Chapter 23 How To Get Banned From A Frat Party
How To Get Banned From A Frat Party
TYLER
Leaning back, I take in what Sylas just said. Ethan's got something eating at him that he doesn't want to dump on me. It's more than just his family not approving or him worrying about my sexuality.
"What do you think it could be?" The question hangs in the air as I think aloud.
"Financial problems?" James suggests.
"Health issues?" Marcos offers.
"Trouble with a professor?"
"Secret identity as a superhero?"
"Whatever it is," Drew says, cutting through the chatter, "Sylas is right. You need to get Ethan to talk to you about it."
"And how do I do that when he keeps avoiding me?"
Gavin grins. "I could always kidnap him again."
Frustrated as I am, I laugh. "Let's save that as plan B."
We spend the next hour brainstorming less drastic approaches, gradually shifting from serious conversation to frat banter. More beers are opened, someone orders pizza, and I feel the knot in my chest loosen slightly for the first time in days.
These guys, as clueless as they might be about gay relationships, have my back. It's a reminder that whatever happens with Ethan, I'm not alone.
Saturday night arrives, and the Delta Psi Omega house buzzes with its usual weekend energy. Music pumps through the speakers, red cups litter every surface, and the living room has become an impromptu dance floor for those already drunk.
I'm nursing a beer in the kitchen, half-listening to Cam's story about his disastrous chemistry lab, when I notice a new group entering through the front door. The women of Theta Pi Nu, our neighbours from across the street, have arrived for their usual weekend appearance.
And leading the pack, like she owns the place, is Cher.
"Heads up," Cam mutters, noticing my sudden tension. "Ex at six o'clock."
"Great," a tired breath whooshes out of me as I turn away. "I'm not in the mood for her games tonight."
"Want me to run interference?"
"No, it's fine. I can handle her." Famous last words.
It's while I'm refilling my drink that I feel arms slide around my waist from behind, a female body pressing against my back.
"There you are," Cher purrs, her voice artificially sweet. "I've been looking for you."
Gently but firmly, I disengage her arms and turn around. "Hi, Cher."
She pouts, stepping closer again. "Don't you miss me, Tyler? We used to have so much fun at these parties."
"That was a long time ago," The words come out while keeping deliberate space between us. "You know I'm seeing someone now."
"Are you?" She tilts her head. "Because I heard things aren't going so well with your... experiment."
The deliberate echo of her words to Ethan makes my blood boil. "His name is Ethan. And what's going on between us is none of your business."
"Don't be like that." She steps forward again, placing her hand on my chest. "You know, we are good together. Don't you miss this?" She presses closer, her breasts pushing against me as her hands slide up my arms.
"Cher, stop." Taking her wrists, I firmly move her back. "I'm not interested."
She narrows her eyes. "Don't you miss these?" she asks, pushing her chest forward.
"No," The word comes out blunt and final. "I don't."
"You're seriously choosing that skinny nursing student over me?" Her voice rises, drawing attention from nearby partygoers.
"Yes, I am. And I'd appreciate it if you stopped harassing both of us."
"Harassing?" she repeats incredulously. "I'm just reminding you of what you're missing. What your mother wants for you."
"Leave my mother out of this." My voice has gone cold. "And back off, Cher. I mean it."
"Everything okay here?" Drew appears beside us, his expression pleasant but his eyes sharp.
"Just catching up with an old friend," Cher says, switching to a sweet smile.
"Looked more like unwanted physical contact from where I was standing," Drew replies, his voice calm. "Tyler asked you to stop, didn't he?"
"Oh, please, we dated for months. He's just playing hard to get."
"That's not how consent works," Drew says, his smile fading. A past relationship doesn't entitle you to current access."
Several people have stopped to watch now, including other Theta Pi Nu sisters and a few of my fraternity brothers.
"This is ridiculous," Cher scoffs. "Tyler and I have history. I'm just trying to talk to him."
"By rubbing yourself all over him after he said no?" James steps forward, his usually quiet demeanour replaced by something harder. "Exactly how would you react if one of our guys kept touching a woman who asked him to stop?"
"That's different," the Theta Pi Nu Vice President, Mia, says from nearby.
"Is it?" James challenges. "How?"
Mia opens her mouth, then closes it, her brow furrowing.
"Would you tolerate one of your sisters being groped by someone she used to date?" James continues. "Would you say she was 'playing hard to get' if she said no?"
Mia's expression shifts as the parallel sinks in. "Oh," she says quietly. "Shit." She turns to Cher. "He's right. You need to back off."
"Excuse me?" Cher looks betrayed. "Whose side are you on?"
"The side of respecting people's boundaries," Mia replies firmly. "Regardless of gender." She looks at Drew. "I apologize for my sister's behaviour. It won't happen again."
Cher's face flushes with anger. "This is absurd. Tyler, tell them—"
"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.