Page 69 of Trick or Treat Nurse at My Feet
Tyler's eyes widen slightly. "You'd do that? Even though you prefer bottoming?"
"Of course," A soft kiss punctuates the words. "It's about exploring together, right?"
A slow smile spreads across his face. "Right." He pulls me down for another kiss, deeper this time. "Not right now, though," he murmurs against my lips. "I have plans for you first."
His "plans" involve pushing me back onto the mattress and demonstrating just how attentive a student he's been, and I lose myself in the sensation of his mouth and hands.
"I hope you're hungry,"Tyler says as we head downstairs to the fraternity's common area early that evening. "Saturday night is always a takeout extravaganza."
"Extravaganza?" I repeat, amused by his choice of words.
"You'll see," he promises, lacing his fingers through mine.
As we enter the living room, I understand what he means. The large coffee table is covered with open containers, pizza boxes, Chinese food cartons, foil-wrapped burritos, samosas, fried chicken, and what looks like four plattersof nachos. At least a dozen frat brothers are sprawled across couches and on the floor, passing containers around and filling plates with a chaotic mix of cuisines.
"There they are," calls Ian from his perch on the arm of a sofa. "We didn't know if you guys would come up for air today."
Heat creeps up my neck again, but Tyler just laughs. "We heard there was food." He tugs me toward an open spot on one of the couches.
"It's a miracle," Gavin agrees solemnly. "The promise of food is apparently the only thing that can drag our VP away from his bed and his boyfriend."
Boyfriend. The word sends a little thrill through me, even though we haven't officially had that conversation yet.
"Here," Marcos passes us empty plates. "Drew ordered like four different things from that Thai place you like," he tells Tyler.
"Because he would sulk for days if we didn't," Drew explains, not looking up from where he's carefully constructing a precarious tower of pizza and nachos on his plate.
Watching in fascination as Tyler piles his plate with what seems like a sample of everything: pad thai next to pizza next to what might be a tamale. When he notices my expression, he grins. "What?"
"Nothing," I snag a spring roll from the spread. "Just amazed at how much food frat guys can eat."
"Enjoy it while it lasts," Cameron advises, patting his own flat stomach. "My dad says it all catches up to you at thirty."
"Sooner than that," The warning slips out before I can stop it. "Your arteries are probablyalready filing complaints."
The guys laugh, and Gavin raises his soda in a mock toast. "To Ethan, for bringing a much-needed health conscience to Delta Psi Omega."
"Oh god," Tyler groans. "Don't encourage him. He already gives me this disapproving look when I get extra cheese on my pizza."
"I'm gonna be a nurse," I defend myself, accepting a slice of pizza from Elijah. "Cholesterol is a real thing, and none of you will be twenty-three forever."
"Buzzkill," Ian teases, but he's smiling.
The conversation flows easily around food, classes, upcoming frat events, and campus gossip. I'm shocked at how easy it feels being here and how quickly these guys have welcomed me into their group. I don't see any of that fake tough-guy act I thought I'd find in a frat, or any of those little homophobic jabs I've dealt with in other places where it's just guys.
But a small voice in my head wonders how long this can last. These guys have known Tyler for years, and I've only been around for a few weeks. What happens when the novelty wears off? When I'm no longer the shiny new person in Tyler's life? Ryan had been fascinated with me at first, too, before I became something to hide away. I push the thought down, focusing instead on how Tyler's hand rests casually on my knee, the easy way he includes me in stories and inside jokes. This is different. Tyler is different.
"So, Ethan," Drew says during a lull in the conversation. "Tyler mentioned you might be helping out with the sexual health workshop next month?"
Nodding slowly, I’m surprised but happy that Tyler mentioned this to the fraternity president. "Yeah, if you want. My program requires community outreach hours, andI may have already mentioned you guys to my supervisor. She thought a fraternity would be a good place to start."
"Definitely," Drew nods. "I've been trying to get someone to do something like this for a while, but the health center's workshops are always during our chapter meetings."
"Plus, we'd rather hear it from someone who isn't sixty and calls it 'making whoopee,'" Ian adds, making air quotes.
"That term' will definitely not be in my vocabulary," comes my reply between snorts of laughter.
"What will you cover?" Marcos asks, looking genuinely interested.
