Logan nodded. Ashton was starting to slur and weave enough that Logan suspected this wasn't his second drink tonight. With how heavily he was leaning against Logan for support, it might even be his third or fourth.
"Dude, I am so glad you agreed to room with him," Ashton leaned in to mutter. His words practically seared Logan's nostrils, just barely audible over the music.
Logan wrinkled his nose at the fumes, glancing at Ashton curiously. "Why's that?"
Ashton laughed. "Because any of the other guys would have thrown an epic-level shitfit if I'd assigned him as their roommate. Hell, I half expected you to refuse."
"Me?" Logan replied. "Why? I mean, I know he's a geek, but most of the guys in the house play Fork Knights or Mudder Football or something. Those nerd games of his aren't that much worse."
"A geek?" Ashton laughed again. "You're a saint, man. But c'mon — you don't have to keep covering for him. Everyoneknows."
Logan narrowed his eyes. "…Knows what?" he asked, unsure where this was going.
"That he's gay," Ashton replied as casually as he had all night, unaware he'd just pulled the floor out from under a reeling Logan.
Chapter 5
Party Games
"Wait, but — but he can't be — "
Wally is…gay?
The word echoed in his mind, over and over again. It couldn't be true, could it? Surely Logan would have noticed if… If Wally was…
Wally looked up and Logan flushed hot, looking away quickly and trying hard not to look like he'd just been staring at his roommate.
"Are you sure?" Logan demanded in a low hiss, glancing around them furtively.
"Dennis said he saw your friend Wally blowing a guy in the alley behind some club this summer," Ashton replied, his grin slipping into a leer now. "That sure enough for you?"
"He's certain it was Wally, though?" Logan pressed. "It just… It doesn't seem like him."
Logan had trouble picturing Wally withanyone;guy, girl, or — oranyone.
"You really didn't know?" Ashton asked, his expression turning incredulous. "Didn't you say you guys went to high school together?"
"We did, but…" Logan stammered, mind whirling as he searched his memories for clues, any signs he'd apparently missed. But he was coming up short. Sure, Wally'd been different, but… notthatdifferent. Right?
"You didn't notice he never hooks up with any of the girls at the parties?"
"Well, yeah," Logan admitted. "But like, he's such a nerd that — "
"We've got plenty of guys in the house who are nerds. Hell, three of our alumni went on to found million-dollar tech companies. We have no problem with him being a nerd."
"But," Logan worked out slowly. "You have a problem with Wally being gay."
"Not a problem," Ashton said, his hands shooting up defensively even as his mouth twisted with the lie. "It's just… We think he might fit in better somewhere else. Someplace they won't mind him shoving his lifestyle choices in their face."
Logan racked his brain, but he couldn't remember a single instance of Wally doing any such thing. And given Logan hadn't been awarehis own roommatewas gay until Ashton had flat out told him…
"That's why you put him in my room," Logan worked out. "The one right next to its own private bathroom, instead of near the big ones at the front. You don't want him using your showers."
"See? I knew you'd get it," Ashton said, pleased. "Makes some of the guys uncomfortable. Why do you think we've been riding his ass so hard since he got here? Though... Huh. He probably likes that. But it's not like we can just come out andtellhim he's not Minotaur House material, y'know? Gotta make him leave on his own."
"But he's a member of the house. Aren't we supposed to be 'united by eternal bonds of brotherhood, always striving for excellence; together, forever?" Logan argued, quoting the creed the pledges were all expected to memorize. Hell, every month at the house meeting, all the fraternity brothers chanted it together at the end, with varying levels of accuracy and enthusiasm.
He'd tripped over that line in particular twice during the initiation ceremony; gratefulness blooming warm in his chest at the reminders whispered by the hooded brother standing in front of him, holding the chalice the pledges were to drink from. Kneeling there in that dark room, flickering candlelight dancing over the chipped linoleum and outdated wood-paneled walls; the taste of fruit punch drink-mix hitting Logan's tongue as he took a sip from the heavy metal cup supposedly containing the ritual 'blood of the brethren'?
