Page 93 of Trick or Treat Nurse at My Feet
Cher's face flushes with anger. "This is absurd. Tyler, tellthem?—"
"I've already told you.” The interruption stops her cold for a second. "I'm not interested, Cher. I'm with Ethan now."
"This isn't over," she hisses, but her confident facade is cracking.
"Actually, it is," Drew says pleasantly. "We have a strict policy about consent in this house. We don’t do the ‘college guy gets away with it because he’s an athlete’ story. You touch someone without consent, you're out. Anyone who can't follow the rules isn't welcome back."
"You're banning me?" Cher looks stunned. "Over some phase Tyler's going through?"
"Over your inability to take no for an answer," Drew corrects. "And if you refer to Tyler's relationship as a 'phase' one more time, you'll be permanently uninvited from all Delta Psi Omega events."
A few of the Theta Pi Nu sisters exchange glances, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
"Come on, Cher," Mia says, taking her arm. "Let's get some air."
"Don't touch me," Cher snaps, yanking her arm away. "You're all being ridiculous. Tyler and I belong together, and everyone knows it." She looks at me, her expression hardening. "Your little nursing student won't last, Tyler. Your mother called me again yesterday, you know. She's planning Christmas dinner. Guess who's invited?"
"Time to go," Mia says firmly, nodding to two other sisters who move to flank Cher. "We're sorry about this," she adds, looking at Drew. "It won't happen again."
As they usher a protesting Cher toward the door, Mia hangs back. "I really am sorry," she says, looking between Drew and me. "I didn't realize... I mean, I should have seen what she was doing."
"It's okay," Drew says. "Just make sure she gets the message."
Mia nods. "We will." She hesitates, then turns to me. "For what it's worth, Tyler, I think it's cool you found someone who makes you happy, whoever they are." She smiles, then hurries to catch up with her sisters.
As the front door closes behind them, the party gradually resumes its rhythm, though the sideways glances and not-so-subtle pointing make it clear I'm the night's main topic of conversation.
"You okay?" Drew asks, clasping my shoulder.
"Yeah, thanks for stepping in." The words come with a grateful nod.
"That's what brothers do." He looks around at the others who had gathered close, Gavin, James, Cam, Marcos, Ian, all watching with concern. "We've got your back. Always."
"No matter who you date," Gavin adds.
"Though we're rather fond of Ethan," James says with a slight smile. "Even if his best friend does look at us like we might have communicable diseases."
The absurdity triggers a laugh that seems to reset the air pressure in the room. "Sylas doesn't think that."
"He definitely did at first," Cameron points out. "But he's coming around."
"If Ethan gives me the chance, I think Sylas will come around."
"He will," Drew says confidently. "And if he doesn't, we'll figure out a plan B."
"I'm still advocating for kidnapping," Gavin says solemnly. "It worked well last time."
While my brothers talk about wild plans to help me get Ethan to trust me again, something calms down inside me.I'm not walking away, whatever's bothering him, whatever he's not telling me or is scared of. We'll figure out how to get through this weird in-between time and find our way back to each other.
I just hope he's willing to meet me halfway.
Chapter 24
Say Cheese and Goodbye
ETHAN
"Who is this?" Sylas’s eyebrows raise dramatically at whatever is said on the call.
