Page 74 of Frat House Fling

Ian shook his head. “She said she had something to do.” He shook his head. “She seemed down about something.”

“Wait, she didn’t believe all that crap about her not being allowed out here, did she?”

“That’s the rule,” Grant said. He had one of his beers from Luxembourg. Someday, I needed to order some for myself so that I could find out what they tasted like. Grant was so possessive about them.

“We don’t have to follow the rules all the time,” Ian said. “Especially ones like that. Would it really be so bad if she were out here with us?”

“I think it would be nice.”

Grant snorted. “You two are like little boys with crushes.”

I shrugged, unbothered by his taunt. “She’s a nice girl.”

“Agreed,” Ian said. We clinked our bottles together.

“If she’s such a nice girl, how come you haven’t asked her out? Either of you.”

“Who says we haven’t?” Ian asked.

Grant smirked. “Well, I haven’t seen either of you showing up with flowers and chocolates and taking her out for a night in exciting downtown Haverford.”

“That’s because neither of us are dating in the 1990s.”

“Nothing really changes between men and women, son.”

When Grant acted like that, he reminded me of Bennett. But it didn’t happen often.

“Dating can change,” I said.

Ian nodded. “And, uh, living in the same house can afford certain opportunities.”

Grant raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“Like you can get to know each other without even leaving the house.”

“And it’s a big house,” I added.

“So? Unless you’re fucking her, what’s there to do here?” That was my friend. Always classy.

“People talk, nowadays. It’s not all anonymous sex in the corner of a crowded frat party,” Ian said.

“Ah,” Grant said, as if reminiscing. “I have some very fond memories of those corners.”

I noticed he didn’t say he had fond memories of the women he’d been with.

Ian was still trying to make his point. “If you see each other every day, you can become friends first. And once your friends, that can open up other possibilities. Like they can cheer you up when you’re feeling down.”

“So can a Hallmark card,” Grant said, but I was staring at Ian.

“She cheered you up?”

“Yeah. She’s been very supportive ever since my advisor had the stroke.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” I said. “Has she tried to cheer you up back here?”

“Tried and succeeded,” Ian said.

“Why the fuck are you two arguing over semantics?” Grant asked, but my attention was on Ian.