Chapter 34 #2
Drew raises an eyebrow. "Because Haru has a living situation with people he cares about. You were a lonely disaster heading for a complete meltdown."
Caleb opens his mouth. Closes it. Considers.
"Fair point."
He turns, kisses James firmly, then goes back to his computer as if nothing had happened.
Haru stands, which immediately draws every eye in the room. Then he bows, a full, formal bow, and clears his throat.
"I am deeply honored to be invited to pledge Delta Psi Omega," he says solemnly. "I will work hard to uphold the values of this brotherhood and contribute meaningfully to—"
"Haru, buddy," I call out. "You can just say thank you."
Haru blinks. "Ah." A pause. "Thank you." Another small bow. "I am still learning the appropriate level of formality."
The room fills with warm laughter.
"We'll corrupt you soon enough!" someone shouts.
Haru looks mildly alarmed by this.
Drew scans the room. "Anything else before we wrap up?"
Doc turns in my lap and kisses me softly. Then he climbs off and gives me a look that says You've got this.
I stand up.
Every eye in the room turns to me.
Here goes nothing.
"So," I start, and my voice comes out steadier than I expected. "You guys are going to need to replace me as recruitment officer for next year."
Silence.
Then chaos.
"What the fuck?"
"Oh hell no!"
"Gavin, what are you talking about?"
"You can't just leave!"
Jeff jumps to his feet. "Dude, is this about your dad? Because we will literally fight him—"
"It's not about my dad," I say quickly.
"Then what—"
"Are you transferring?" Rex demands. "Because whatever school is poaching you, we can make a counteroffer. I don't know what, but we'll figure it out."
"It's not—"
"Is someone dying?" Jaren looks genuinely concerned. "Please tell me no one is dying."
"No one is dying!"
Ian stands up, hands on his hips. "Then what in the ever-loving fuck is going on?"
I wait for the noise to die down. It takes a while.
Finally, when the room is something approaching quiet, I take a breath.
"Doc got accepted into a pre-med program," I say. "A really prestigious one. He beat out thousands of applicants and was one of twenty-five students worldwide chosen for this program."
I look down at Doc, who's blushing furiously but smiling.
"It's in Switzerland," I continue. "And I'm going with him."
More silence.
Then—
"Holy shit," Tyler breathes, even though he already knew.
"Switzerland?" Jeff looks stunned. "Like... Europe, Switzerland?"
"That's the one."
"With the chocolate?" Rex asks.
"And the cheese," I confirm.
"And the mountains," Jaren adds helpfully.
"Those, too."
The stunned silence stretches for another beat. Then, slowly, it transforms into something else.
Cheering.
Guys are on their feet, clapping, shouting congratulations. Jeff tackles me in a hug. Rex ruffles my hair. Ian claps me on the back so hard I nearly fall over.
"Doc, you absolute genius!" someone yells.
"Gavin, you lucky bastard!"
"Switzerland! Holy shit!"
The questions come rapid-fire after that.
"When do you leave?"
"Do you speak Swiss?"
"That's not a language, idiot."
"How long is the program?"
"Can we visit?"
"Do they have good beer there?"
I answer as best I can, but honestly, half the details are still fuzzy. We'll figure it out. That's what matters.
Eventually, the crowd around us thins as brothers break off to grab drinks and celebrate. I pull Doc close, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
"You okay?" I murmur.
He nods against my chest, but something feels off.
I scan the room. The party is in full swing now, music playing, guys laughing, someone already challenging someone else to a drinking game.
But no geeks.
"Hey." I tilt Doc's chin up. "Where are the guys? I thought they were coming tonight."
Doc's smile falters. "They're not coming."
"What? Why?"
He shrugs, but it's too casual. Forced. "My news was... a lot for them to process. They said they needed some time."
Oh.
"Doc..."
"It's fine." He says it too quickly. "I get it. We've been living together for two years. They're losing their roommate and their friend, and it's happening fast. They just need time."
I pull him closer, wrapping my arms around him, tight.
"They'll come around," I say. "They love you."
"I know." His voice is small. "It just... sucks. Tonight, I mean."
"Yeah." I kiss his hair again. "It does."
We stand there for a moment, wrapped up in each other, while the party swirls around us.
Then Doc takes a breath and pulls back, something determined in his expression.
"Okay. Enough moping." He looks up at me with a small smile. "You going to miss this?"
I look around the room. Tyler and Ethan tangled together on the couch.
At Drew, trying to keep order while secretly smiling.
James and Caleb are bickering over something on Caleb's laptop.
At Haru, looking overwhelmed but happy. Jeff and Rex are arguing about whether Swiss chocolate is better than Belgian.
My brothers.
"Sure," I admit. "Yeah. I'm going to miss this."
Doc's face softens.
"But I'll see these guys again," I continue. "We'll visit. They'll visit. It's not goodbye forever." I look down at him. "And I have you. So I'm super happy."
He rises up on his toes to kiss me, and I melt into it.
Then I wince.
Doc pulls back, frowning. "What's wrong?"
"Um." I shift my weight, trying to find a comfortable position. "Is my ass going to hurt this much every time?"
Doc stares at me for a second.
Then he throws his head back and laughs.