“I’ve already spoken to Jack. He’s going to take over presidency. I’m going to step down. I understand not all of you want a man who’s in love with another man to represent this fraternity. But,” he said, drawing everyone’s attention back, “I’m still president tonight, and until I hand this house over. I could have run to the dean when I was attacked. I could have had this entire frat shut down. I didn’t. We take care of our own. I was loyal to you even when you weren’t loyal to me. Think about that.” He stared at Conner.
The three guys who helped Conner jump him were shoved into the room by angry-looking Omega members. The three guys appeared scared and uneasy.
Trent ignored them and continued to talk. “I’m going to hold a house meeting in the morning, an official Omega meeting, and we’re going to put it to a vote. Will the four men who attacked me lose charter? Until tomorrow, this shit is over. You can stop whispering. I’m gay, and I’m in a relationship with Drew. Accept it or don’t. Just know if you come at me, I won’t back down.”
Romeo cleared his throat. “Just know,” he boomed over the room in a loud but calm voice, “that anyone else who comes at Trent, my brother, will also deal with me.”
“And me,” Braeden echoed.
“And me,” I added, even though I thought my attack on Conner spoke louder than my words.
“And the Wolves!” a guy hollered.
A bunch of howling and cheering erupted behind us.
Trent turned and looked. I followed his lead. Almost the entire Wolfpack was standing behind us. They were all wearing their jerseys, and they all stood in solidarity with Trent. With us.
“Seriously, guys?” Trent seemed surprised.
I wasn’t. Trent was the kind of guy who inspired loyalty.
“One pack united!” someone yelled.
Everyone in the room started cheering.
When it died down, I glanced over at Con. He looked like he’d swallowed a lemon.
“Fag!” someone yelled from over by the doorway.
Everyone whipped around to see two guys who I didn’t know standing there glaring. They weren’t Omega. They must have just been here to party.
“Trash needs taken out,” Romeo said.
Just like that, the Wolves swarmed the two men and literally carried them out of the house and threw them on the lawn. When the sound of the slamming door echoed through the building, people clapped.
“Remind me to take those jackasses off my Christmas card list,” Braeden muttered. Again, he grabbed Con by the back of the neck. “Speaking of, what shall we do with this one?”
Some of the Omega brothers were standing around, looking conflicted. It pissed me off and made me sad at the same time. Why couldn’t these guys be as quick to accept T as the Wolves?
“Nothing,” Trent said.
Braeden made a face. “Dude, no.”
“Let him go. This is his house. He’s still an Omega. Same with the other three,” Trent ordered, holding his ground.
“Until tomorrow,” Josh quipped.
I smiled. That guy wasn’t so bad.
Trent nodded. “House meeting tomorrow morning. Pass the word.”
I was pretty sure almost the entire house heard, but I guess it was better safe than sorry.
“Now you know!” Trent called out loudly as everyone was still staring at us. “Party it up!”
Just like that, the music blasted through the house again and people resumed like someone un-paused a movie. It didn’t totally go back to the way it was. I mean, people were staring and talking. Omega members were still standing around, looking a little shell-shocked.
Trent went over to Jack and did some kind of hand shake. “Thanks for the heads-up and for the support.”
“I admire the way you’ve handled this,” Jack said. “I hope I’m half the president you’ve been.”
Trent didn’t acknowledge the compliment. “Hey, I’m out for the night. I’m gonna disappear, give these guys some time to think about everything. I’ll be here for the meeting tomorrow.”
Jack nodded. “See you then.”
Outside on the front lawn, Trent stopped and turned to Romeo and Braeden. “You had my back in there tonight and today.” He cocked his head. “You’ve always had my back.”
“Family takes care of family,” Romeo said.
“Thank you.” The sincerity in T’s voice was real. Even though he’d only said two words, he was acknowledging a lot more.
“Give me some man love,” Braeden joked and held out his arms.
Trent hugged him. Then he hugged Romeo. Then they both hugged me.
It was like a man hug-fest.
“Seriously, though,” Trent said when we were done handing out the hugs. “I’ve never had much of a family. I didn’t really know this was possible.”
“Now you do,” Romeo replied.
“Yeah,” Trent echoed. “Now I do.”
We spilt up into separate cars. Romeo and Braeden were in the Hellcat, and T and me were in his Mustang. The second we were alone, I reached for his hand. Our fingers linked and settled over the gearshift.
“How about we shift together tonight?” Trent whispered.
“Together is good,” I whispered back.
That’s how you know you have a love that will last forever. If you can literally fight your way through obstacles for an entire day and be faced again and again with strife and still be able to sit in a car when all is said and done and not only want to shift together, but know you wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’d probably never, ever say it out loud, but there was a name for what T and I had.
It wasn’t just love.
It was #TrewLove.
PS: Get it? That’s our ship name. #Trew.
PSS: Don’t tell anyone I gave us a ship name.