Page 4 of Frat Around and Find Out

Ash is smiling and waving to guys we know—not trying to act cool, just genuinely giving zero fucks—so I follow his lead. I say hi to some frats and sorority sisters, scanning the crowd until I notice a pair of eyes on me near a thick oak.

Ty Lancaster, you fuck.

Standing with his crew, his dark-brown bangs curled over his forehead, he folds his arms, grinning that charming-ass smile that always seems to win the girls over.

Since Algebra II freshman year, we’ve been competitors, each of us trying to outdo the other’s grades to the point where acing a test without nailing the extra credit question wasn’t an option. I became frat president sophomore year, and then he became president of Sigma Alpha his junior year. The moment we were both competing on frat row, that took everything to a whole other level.

I take measured breaths, reminding myself to keep my cool. No need to show weakness in front of the other guys. I hold my head high and head across the grass, my guys right behind me, clearly for support. As I get close, I notice he’s sporting a nice bronze tan, his cheeks slightly sun-kissed. The guy can even make sun damage look hot.

When I settle in front of him, he says, “Hot G-strings, boys,” and winks.

Getting under my skin is like his superpower. That heat in my chest radiates—I can feel it emanating off my flesh.

“Guess it helped knowing Alpha Theta Mu wouldn’t hesitate to step up to the challenge,” he says with pride.

He knows because Sigma Alpha would have done the same.

He sizes me up. “You been working out, Lance?”

“He has, actually,” Marty replies on my behalf.

“Yeah,” I add, “so if your goal was to get all the Alpha Theta Mu guys laid, I should say congratulations.”

His smile shifts into a subtle sneer.

“We know that’s not exactly your talent, don’t we?” he claps back, which earns a few snickers from his guys.

And damn, what an ego bruise. Ty is a sex god. Can get any girl he wants. Hell, he could get guys too if he was into that. And I’m just…well, getting laid is not my strength. I’m more the fumbling guy who can’t keep a girl’s interest for long. But also, I’m not into one-night stands, something Ty enjoys on the reg.

We stare each other down before he says, “Come on. Admit it, it’s kind of funny. I got you good.”

“Obviously. We’re here, aren’t we? But seems like that’s what you had to do to try and intimidate us so that you can win this challenge.”

“If it works, maybe you guys weren’t gonna win anyway.”

“We’ll see, won’t we?”

“We don’t have to see. Sigma Alpha slayed last year.”

“By a hair,” I remind him, though I hate that while we were neck and neck throughout the school year, they clinched it in the final challenge and were declared victors. “Plus, youhad a lot of your best guys graduate. Bet it’s making you a little nervous.”

I study his fellow Sigma Alphas, noticing them showing the nerves he’s not willing to right now. I move closer, getting in his face. He doesn’t flinch, both of us standing our ground.

“I’m not afraid of being a little nervous,” he says. “That’s what makes it worth it. Gives me an edge so I can really appreciate how it feels to kick your ass.”

Something about Ty showing his competitive side brings out mine too. I’m so worked up right now, my adrenaline off the charts—so much so, I can barely tell the difference between my competitive spirit and being pissed at him for duping us.

We’re still staring each other down, refusing to break eye contact. Like so many things with us, even just looking at one another has become a staring contest neither of us is willing to lose.

Ty’s lips curl into a smirk before he leans closer and slightly to the side, whispering into my ear, “Getting awfully close. Careful. You remember what happened last time we were too close.”

My cheeks flush, and I glance around to make sure no one heard him. No one seems to have caught on, or maybe they don’t realize what he means because I doubt he would have shared what happened last spring, just like I haven’t told my buddies.

We share another look, a glint in his sparkling blue eyes, and I imagine he’s reflecting on our pervy secret.

I wish I could say more, but I can’t do that without revealing too much to the guys around us. I’m about to speak when the crowd erupts in hollers and shouts.

I turn to see some Alpha Theta Mus getting out of their cars, wearing their own G-strings and crop tops.

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