Page 90 of The Frathole

“He was upset,” Marty insists.

“It’ll be fine,” Lance says, and Ty’s right behind him. “Agreed.”

“Why is everyone suddenly defending this guy?”

Marty approaches and rests his hand on my shoulder, which instantly helps set me at ease. “No one got hurt, Ry. It was a misunderstanding.”

I take a few breaths.

He’s right.

I know it’s because he was threatening Marty that I got worked up.

But even knowing I might have overreacted, it doesn’t make me like that asshole. He set fire to Sigma Alpha. I don’t care if it was an accident.

“Why don’t we all take a minute to breathe and then get back to work?” Troy says. “How’s that sound?”

Marty, Dax, and I take the opportunity, heading into the yard. Dax hits the porta potty, and Marty and I settle by the partly constructed home.

“You good?” Marty asks. He must sense how agitated I still am.

I size him up, like some part of me is checking to make sure he hasn’t been harmed, which is fucking ridiculous since Miles didn’t lay a finger on him.

“That dick was awfully close to getting a black eye if he tried to do something,” I snap.

“I really didn’t feel threatened. I’ve had worse exchanges with Atlas.” He says that playfully, but I’m too on edge to ease up about this.

“Well, if he’d fucked around, he would have found out.”

His lips curl into a smile. “It’s adorable when you get really protective like that.”

I glare at him, which turns that smile into a grin. The knots in my chest loosen.

“Whatever,” I grunt.

He glances around quickly before moving closer and whispering, “Come on. Admit it. You were getting in the middle because you didn’t want anything threatening your piece of ass.”

I can tell he’s joking, but maybe because of the mood Miles put me in, it bothers me. “You know you’re more than that to me, right?” I’m surprised by the words myself—like when I thought of him as my man earlier—and the way he flinches, he’s surprised too.

“Yeah, I was making a joke.”

Warmth rushes to my face. “I know. I shouldn’t have said that.” Why the fuck am I being so weird?

“It’s okay,” he says. “Nothing’s wrong.”

“Something’s very wrong.” I don’t mean it to come out as severely as it does, but it’s the truth. Marty looks concerned, so I lean closer. “I’m all worked up, and there’s only one thing that would set me at ease, and I’m pissed I can’t just take what I want in front of all the guys right now.”

“We’ll just have to make up for that later, won’t we?”

As much as that would normally put me in a great mood, knowing that I only have a couple more weeks with his perfect ass, his beautiful mouth…and fuck, the guy I enjoy spending so much time with, keeps me on edge.

“I guess Miles won’t be coming to the graduation barbecue,” Dax says as he approaches.

I step away from Marty so that I don’t give Dax the wrong idea about us—or maybe the right idea…? As I look at Marty, there’s aneagerness in my belly, but also frustration that I have to keep my distance from him still, assuring me of something I’m gonna have to admit sooner or later.

I’m definitely catching feels for this guy…

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