Page 60 of The Step Dare

“Do you play?” I ask.

He flinches. “I mean, I didn’t say I’d be any good, but I like hanging out. Being chill.”

Lance cringes. “No one who’s actually chill has to tell everyone they like ‘being chill.’”

“It’s giving desperate vibes,” Payton adds.

“Anxious, desperate, uncool?” Marty says. “These are my things. Can’t everyone just be glad I make them look better by comparison?”

“Is this one giving you guys trouble?” Colin comes up from behind him and drapes his arm across Marty’s shoulders.“Threatening to kick you out? Trust me, it’s better than him threatening your security deposit.”

Marty is a notorious goodie-goodie and known for policing all the guys in the house, so I’m not surprised by Colin’s assumption, considering Marty’s likely given him enough hell to be more than a little annoyed.

We all catch up, the guys sharing Alpha Theta Mu gossip. I notice Lance getting close to Brenner, and though I know he’s straight, Brenner was being flirty with him before the cruise. It makes my insecurity flare up.

A part of me thinks I should stuff this away, at least while all the guys are here, but hell, we said it doesn’t matter if they know, so I hook my arm around Brenner, resting my hand on his hip, acknowledging it’s a little fucked up that I’m claiming him in front of his straight friend.

Brenner glances my way, a warm smile spreading across his face. He rests his hand on mine, rubbing gently, which is the assurance I need—a reminder that this isn’t the old Brenner who would just run around looking for the next guy or girl to mess around with. That while we’re messing around, he’s mine.

“What isthis?” Colin asks, and suddenly, as if out of thin air, his boyfriend/stepbrother, Ash, materializes at his side.

“Holy fucking shit, it’s contagious,” Ash says.

Not surprised that half of one of Alpha Theta Mu’s boyfriend-stepbro couples would say some shit like that.

I wave toward myself, inviting the shit-giving. “Come on.”

“Yeah,” Brenner adds. “Get it all out of your systems while you can.”

“What is everyone talking about?” Marty asks, earning a few glances.

“Brenner and Taylor are an item,” Lance explains. “And they’re also stepbros.”

Marty winces. “But they aren’t stepbrothers.”

“They’re going to be, though.”

“Wait…but Taylor isn’t queer.”

“Um…” I say.

Marty blinks a few times. “Seriously? Is this a joke? Did Payton put you guys up to this?”

“Me?” Payton asks.

“Marty, you could be a little more supportive,” Lance says in a tone.

“Oh fuck,” Marty says. “I’m sorry. That was a dick move. I just…whatever makes you guys happy, and I don’t want you to think just because I’m surprised… I don’t have any judgment or anything. If you guys are boyfriends, that’s—”

“We’re not boyfriends,” Brenner clarifies. “But we’re seeing what’s here. Be cool.”

“Shit,” Marty says. “I’m fucking it up again.”

Brenner and I share a laugh. “Relax, Mart,” Brenner says. “It’s cute that you care.”

“Your parents know?” Colin asks.

“Eh, we’re gonna wait until after their wedding,” I tell them. “For obvious reasons, this could make it weird.”

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