21. Theo
21
THEO
Grant, Ian, and I sat out on Bennett’s balcony in the evening, enjoying the night air and the peace and quiet. As fraternity members, we were allowed to use this balcony whenever we wanted, but we usually didn’t if Bennett wasn’t here.
But he wasn’t here tonight. There was some bigwig who knew his father passing through town, and they’d met at a restaurant.
It was nice, the three of us. But I kind of wanted it to be the four of us. But the fourth person I wanted to join us was definitely not Bennett. “Hailey couldn’t come out?”
Ian shook his head. “She said she had something to do.” He shook his head. “She seemed down about something.”
“Wait, she didn’t believe all that crap about her not being allowed out here, did she?”
“That’s the rule,” Grant said. He had one of his beers from Luxembourg. Someday, I needed to order some for myself so that I could find out what they tasted like. Grant was so possessive about them.
“We don’t have to follow the rules all the time,” Ian said. “Especially ones like that. Would it really be so bad if she were out here with us?”
“I think it would be nice.”
Grant snorted. “You two are like little boys with crushes.”
I shrugged, unbothered by his taunt. “She’s a nice girl.”
“Agreed,” Ian said. We clinked our bottles together.
“If she’s such a nice girl, how come you haven’t asked her out? Either of you.”
“Who says we haven’t?” Ian asked.
Grant smirked. “Well, I haven’t seen either of you showing up with flowers and chocolates and taking her out for a night in exciting downtown Haverford.”
“That’s because neither of us are dating in the 1990s.”
“Nothing really changes between men and women, son.”
When Grant acted like that, he reminded me of Bennett. But it didn’t happen often.
“Dating can change,” I said.
Ian nodded. “And, uh, living in the same house can afford certain opportunities.”
Grant raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”
“Like you can get to know each other without even leaving the house.”
“And it’s a big house,” I added.
“So? Unless you’re fucking her, what’s there to do here?” That was my friend. Always classy.
“People talk, nowadays. It’s not all anonymous sex in the corner of a crowded frat party,” Ian said.
“Ah,” Grant said, as if reminiscing. “I have some very fond memories of those corners.”
I noticed he didn’t say he had fond memories of the women he’d been with.
Ian was still trying to make his point. “If you see each other every day, you can become friends first. And once your friends, that can open up other possibilities. Like they can cheer you up when you’re feeling down.”
“So can a Hallmark card,” Grant said, but I was staring at Ian.
“She cheered you up?”
“Yeah. She’s been very supportive ever since my advisor had the stroke.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” I said. “Has she tried to cheer you up back here?”
“Tried and succeeded,” Ian said.
“Why the fuck are you two arguing over semantics?” Grant asked, but my attention was on Ian.
“Did she give you room service?” I asked him directly.
Awareness showed in his eyes. “Yeah, she did. Did she do that for you, too?”
“Yes.”
We stared at each other for a while longer, and I tried to figure out how I felt about this. Hailey had been very good to Ian. She’d seen him through a tough time. But I couldn’t help wondering what, uh, had been on the menu when she’d provided him with room service.”
“Why the fuck would you need room service?” Grant asked. “You two don’t even have tables in your rooms.”
For some reason, that made me laugh. Hailey had done just fine with a rolling chair—we hadn’t needed a table. Ian looked half amused, half concerned. I wondered if he was worried about what Hailey had done with me—or he was worried about whether I was mad about what she’d done with him.
“You two are insane. Just eat in the fucking dining room,” Grant said grumpily.
“But then people might see,” Ian said, and I cracked up. He did too.
And… ah, shit. Grant was many things, but he was no fool. He cocked his head to the side, staring Ian down. “Care to share the joke?”
“Not really.”
Grant looked at me. “Is there something I should know about?”
“It's not any of your business,” I said.
“I’m the vice president. Everything that happens in this house is my business.”
“It’s nothing. Just drop it, please.”
Sometimes, when I spoke sincerely Grant listened. This wasn’t one of those times.
“Maybe I’ll just go ask Hailey herself what this room service business is.”
“No!” Ian and I said at the same time.
“Then start talking.”
I exchanged a glance with Ian. He looked as conflicted as I did. But what choice did we have?”
“Well, you see—“ Ian began, but I interrupted him.
“Wait. First, Grant, I need your word that you won’t tell anyone about this—and you won’t tease her about it.”
“Sure.”
“No, I’m serious. I need your oath as a Rho Kappa Alpha.”
Grant’s face was puzzled. He knew as well as I that an oath like that was an ironclad promise between fraternity brothers.
“You have my oath,” Grant said simply.
Ian and I exchanged a look and then I nodded for him to go ahead.
He looked concerned, but Grant had taken the oath. “Well, it happened when I was so down about my advisor…”
Ian explained what Hailey had done—and what she’d worn—but didn’t provide any details about what happened after she entered his room.
Grant looked incredulous. “Seriously? She wore that little costume?”
“Yes,” Ian said.
“For both of you?”
“Yes,” I said.
“I thought she hated that thing.” Grant shook his head wonderingly. “Bennett would lose his shit if he knew that.” He caught himself. “Which he’s not going to. I understand now why you made me swear an oath.”
Good.
“I can’t believe she did that for both of you. I had no idea she got around so much.”
“It’s not like that.” Ian’s voice was tense. “She’s a sweet girl.”
“A sweet girl who’s two-timing you.”
“No,” I said firmly. “She’s not. She’s not dating either of us, and she’s free to do what she wants. Right?” I looked over at Ian.
“Right.”
We both looked at Grant. “Can we just move on?”
“Sure.” It was just one word, but his voice was contemplative.
“Is anything going on with you guys?” I asked, desperate for a subject change.
Grant shrugged, still lost in thought, but Ian sat up straighter.
“I forgot to tell you guys that I got that housing stipend. The one that pays for housing next year.”
My stomach sank as I watched my friend’s excitement.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Grant said. “But congratulations.”
“Yeah, congratulations,” I echoed. Did Hailey know? Was she upset? I’d never considered this possibility when I told her about it.
We talked for a bit more, but things were a little tense. Then Ian said he needed to hit the books—something we all knew to be true, but still—things were a bit tense.
“I should get going, too. You coming, Grant?”
He shook his head. “I’ll stay out a little longer. It’s a nice night.”
We said goodbye and I followed Grant through the suite and out into the hallway. “Wait a minute,” I told him.
“You should know that she told me,” he said. “She told me that she had something going with you but that you were just friends. I didn’t know it was the room service thing, but she was upfront with me, she wasn’t trying to get away with anything.”
I appreciated that, but it also hurt me that Hailey thought we were just friends. Of course, ever since I found out that my contest win was fake, I hadn’t been myself. “I understand. But we have to talk about Hailey.”
“That’s what we’re doing.” Ian sounded confused.
I let out a sigh. “Not about that. About that housing stipend you got.”
“What about it?”
I sighed again. “Let’s walk and talk.”