Harmony Week
CHAD
THREE MONTHS LATER
I smile against Bailey’s soft stomach as I finish licking our cum from his skin. His chest sinks under the long exhale he lets out as he reaches down to card his fingers through my hair.
“Morning,” he says, voice scratchy with sleep.
I chuckle and prop my chin on his hip bone. “Morning is almost over.”
“What?” He squints toward his phone but makes no move to pick it up.
Last night was Greek Street Meet, which is basically a cutesy name for a street party with way too many people and way too much booze. I’m feeling dusty this morning, and Bailey clearly feels the same way.
“Can’t we just skip it?” he asks.
I gasp, pretending to be shocked to the core. “It’s the day we’ve been working toward literally since the night we met. And I’m VP. I can’t miss the most epic day of the year.”
“Epic isn’t how I’d describe today.”
I laugh, kiss his hip, then get up and start to hunt down some clothes. Today the winner of King of Thieves is tallied and announced.
Today, Bailey is the enemy.
Since that prank almost three months ago, our houses are closer than ever. Yeah, we still have our moments, but overall, the pranks and reactions to them are good-natured, and them returning all our shit went a long way toward showing us they’re actually decent guys maybe ten percent of the time.
Plus, Bailey and I have leaned into the competition hard.
The other day, I woke up to find my desk chair gone. He’d dropped it out of the window while I was sleeping and wheeled it down the road.
Smart-ass.
I fell a little more in love with him when I realized.
That’s probably not a normal response.
After Bailey’s dressed and ready to head out, I pull him to me for a kiss goodbye—and a quick search of his pockets.
As expected, he’s shoved everything he can get his hands on in there, and I have to remove a notebook, three pens, and …
“My underwear? They don’t have points.”
“Those were for me.” He grins cheekily, taking them from me and tucking them back in his pocket.
“I still don’t understand your fascination with wearing my boxer briefs.” I kiss him properly this time, then lean back to tug on a curl. “I feel like this competition has turned you into a kleptomaniac.”
He holds up his hands. “I will neither confirm nor deny.”
“What will you do when the competition ends and stealing shit isn’t encouraged anymore?”
He wrinkles his nose, crushing the pattern of freckles. “I’ll have to start lifting your stuff and keeping a little nest in my room. Like a bird.”
“And how will that help you over the summer when we’re living in the city?”
Things have gone so perfectly full steam ahead for us that we already have post-graduation plans.
We’re going to New York, where Bailey will step into the role waiting for him at his father’s bank, and I’ll hopefully have some entry-level position lined up.
I’d felt bad taking advantage of Alistair’s generosity at first. He has an apartment for me and Bailey to move into, and not having the kind of money to be able to pay my own way didn’t sit right.
But the last time they’d visited, we’d had a heart-to-heart, and Alistair gently pointed out that we all start somewhere.
If I’m working hard and not being paid enough to afford rent, that’s the system’s shortcoming, not mine. And hard work—no matter what it pays—is never something to be ashamed of.
That flip in thinking helped make me feel better, and without the financial strain of needing to make rent, it means I’ve been free to look for something I’ll actually enjoy.
Mom and Dad were also uncomfortable with the plan until they met Bailey during winter break, but since then, they’ve been wary, but supportive.
Things are finally falling into place.
Bailey heads home, and I meet Zeke to start tallying up our King of Thieves hoard. We move quickly, wanting to get to the fun part of the day, and when Zeke texts Charles to say we’re done, Kurt shows up a few minutes later to verify, while Robbie heads down to Kappa House.
Then, it’s time to get ready and see my guy again.
Because, fuck, I can’t get enough of him, and it seems like there’s always something standing in our way.
First, being secret. Then football. Then when the season wrapped up, our focus turned to schoolwork. We’ve been busy and working hard, and with Bailey’s help, my mentality of C’s get degrees has been challenged, and I’m starting to push a B in most classes.
I want to be the best version of myself, and Bailey is helping me see that.
With the money imbalance, I know I’m always going to be one step behind, but we’re both determined to be equals in this relationship, and I can’t wait for school to be over to prove that.
As soon as I see Bailey crossing the street toward me, I jog over to him and scoop him up in my arms.
He laughs. “Oh, no, it’s been a whole two hours.”
“See, you can pretend I’m smothering you, but that smile proves otherwise.”
His eyes turn soft. “Maybe I sort of like it.”
“An admission! I knew it wouldn’t take long to break you.”
“Yeah, it’s only been …” He narrows his eyes like he’s trying to count.
“Six months.”
“Shit.” His eyes widen. “That long already?”
