Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95019 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“That really doesn’t seem like a big deal,” Keegan chimes in. “Angie would never fuck around with Marty anyway.”
Ty turns a stern glare on him.
“Okay, just saying. Now I’ll shut up.”
“What I’m trying to say,” Ty goes on, “is that there are other options than living at a frat.”
I can’t believe I’m hearing this. “Other options? Dude, I want to be with my friends. I want to be with you two losers.”
Ty smirks, but then it twists into a cringe. “I was gonna wait and talk to you about this later,” he says, like one of my coaches might after a bad game, which just makes me concerned. “Keegan and I’ve been talking, and we don’t think it would be terrible if some of you guys pitched in together for a room at an apartment complex. No one owes the frat money as long as it’s unlivable, and there’s that complex Troy and Atlas were at. And Brenner and Taylor.”
Brenner and Taylor are Peach State alums, graduated last year, but I’m not sure why where they live should have anything to do with me.
“But you’re gonna stay here,” I say, “since you have a boyfriend. And Dax is my buddy too, and he loves the Greek life. Keeg?”
Keegan winces. “I’m enjoying saving up the money while we’re here.”
“But Jaxon might go with you,” Ty says. “And Jonah…maybe Kline. When I talked to Lance about it, he said we might be able to find some others from Alpha Theta Mu.”
I grit my teeth. “I don’t love you having all these secret meetings about me with the enemy.”
Ty sits down beside me, hooking his arm around me. “There’s no enemy here. Just all of us trying to navigate a tough situation. And if that means you need to get a place…”
I do a double take at my best bud, studying his expression.
I was already upset, but now I’m starting to get pissed. “You guys don’t think I can do it?”
“What? No, I didn’t say that.” But I know Ty, and this is the least sincere expression he could make.
“You wouldn’t be bringing up this suggestion if you thought I could behave myself for a few more weeks. You feel that way, Keeg?”
Keegan avoids eye contact. “Honestly…?” he drags out.
“What the fuck else would I want you to be? I can’t believe what I’m hearing right now. Traitors, both of you.”
“Dude…”
“You don’t believe in me.”
I’m fuming. If there was ever a time I needed to know my friends had my back, it’s when I’m considering potentially upending my life, and now there’s even more uncertainty about just being around the people I love.
Although, it’s not like they know. I really haven’t fully accepted it myself yet.
“That’s not what either of us said,” Ty insists.
“It just seems…unlikely that you’ll be able to keep it together,” Keegan pushes.
“You know yourself better than anyone,” Ty follows. “Being a little wild is your thing. And we love you for that.”
“I have some fucking self-restraint. If I need to get it together for a month, I can do that.”
Ty’s lips twist up. “Okay, then. A bet.”
“Huh?”
“We haven’t done one of those in a while, and I know my buddy is competitive as hell, so maybe we bet that you keep it together until the end of your probationary period, and we owe you a hundred dollars. And if you can’t…”
I know Ty well enough to read that clever expression. “I know what you’re doing here,” I say.
“And what is that?” Ty asks, smirking.
“I might be slow sometimes, but you’re trying to take advantage of my competitive side to see if you can inspire me to behave by turning it into a competition.”
“Told you he’d figure it out,” Keeg says.
And it’s clear this has been their setup all along.
I must admit, it means a lot that they care enough to have weaponized this part of my personality to help me out. I can’t fault them for that. Suddenly all the heated anger that built up over what felt like betrayal cools off, quickly replaced with adrenaline.
“Each?” I ask, calling them out on it.
Ty flinches. “What?”
“One hundred each?”
“Shut the fuck up!” Keegan says. “I’m not rich.”
“You said you were saving all this money.”
“Not to give to you. Fifty.”
“Seventy-five. Come on. I’m an amazing friend. You should believe in me enough to put in a hundred.”
Keegan’s expression twists up. “But if I’m putting in an easy hundred, doesn’t that mean I believe you won’t be able to do it?”
“Nah, because you didn’t volunteer it right away, so I know you think I can do it,” I tease. “You’re a good bud. Now give me your damn money. You think we can get Jaxon and Dax into this? I mean, Dax had five hundred for that bachelor auction last semester. I could walk away with a pretty penny.”