Page 85 of Trick or Treat Nurse at My Feet
"I hate you," I mutter, giving up on struggling.
"No, you don't," Gavin replies, adjusting his grip. "I'm lovable as hell. Ask anyone. Well, except Coach Wilson, when I miss a weight session."
Embarrassment heats my face as I snort out a laugh. "You're insane."
"Probably," he agrees easily. "But I'm not the one avoiding a great guy because I'm scared."
That shuts me up. We continue across campus, me dangling over Gavin's shoulder like a conquest, until we reach the DPO house. Gavin doesn't put me down, not even to open the front door. He simply shoulders it open and marches into the living room.
Several frat brothers look up in surprise. Drew raises an eyebrow from the couch. "Bringing home strays, Gavin?"
"Found something that belongs to Tyler," Gavin replies, scanning the room. "Where is he?"
"Study room," Drew says, giving me a sympathetic look. "Everything okay, Ethan?"
Before I can answer, Gavin is already moving again, carrying me down the hallway to the small room the fraternity uses as a study space. He kicks the door open without ceremony.
Tyler is sitting at the desk, textbooks spread out in front of him, headphones on. He looks up, startled, and his eyes widen comically at the sight before him.
Gavin unceremoniously deposits me on my feet in front of the desk. I stumble slightly, my head spinning from being upside down for so long.
"He's yours now. Fix it," Gavin announces, then turns and walks out, closing the door behind him.
Tyler pulls off his headphones, staring at me in bewilderment. "What just happened?"
Smoothing down my rumpled shirt, my face burning with embarrassment. "Your friend Gavin is a caveman. He literally carried me across campus against my will."
"I can see that," Tyler says, standing slowly. "But why?"
The simple question hangs in the air between us. Nowthat I'm here, face to face with him, all the excuses I've been making seem flimsy and transparent. Tyler looks tired, his hair all messed up like he's been running his hands through it, and dark circles under his eyes. Has he been sleeping as poorly as I have?
"I ran into Cher," When I can squeak it out my voice is smaller than I'd like. "She had some interesting things to say about us. About you."
Tyler's expression darkens. "What did she say to you?"
"That I'm your experimental phase. That you'll eventually go back to dating women. That your mom called her last week." The words come out in a rush. "That I don't fit into your real life."
Tyler's jaw tightens. "She had no right to say any of that."
"But was she wrong?" The question that's been haunting me finally escapes. "Is that what this is, Tyler? An experiment?"
He stares at me, hurt flashing across his face. "Is that what you think? After everything?"
"I don't know what to think." The pressure behind my eyes builds again. "You were straight your whole life until a few months ago. Your mom clearly wants you with Cher or someone like her. And I just..." I take a shaky breath. "I can't be someone's college experiment again. I can't."
Tyler steps around the desk, closing the distance between us. "Ethan, look at me."
It takes effort to force myself to meet his eyes.
"This isn't an experiment for me," he says firmly. "Yes, coming out as bisexual was a surprise for my mom. But I've known for a long time that I find men attractive too. My feelings for you are real. More real than anything I felt with Cher or anyone else."
"Your mom?—"
"My mom will come around, or she won't. That's her journey, not mine." He reaches for my hand but doesn't quite touch me, waiting for permission. "I'm sorry about what happened at dinner. And I'm even more sorry that Cher ambushed you. But please don't push me away because you're afraid of what might happen."
"I'm not just afraid. I'm terrified. Because this matters to me. You matter to me more than I expected. And if this ends badly..." The words come out quietly, barely above a whisper.
"Who says it has to end at all?"
