Chapter 26
The League of Extraordinary Exes
TYLER
Getting Caleb to cooperate is easier than I expected. After his initial panic subsides, resigned acceptance takes its place. He follows me, Drew, and James into the small office we use for fraternity business, slumping into a chair when Drew gestures for him to sit.
"Alright," Drew says, closing the door behind us. "Let's start from the beginning. Your real name is Caleb?"
"Yeah," he mumbles. "Caleb Huntington."
"Huntington?" I repeat, recognizing the name. "As in the Huntington Law Group?"
He shifts uncomfortably. "My father's firm. I'm the third, Caleb Huntington the Third, technically."
Drew raises an eyebrow. "So why is the heir to a Law empire doing shady Photoshop work for cash?"
"I'm not the heir to anything," Caleb says sharply. "I'm the family disappointment. The gay son who refuses to study what they want me to or join the family businesses." His tone is bitter. "I do design work to pay for things my father won't. He covers tuition and housing, nothing else."
The revelation that Caleb is gay surprises me, though it probably shouldn't. It also makes Cher and Ryan's manipulation of him even more calculating; they knew exactly who to target for this kind of work.
"Look," Caleb continues, more composed now, "I'll help you prove the photos are fake. I still have all the source files on my laptop. But then I'm done. I don't need this kind of drama in my life."
"That's fair," The words come out even while Drew's expression suggests he has other ideas.
"How often do you work alone in the design lab?" Drew asks, changing directions.
Caleb shrugs. "Most of the time. I prefer it that way."
"And do you have many friends on campus? People who have your back?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Caleb asks defensively.
Drew leans forward, elbows on his knees. "I don't like the idea of anyone being isolated on campus, especially after being involved in something like this. Ryan and Cher sought you out specifically because you were alone and vulnerable."
"I'm not alone, and I wasn't vulnerable," Caleb protests weakly. "I just needed the money."
"And now you're going to help us file a formal complaint with the dean's office," Drew continues as if Caleb hadn't spoken. "You'll have to identify Ryan and Cher as the people who hired you."
"Wait, what?" Caleb straightens in his chair. "I never agreed to that. I'll give you the files, but I'm not getting involved in some administrative hearing."
Drew's expression remains calm but determined. "What they did violated several university ethics policies. As the wronged parties, we're filing a complaint."
Caleb starts to bluster, his earlier composure cracking. "I can't be involved in that. My father would—"
"We won't pursue anything against you," Drew interrupts. "We believe you didn't know their real plan. But you were taken advantage of because you were alone, and that's going to change right now."
I catch Drew's eye, suddenly understanding where this is going. He gives me a questioning look, and I offer a slight nod of approval.
Drew turns back to Caleb with a friendly, unmovable smile. "Caleb Huntington the Third, I'd like to officially welcome you as the newest pledge of Delta Psi Omega."
Caleb blinks, completely blindsided. "What? No. I'm not joining a fraternity. Especially not yours."
"You have two options," Drew says pleasantly. "Your name can be included with Ryan and Cher's in the complaint to the dean... or you can accept our invitation and have the full backing of Delta Psi Omega when we go to the administration."
"That's blackmail," Caleb sputters.
"That's brotherhood," Drew corrects. "We protect our own. Even the grumpy ones who don't know they need protecting yet."
Caleb looks at me, perhaps hoping for an ally but I just shrug my shoulders. "He did the same thing to me freshman year. Resistance is futile."
After a long moment, Caleb's shoulders slump in defeat. "Fine. Whatever. I'll be your damn pledge."
"Excellent!" Drew claps his hands together. "James, get Caleb set up with everything he needs to extract those files. Tyler, come with me for a minute."
Following Drew into the hallway, closing the door behind us. "Are you sure about this?" I ask quietly. "He doesn't seem like traditional frat material."
"Neither did you when you first showed up," Drew points out. "And neither is James, or half our brothers. We need more diversity, not less." He glances at the closed door. "Besides, that kid needs someone in his corner, and we need his testimony."
"Fair enough," I concede. "But he's going to be a handful."
Drew grins. "The difficult ones always make the most loyal brothers." He claps me on the shoulder. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm functioning," I reply honestly. "Better now that we have a plan."
"We'll find Ethan," he promises. "Once we have the evidence compiled, he'll have to listen."
Agreeing with a nod feels easier than voicing the desperate hope that he's right. The sooner we can present the truth to Ethan, the sooner this nightmare can end.
