Page 51 of The Frathole

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him look like this before. Ryan’s range goes from laughing, give-no-shits to teasing to all-outready to kick someone’s ass, which I’ve only seen a few times at parties when guys have made the dumbass decision to try and step up to him.

“Did something happen at your parents’?” I press since that’s the only thing that’s changed since the last time we chatted.

He nods. “I didn’t stay long. They dumped news on me, and I had to get out, get my head on straight. Well, maybe not straight.” I can tell he’s trying to be his usual playful self, but it falls flat. His lips twist into a frown. “Wasn’t what I was expecting today.”

“I can tell you’re trying to be evasive, and I know we’re not the best of friends or anything, but if you did want to talk about anything, believe it or not, I can be a good listener.”

He presses his tongue against the inside of his cheek, studying my expression.

“I’m good for things other than my mouth,” I add to lighten the mood.

He cracks a smile.

Success.

“I honestly don’t know that that’s true,” he jibes.

“Frathole.”

Even with a smile playing across his lips, I can still see the pain lingering in his blue eyes.

“So as soon as I got home, my parents sat me down and told me they were getting a…”

He hesitates, but I already know even before the worddivorceslips past his lips.

Fuck. That explains his sullen mood.

“Now who’s the frathole for coming in after that and giving me hell?” Despite his attempt at another joke, his eyes water. “I probably shouldn’t have even told you that much. It’s been stuck in my brain since they told me. I went to the park for a while after the talk, and my phone died because I forgot to charge it last night,which is why I never responded to you.”

“Oh…”

“It’s been a day, and I’m just in a funk.”

He stares off. I imagine it’s the look I get when there’s too much going on and I don’t even know where to focus my thoughts.

“I’m very sorry,” I say.

“For being a dick?”

“No. Well, yes, that too, but that’s a shitty thing to have found out.”

“That’s part of it, but also, I really didn’t see it coming. And I know I’m oblivious as fuck, and especially with how busy I was during the season, trying to keep on top of frat responsibilities and then the fire stuff… They told me it’s been going on for a year, and I thought we had this perfect family. Like the kinds that TV shows are about. But suddenly, in an instant, it’s like I haven’t even known what my parents have been dealing with. So I guess you’re right. I am the frathole.”

I notice the water in his eyes stirring like he’s about to drop a tear, and he turns away. I rest my hand against his arm. “Hey, hey. It sounds like something they were keeping from you. It wasn’t your job to read their minds.”

“I think it’s over…like really over,” he blurts out. “There’s a part of me that feels like if I’d caught it sooner, maybe… I know it’s stupid, but like I could have done something. LikeParent Trapshit.”

“The movie? You think you could’ve set up some situation to make them fall in love again?”

He cringes. “It’s worse when you say it out loud.”

“I mean, not necessarily. You happen to have a British Ryan around somewhere?”

“Well, his name wouldn’t be Ryan, and I wouldn’t know abouthim yet.” He sneaks me a playful look, more like the Ryan I’m used to.

“That really sucks, though. I’m sorry. And sorry for assuming your mood was about all this stuff.”

“What stuff is that?” he says, his brows popping up as he feigns ignorance.