Page 115 of Trick or Treat Nurse at My Feet
"Hey," Sylas says gently, "if the photos were fake, that's not your fault. You were set up, too."
"But I should have trusted him," I insist, wiping my eyes. "After everything we shared, I should have at least given him the chance to explain."
Sylas doesn't argue, which tells me he agrees more than he wants to admit. "So what are you going to do now?"
I take a deep breath, the answer crystallizing in my mind. "I'm going to fix this. I'm going to find Tyler and apologize, publicly, the same way I hurt him. And then, if he'll let me, I'm going to make it up to him for as long as it takes."
"That's going to take some serious grovelling," Sylas points out, though there's a hint of approval in his voice.
"I know," I admit. "Whatever it takes."
Reaching for my phone, I'm intent on calling Tyler right now, but Sylas puts his hand over mine. "Before you do that,there's something you should know. I checked social media while you were sleeping."
My stomach sinks. "And?"
"The fraternity is hosting its final charity car wash tomorrow. For the veterinary clinic." Sylas's lips quirk into a small smile. "Tyler will be there."
"A car wash?" The significance isn't clicking through the brain fog.
"A public event," Sylas clarifies. "Where you could, hypothetically, make a very public apology. In front of the same Greek community that witnessed your breakup."
I get it now, and I feel a tiny bit hopeful. "That would be... perfect."
"It would be dramatic," Sylas corrects with a grin. "And effective."
The idea of making a public declaration surrounded by Tyler's fraternity brothers and half the campus makes me pause. It's terrifying, but it's perfect.
"I'll need to prepare something," I say, already running through possibilities in my mind. "Something meaningful."
"Something big," Sylas agrees. "Go big or go home, right?"
For the first time in days, I feel like smiling. "It must be big. Tyler deserves nothing less."
We spend the evening tossing ideas around, talking about different ways to approach Tyler, and figuring out backup plans. What if Tyler won't talk to me? What if his frat brothers stop me from getting near him? What if he's changed his mind about me?
Each possibility is more painful to think about than the last, but I push through the fear. I have to try. I owe Tyler that much.
By the time we finally crash,worn out but ready, we've got it all figured out. Tomorrow, I'll lay everything out for everyone to see. And maybe, if I'm really lucky, Tyler will find a way to forgive me.
As I curl up in bed, I can't stop thinking about Tyler's smile, not the perfect one he shows everybody else, but that slightly crooked, open one he kept just for me. The one I want, more than anything in the world, to see again.
Chapter 28
You Had Me at Wet T-Shirt
TYLER
The sun beats down on the fraternity house parking lot, unseasonably warm for November, perfect weather for the final charity car wash of the semester. I adjust the folding table where Gavin and I are managing the cash box, trying to keep my mind on what I'm doing instead of the empty feeling that hasn't left me since Ethan left.
"Decent turnout," Gavin observes, gesturing to the line of cars already stretching down the block. "Might even beat our fundraising goal."
"That's good," But I don't really feel excited about it. The last few days have been a chaotic mix of collecting evidence, making plans, and searching everywhere for Ethan, who has disappeared from campus. Even though it feels good to have proof that the photos are fake, it doesn't matter if I can't tell the one person who needs to hear it.
Drew approaches, clipboard in hand. "Got the rotation schedule figured out. You're on washing duty after your shift at the table."
My head dips in acknowledgment. I don't particularlycare what job I'm assigned. It's all just motion and noise to fill the hours until... what? Until Ethan decides to answer my calls? Until the semester ends, and I never see him again?
"Hey," Drew says, his voice softening as he reads my expression. "We're still working on finding him. James is watching all his social media for activity."
