says a few words and seconds later, Fred is pulling up at our table.
“Hey, everyone,” he says. “I’m Fred.”
We all introduce ourselves with smiles, and I can see the twinkle in Donnie’s eyes.
I grin and my thoughts are a swirl of confusion, I’m almost embarrassed at what I’m thinking, but Grant and the Alpha Z’s are breaking all of my previous stereotypes of frats. Since when do they have gay men?
I feel silly and discriminatory for thinking it, but the truth is, it’s what I think.
We continue with some light chat, and I stare at Grant’s forearms as he takes another pull of chocolate milk. He smiles at me with a chocolate milk mustache. He’s on the other end of the table farthest from me, but he gives me the slightest tip up of the chin.
What’s up? He mouths.
I tip my head and shrug, then point at Donnie and Fred and give him a thumb’s up.
Grant winks, then points at me, rubs his thumb and forefinger together, and taps his head and gives one swipe to an imaginary Gandalf beard.
I’m thinking about your money, I surmise, constructing his sign language in my head.
I nod somberly, happy to know that he’s looking out for me.
I’ve spaced out from the general conversation, so when there’s raucous laughter from the rest of the table, I don’t know what it’s about. Grant doesn’t seem to either, because he’s not laughing and his eyes seem more interested in finding mine.
I squint at him, then do the Robert DeNiro “I’m watching you” maneuver from the Meet the Parents movie where I point two fingers at my eyes, then one at him.
What is up with those friend-zone XO’s Grant?
And more importantly, what is up with the crazy thoughts flowing through my mind right now as I consider making a crazy proposal to Grant.
Crazy even for me.
Which is really saying something.
I’ve got to get my focus back on classes. And let’s not forget the big track meet we’ve got coming up in Iowa this weekend.
But the damn man has me all over the place.
“So, April and I were chatting and we might make the trip out to Iowa to see you run in your track meet this weekend,” Alex says.
“That sounds fun,” Grant chimes in from the end of the table. “I’d love to see you all in action.”
“No, you don’t want to see us,” I reply. “I’m pretty sure our spandex uniforms are from like 1975, and they’re not exactly flattering.”
“I’m sure you’d look all right in it.”
I shoot Grant a look. More confused than ever.
What is your deal, Mr. XOXO?
Do you really want to be just friends?
Or, with comments like that, do you want more?
“Plus, DJ and Finn run track too,” he adds. “So, it would be good to see all of my friends in one place.”
Friend.
There he goes using that pesky word again.
I really do need to stop reading into every little thing the man says.
Because, let’s face it, I’ve got bigger things to worry about right now.
4
Grant
“Yes, Mom, I got the care package you sent, it just arrived yesterday. Sorry I didn’t get the chance to tell you it showed up. You’re a sweetheart.”
Coffee in hand on Saturday morning, I chat with my mother as I make the two-hour-plus drive to see the Greene State track meet in Grinnell, Iowa.
“Okay, good. And be careful on your drive. Mercury is in retrograde.”
Yep, my mom informing me of the astrological status is the norm. She’s an art teacher and knows how to tap into “the energy” as she calls it. Hey you know what? I’ve learned a ton from her about tapping into my instincts. Mom is the perfect balance for my dad, a judge who always goes by the book.
“So that’s why there are so many crazies out today. Duly noted.”
“Exactly. By the way, who are you going to see at the track meet today?”
I clear my throat. “My fraternity brothers, Finn and DJ, are running today up at Grinnell College in Iowa. DJ runs the sprints, Finn runs mid-distance.”
“That’s a long drive. Seeing anyone else?”
“Oh, well, my friend Maya is running too.”
“Ooh. A lady? She’s just a friend?”
My mom has been trying to get scraps of information about my dating life since I was in eighth grade. To be fair, I’m not the most open about things with her.
“Mom, she’s just a friend,” I emphasize. “If I meet someone I’m going to get serious with, you’ll be the first to know.”
“I know. I just