Page 45 of Frat Around and Find Out

Ty: Hey, what’s up?

I hesitate, struggling with what to tell him.Been thinking about my dead brother all day because of our chat last nightseems like a conversation killer, so I go for the next best thing.

ME: Not much.

ME: You ready to see me earn way more money than you for charity?

TY:Youmake more thanme? Not gonna happen.

ME: Pretty sure it will.

TY: Depends. You gonna be wearing that G-string? In which case, I’d say you’re not playing fair.

I snicker. The fact that we’re joking around like we normally would sets me at ease, assures me I didn’t do anything to make him uneasy during our conversation.

TY: Speaking of which, not seeing any prank from Alpha Theta Mu. You guys give up?

ME: Oh, you’ll be getting it.

TY: Counting on it. Looking forward to being impressed.

ME: Have I let you down before?

TY: You definitely have not.

There’s a rush because I know he’s talking about the stuff we’ve been doing.

ME: Seriously, though. Before we just go back to normal, I wanted to let you know, if you did need to talk to me again about anything…and I do mean anything, I’m open to that.

ME: And also, if you don’t want to talk, I get that too.

The ellipsis appears, then disappears.

Oh, the cruel world of texting!

TY: I can think of some things I’d want to get together with you to do, but it only involves the fun stuff.

I chuckle.

ME: Could use that after the day I’ve had.

TY: You should swing by.

ME: Must get ready for the auction. We don’t have much time.

TY: Do we need much time? ;)

I don’t hesitate before replying:Are you at Sigma Alpha now?

*

I’m surprised whenI find myself at Sigma Alpha.

But despite everything going on in my head—or maybe because of it—I want to see him again. I want to know he’s truly okay after our chat.

Ty greets me at the door in a tank top and athletic shorts. His hair’s a little tousled, and is it just me, or does he look even sexier than he did last night?

“Hey, man,” he says. “Thank you for coming over.”

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