Page 15 of The Amazing Alpha Tau Fratmas Experience
“You know what’s most annoying?”
“About Marty? Oh, this will be a long list.”
“I’m willing to admit that he’s been a lot better since he started taking his meds. No, the annoying thing about Marty O’Brien is that all his half-assed plans work out.How?How does he do that?”
“Sheer dumb luck, as best as I can figure,” Trey said with a laugh.
That sounded about right.
The server returned with our breakfasts, and we ate. It tasted better than I would ever admit, but the corner of Trey’s mouth twitched up in an almost-smirk when I couldn’t hold back the small pleasurable sound that escaped me when I tried the first bite of my eggs.
“Good, right?” Trey asked.
“Adequate,” I shot back, and this time he did smirk.
Trey ate slowly, as though he was actually enjoying the ambience of Cafe Meow. By the time he finally finished, I was tapping my foot under the table.
“That was great, thanks,” he said when the server came to collect our dishes. “Actually, can I grab another coffee?”
“No problem,” she said with a cheery smile.
“Trey,” I said in an undertone. “They’re busy. There are people waiting for tables.”
“We won’t be much longer,” he said, but it was another twenty minutes before he was finally ready to go. I tipped extra to make up for it.
The sharp, cold air stung my face and brought tears to my eyes as we hurried across the parking lot to our cars. It had started to snow, just a few flakes for now but the clouds were low and thick.
Trey peeled out of the parking lot before me, so I followed him all the way back to campus and Fraternity Row. He was driving slower than a wet week, but eventually we pulled up in front of Alpha Tau. There were still a lot of cars there. There might have been more than before I’d left for brunch.
I climbed out of my car and slammed the door. “What the hell is going on, Trey? Everyone is meant to be out. We have their keys!”
He shrugged and headed for the house. “Let’s get inside. It’s freezing out here.”
I sighed, my breath turning to mist. Okay, yeah, it was cold as balls. I trudged across the lawn behind Trey, and we climbed the steps to the front porch. Trey reached out and tangled his fingers in mine just for a second and said, “Merry Christmas, baby.”
“That’s a nice sentiment, but maybe you could have waited until we got in out of the cold,” I said and pushed open the door.
I was greeted by the sound of Mariah warbling, enough flashing colored lights to warrant a health warning, and two giant inflatable gingerbread men that were crammed into the foyer.
“Bro!” Marty called, squeezing between the gingerbread men and shoving a beer can in my direction. “Happy Fratmas!”
Oh hell no.
I stepped back out onto the porch, pulling the door shut behind me.
CHAPTER FOUR
TREY
“What the hell is going on in there?” Scout demanded, his eyes wide and his face frozen into a horrified mask.
“How would I know?” I asked. “I was at brunch with you!”
Scout just stared at me. He was definitely going to murder me when he found out I knew exactly what Marty had been up to while we were at Cafe Meow.
“It’s actually really cold out here,” I said.
Stare.