While James helps Caleb retrieve the evidence files, Gavin corrals me into the kitchen for a sandwich and a "status check," as he calls it. We sit at the counter, and for a few minutes, he lets me eat in peace before launching into his real agenda.
"So," he begins casually, "can I ask you something personal?"
Eyeing him warily, I pause with my sandwich halfway to my mouth. "That depends on how personal."
"It's about you and Ethan." He fidgets with his water bottle. "You don't have to answer if it's too much."
"Just ask, Gavin."
He lowers his voice, though we're alone in the kitchen. "Did you ever, you know... bottom?"
The sandwich lodges halfway down my throat, triggering a coughing fit. "Jesus, Gavin!"
"Sorry!" he says quickly, looking apologetic. "It's just, I've been wondering about... stuff. For myself." A blush creeps up his neck. "Never mind. Forget I asked."
His confession takes me by surprise. Is Gavin wondering about his own sexuality? That would explain why he's so curious about me and Ethan.
I put my sandwich down as a weary sigh escapes "We tried it," My face feels warm. "But I didn't like it very much. Ethan noticed right away and stopped, asked me to top him instead. He said he prefers that anyway."
Gavin nods thoughtfully. "So does that mean you're not really gay if you don't like... that?"
Laughter spills out despite my attempt to keep my composure. "That's exactly what I asked Ethan! He assured me that lots of gay men don't like bottoming. It's just a preference, like anything else."
"Oh," Gavin looks relieved. "That makes sense."
"Yeah, things with Ethan… it was good. Really good." My smile fades as reality crashes back. "And then he fucking dumped me without letting me explain." I look at Gavin, vulnerability leaking into my voice. "He has to know I'd never cheat on him... right?"
Gavin's expression softens. "He will when we show him the proof. We all looked, and they seem real at first. Anyone would have been devastated seeing them."
"I know," I admit. "I just wish he'd trusted me enough to ask first."
"People do crazy things when they're hurt," Gavin says with surprising wisdom. "But we're going to fix it. James and Caleb are gathering the evidence against Cher and Ryan right now."
As if summoned by our conversation, the doorbell rings. Gavin and I exchange glances before heading to the front door. Drew beats us there, opening it to reveal Cher standing on the porch, her expression a perfect mask of concerned sympathy.
"Tyler," she says, spotting me behind Drew. "Can we talk? Alone?"
Drew crosses his arms. "That's not happening."
"This is between Tyler and me," she insists. "This whole situation has gotten out of hand, and I just want to help."
Something about her desperation raises my suspicions. Has she somehow heard about Caleb? I step forward, deciding to hear her out, if only to understand what new angle she's playing.
"It's okay, Drew. We can talk on the porch."
Drew doesn't look happy, but steps aside, allowing me to join Cher outside. He leaves the door pointedly open behind me.
Cher's demeanour changes instantly, her hand reaching for mine, eyes wide with sympathy. "Tyler, I'm so sorry about what happened with Ethan. It's awful seeing you go through this."
"Is it?" keeping my voice neutral.
"Of course it is! I care about you. That video is all over campus. It's all anyone is talking about." She steps closer, lowering her voice. "Look, I know you think I had something to do with those photos, but I didn't. You have to believe me."
"Why would I think that, Cher?" My eyes are watching her closely.
She hesitates, just slightly. "Because of our history. Because I was jealous." Her fingers brush my arm. "I was wrong to try to come between you and Ethan. I see that now."
"That's quite a change of heart."
"Seeing you so hurt changed things," she says, looking right at me with big, sincere eyes. "Maybe this is a sign, Tyler. Perhaps it's time to stop experimenting and come back to what's real. To me."
For a moment, just a brief, disorienting moment, I almost believed that she was innocent and just wanted me back. It's crazy, but maybe she's not part of all of this.
But then I remember Ethan's laugh against my chest, those adorable eye crinkles when he smiles, how being with him is the only time I've ever felt completely myself. The truth slams into me like a linebacker: guilty or innocent, Cher is my past. Ethan is the only future I want.
The front door opens wider before I can say anything to her, and Gavin emerges with Caleb in tow. Caleb takes one look at Cher and freezes, his expression shifting from surprise to wariness.
"Caleb," Gavin chirps, "is this one of the people who hired you to alter those photos?"
Cher's face pales. "What? I've never seen this person before in my life."