustered. “Guess they don’t need to know about this…just yet.”

“Naughty Rocky,” I tease.

We grab fresh shirts, wearing the ones for our appropriate houses—though that’s not nearly as fun—before heading downstairs to join our Greek brothers for a combined meeting between Sigma Alpha and Alpha Theta Mu.

With chairs set up around the living area, the room’s basically divided into two halves, Alpha Theta Mus on one side, Sigma Alphas on the other, but the guys are cutting it up with each side, no one seeming to give much thought to the fact that we’re rival houses.

Frat Cat sits in Ash’s lap as Ash makes a claw with his hand, giving Frat Cat something to slap at. Fortunately, he didn’t have any issues from the smoke, and he recovered from his infection fairly quickly. It’s nice seeing him back to his usual self.

Colin sits at Ash’s side, arm draped around his boyfriend. He’s still got another week before he has to be back at law school, and he’s taking advantage of every moment.

Ty approaches the podium we set up earlier in the day so he could talk to the guys. I stand right behind him, feeling the tension practically radiating off him, which has me on edge too.

“Okay, okay, everyone.” Marty pushes to his feet from the chair beside Ash. “The meeting is in session. That means even you, Sigma Asshats, must pipe down.”

This earns some rebellious noise, but everyone quiets soon enough, allowing Ty to begin.

“Thank you, Marty, for the unsolicited help. Um…I know everyone wants an update on the state of Sigma Alpha, and we’ve been coordinating with the insurance company to find a solution to housing while they wo rk on repairs.

That said, the solution we came up with isn’t ideal, but it’s all they could offer us.

There are three places we can relocate to so that everyone has a place to stay.

Insurance will cover the expense, fortunately. But—”

“Three locations?” Dax asks. “As in, they’re gonna separate us?”

This is the bad news.

Ty tenses his jaw, and I step closer, resting my hand on his back.

He takes a breath before continuing. “I did everything I could, and the insurance did their best to accommodate, but there’s just not enough room for twenty guys in any one location.

They can get a temporary lease at Wilfred Complex, and the Highland in town is offering up space, and—”

“Those aren’t even near each other,” Keegan points out.

“Yeah,” Ty agrees, “and the other hotel is Wayford Hall.”

“How are we gonna have parties?” another Sigma Alpha asks.

I can see that my fellow Alpha Theta Mus are uncomfortable, but I’m hoping they’ll realize why we called them here too, and that they’ll sympathize with our rival frat.

“It’s not ideal,” Ty says. “And the problem is the damage is extensive enough that we’re looking at having to deal with this through a good chunk of the semester, if not through the spring.”

“This is my senior year,” Ryan says, obviously rattled by the news, and surely speaking for more than just himself. “These are my guys.”

“Lance and I have discussed a possible alternative, but it would involve both Sigma Alpha and Alpha Theta Mu agreeing to it. Lance will take it from here.”

He gives me space at the podium, and I step up for my part .

I always get a little nervous when I have to get up in front of everyone like this, especially when it’s not just my own house, but I remember the day I pledged to be president of the frat—it’s not a responsibility I’ve ever taken lightly, so I power through.

“It’s been tough with everyone on top of each other like this.

It’ll be messy if we do it through the semester, but to keep Sigma Alpha together, I’ve offered to take a vote with Alpha Theta Mu to see if we’re willing to share our space.

” I can read the apprehension on some of the guys’ expressions.

“It’s not what any of you signed up for.

And that’s why Ty and I agreed we won’t do this unless we have a unanimous vote and everyone’s happy with this.

But before we take a vote, I want everyone to keep in mind how we would feel if ours was the house that burned down, and we were the ones who were gonna be separated, especially for the seniors. ”

“It doesn’t have to be all bad either,” Ty chimes in. “Could mean bigger and better parties. More hands to tend to responsibilities around the house.”

“I think we can go ahead and take a vote,” Ash says.

“Yeah,” Marty agrees. “Alpha Theta Mus who want to help Sigma Alpha out, show of hands?”

I notice my crew—Ash’s, Marty’s, and Payton’s hands—pop up, followed shortly by the rest of the house. A lump forms in my throat. I’m choked up seeing what a cool crew we have here at our house, the sort of thing that makes me proud to be Alpha Theta Mu.

Ty sidles up beside me, and I see the admiration in his expression.

“Regardless of what Sigma Alpha decides, thank you for that. We’ve always been rival houses, and we still want to kick your asses, but it means a lot that you would invite us into your space.

Now let’s find out if my Sigma Alphas are cool with this solution. ”

“Oh, we’re cool,” Ryan says.

“What are you, the spokesperson for the frat?” Jaxon asks.

“You not cool?”

“I’m fine with it, but we need to take a vote.”

“Come on,” Ryan says to the guys, pushing to his feet. “Show of hands? Who’s in? Let’s see those palms high.”

All their hands pop up in an instant, and Ty and I sneak a look at each other.

“Is that all we needed to talk about?” Ash asks.

“Well, yeah,” Ty says, our guys having showed us that all our stress had been for nothing.

“Then I think there’s one thing left to do,” Colin adds. “You obviously must have a huge-ass party to celebrate Sigma Alpha staying here.”

“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 I know 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?”

I spin around to him. “Guess they’ll have to work that out, since I’m gonna be too busy having my way with my man to deal with their bullshit.” I take his hand, sliding it onto my ass. “You know that’s where your hand belongs,” I remind him, and he beams with pride.

I push up close, feeling him getting hard for me already.

“Stud, we need to enjoy the party.”

“I have a playlist set up. And we can make a quick trip to the bedroom. ”

“If I get you in your bedroom, we might not make it back.”

“That better be a promise,” I say, and he takes my mouth.

When he pulls away, he assures me, “It definitely is.”

He’s eyeing me, sporting that cocky smile.

The one that used to grate on my nerves.

The one that now gets me hard as hell.

It’s the smile I’ve become so familiar with, since he wears it every day, as if the thing that makes him cockiest is that he bagged me.

I cherish that smile now the way I cherish every moment with him. As we’ve both learned the hard way, there’s no telling what could happen tomorrow. All we can do is enjoy every moment we can with each other. Never take any of it for granted.

And that’s exactly what I intend to do, with my guy, Ty Lancaster.

THE END