Right. Well then.
Chapter 20
Frat Boys and Homophobes and Bears, Oh My!
CALEB
I've never been good at waiting. My father calls it impatience, my brothers call it entitlement, but I hate that hanging feeling of not knowing what's coming. Right now, it's creeping up my spine as Jaren and I stand outside the frat house common room.
"Did they say what this was about?" Jaren whispers, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Unlike me, his nervous energy manifests as perpetual motion. The guy can't stay still to save his life.
"No," I say, keeping my voice level despite the knot in my stomach. "Just that both pledges need to be here at seven."
Jaren checks his watch for the fifth time in two minutes. "It's 6:58. Should we go in?"
"Let's wait until?—"
The door opens, and Drew is there, his expression unusually serious. "Caleb. Jaren. Come on in."
The common room has been transformed. The usual scattered furniture has been arranged in a semicircle, and every member of the fraternity is present, all looking sombre. Tyler and Ethan are squeezed together on a loveseat, Tyler's arm protectively around Ethan's shoulders. Gavin towers at the backof the room, arms crossed. And James... James sits at Drew's right hand, his face carefully neutral when he catches my eye.
My stomach drops. This looks like a tribunal.
"Take a seat," Drew says, pointing at two chairs positioned directly in front of the semicircle.
Jaren and I sit. His leg immediately starts jiggling, but I force myself to stay perfectly still. Whatever this is, I won't show my nerves.
Drew remains standing, addressing the room. "Before we get to the matter of our newest pledges, I want to update everyone on the Michael and Cher situation. As you know, the university has been conducting its own investigation alongside the police."
Guilt twists in my gut.
Yeah, I helped fix it, but only after royally fucking it up first.
"Michael has pleaded guilty to assault charges," Drew continues. "He'll be serving time."
"Not enough time," Tyler mutters, his face darkening.
Ethan places a hand on Tyler's knee. "Hey, it's enough that he's gone," he says softly. "I don't need to think about him anymore."
Tyler's face goes all soft when he looks at Ethan, and something squeezes behind my ribs when I see how gentle he is with him.
Drew continues, "Cher Wallace has been expelled from Theta Pi Nu and faced a disciplinary hearing with the dean. She's chosen to transfer to a university in another state rather than face the sanctions here."
His eyes find mine. "Caleb, the university has decided not to pursue disciplinary action against you, given that you came forward with information and have shown genuine remorse. However, there is a note in your file. If anything similar occurs, you'll face the full extent of penalties under the university charter."
Swallowing hard, I nod. It's fair. More than fair, really.
"Now," Drew says, his tone shifting slightly, "to the matter at hand. Jaren Mitchell and Caleb Huntington, you both pledged late this semester. We've called you here tonight because we've been watching how you fit in with Delta Psi Omega, and we've come to a decision."
Beside me, Jaren has gone completely still. Sweat is gathering at the small of my back.
Drew's serious expression finally breaks into a smile. "The vote was unanimous for both of you. Welcome to Delta Psi Omega."
The room erupts in cheers. Jaren leaps to his feet with a whoop, while I sit, momentarily stunned. I hadn't realized until this exact second how much I wanted this, how much I wanted to belong here.
Gavin bounds forward, lifting Jaren clean off the ground in a bear hug before turning to me with a grin. "Don't worry, Grumpy, I won't crush you. But get up here for the official welcome!"
Finally standing, I'm suddenly surrounded by frat brothers clapping my back, shaking my hand, welcoming me. James hangs back, but his eyes are warm when they meet mine across the room.