“Let me guess, every day with me feels like a dream. It goes too quickly. Time’s flying because of all the fun we’re having.”
“Why would I ever need to compliment you when you do it so well yourself?”
I’m totally ready to throw out something smart-ass, when I pause. There’s one thing I’ve been thinking about for a while now, one thing I’m positive of on my end, and while I don’t need compliments from him, it would be nice to know we’re on the same page when it comes to this.
I grab his hand and tug him from the footpath and away from the people passing. Then I swallow. It’s not easy. Who would have thought saying a little word like love could be so damn hard?
But when I look at Bailey, it’s all I can think. I’ve been in love with him for a long time, and I think he feels the same. After all, we’re planning on moving in together in a few months.
So if that’s the case, why am I so nervous?
“What’s going on with you?” he asks.
Whelp, I’m killing this. If we ever decide to get married one day, I won’t be the one doing the asking.
“Nothing, just … I want to say something, and maybe I should be making this more romantic or whatever, but I also don’t want to make it into a big deal …” I cut off my rambling in favor of taking a deep breath. “I love you.”
Bailey watches me for a second, which is a totally anticlimactic reaction to what I was expecting.
“Umm … so, yeah.”
He bursts out laughing, and I change my mind. This is the worst reaction to get. “You … you don’t remember?”
“Remember what?”
“You basically gave me that exact same speech last night but way more slurred.”
My head jerks back. “The fuck?”
“Oh yes. Your beer breath made up for the romantic timing too.”
“Shit.”
“I also loved the way you burped, then stumbled into the bushes to take a leak before I could even answer you.”
“I what …” I groan and drop my head onto his shoulder. “How do you like me? Really?”
He chuckles, hands sweeping over my hair. “Are you going to sulk, or are you going to give me a chance to respond this time?”
“I don’t think I want you to. Because honestly, after that, I’m not sure I want you to return it.”
“Good thing it’s not your choice, then.” He steps back, so I have to straighten. “Because I love you too. And you won’t convince me otherwise.”
Something settles in my chest. I tackle him in a hug, attacking him with kisses, and I don’t let go until he’s laughing so hard, he can barely breathe. “Thank fuck for that.”
“You actually thought I’d feel otherwise?” Bailey’s fingers link through mine as we start to walk toward the tent that’s been set up for today.
“I hoped you felt the same, but that didn’t make it easier. I’ve known for ages, but I’ve been too scared to say anything. You make my feelings all messed up.”
“Good. Because you do the exact same thing to me.”
In just a few minutes, it feels like our whole relationship has changed.
Nothing on the surface has, nothing physical either, but saying that one word makes it seem like we’re tied together in a way we weren’t before.
It’s not him and then me anymore, and damn if I don’t want that feeling to last forever.
There’s a big turnout for the announcement, and I have to leave Bailey to join Zeke up the front, along with Charles and their VP.
The giant shield that gets engraved with each year’s winners is in place between us, the plaques from the last few years gleaming Sigma Beta Psi.
I’m praying this year will be the same. That we’ll take it out in a clean sweep.
Plus, I’m excited to get my fucking desk chair back.
No one knows who the winner is yet. Charles and Zeke have a piece of paper signed by the VPs and either Lucas or Robbie to confirm. But they don’t know the other house’s number. Until now.
“This year,” Zeke says, “Sigma Beta Psi scored a total of one thousand, two hundred, and sixteen points. A new record.”
Fuck yes. Considering a lot of those big-ticket items came from Bailey’s room, I can’t keep the smugness off my face. It’s a record that will be nearly impossible to beat.
But Charles is smiling.
“And Rho Kappa Tau,” Charles says. “Hit a new record also. One thousand, four hundred, and twenty-seven points.”
My gut bottoms out.
“Looks like we’re this year’s winners.”
Kappa House start to celebrate. Catcalls and cheers fill the tent before the telltale sound of alcohol being opened surrounds us, and while the disappointment starts to creep in, it’s not as consuming as I thought it would be.
Then I catch Bailey’s stare as he approaches.
“Sorry,” he mouths.
Like that, I can’t be mad.
Or disappointed.
Sure, the game is important to my college experience, but that’s as far as it goes.
This man. This gorgeous fucking man who I can’t stop from touching as soon as he’s in arm’s reach, he’s my end goal. He’s the reason I wake up with a smile on my face, and try hard in class, and am applying for jobs like crazy.
He’s the one who fills my days with laughter and my nights with toe-curling orgasms.
Since I met him, he’s been the only one.
And we’re in love.
Now, if that isn’t frat as fuck … I don’t know what is.