Katt swallowed, his throat constricting, squeezing his words. “Iwantto join the fraternity, I do. For… personal reasons.”
“Personal reasons?”
“I, uh…” Katt swallowed again. “I lied when I said I didn’t know Todd. We used to be childhood friends.Bestfriends. We lost touch when we were freshmen in high school. His family moved away. I thought he forgot all about me, but now…” Katt closed his eyes. “Now, he wants us to be friends again. That’s why he wanted me in the fraternity. I didn’t realize how much I missed having him for a friend until I saw him again.”
“So, what’s the problem?” Franco asked. “I mean, Todd fast-tracked you through all the hoopla. You’re in, right?”
Katt faltered. “Yeah, I-I guess,” he mumbled. “Except for the… initiation. He said I still had to do it because all the brothers had to.”
“Yeah, so?” Franco said with a short laugh. “It’s no big deal. A little embarrassing, but that’s the idea. Most fraternity initiations involve some humiliation. It’s tradition. Afterward, you’ll laugh about it.”
“Really?” Katt murmured. He had his doubts about the laughing part. How could these guys be so flippant about it? “You didn’t feel… weird afterward? Different somehow?”
“No,” Franco laughed. “Why would I?”
“Well, I mean…” Katt rubbed his eyes. “It just doesn’t seem like something regular guys would be okay with. I mean, Todd explained why it was required, how it bonded the brothers and forged loyalty, but…”
“Bonded the brothers and forged loyalty?” Franco chuckled. “Todd said that?”
“Yeah…”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Franco snorted. “Mostly, it’s for fun. And yes, it’s kind of embarrassing, at first. But most pledges end up having a good time by the end of it.”
“They do?” Katt frowned.Mostly for fun?“The way Todd told it, the initiation process was vital in proving a brother’s loyalty, and what they would do to become part of the brotherhood.”
“That’s part of it, of course,” Franco said. “But if you’re really nervous about it, I’ll let you in on a little secret; it’s not really the otherbrothersjerking you off. It’s sorority sisters.” He chuckled. “You’re just blindfolded andtoldit’s guys doing it. The sisters play along, even wearing men’s cologne and cutting their nails short. So, don’t sweat it. Other than feeling a little embarrassed about standing on stage butt naked while some of the brothers and a bunch of the sorority sisters watch you get your chain yanked, it’s a breeze. Like I said, you’ll laugh about it later. And probably hook up with one or more of the hot sisters.”
What thefuckwas he talking about?
“Don’t tell Todd or anyone else that I tipped you off, though. You’re not supposed to know it’s a girl jerking you off until your blindfold is removed.”
Katt felt sick. “I-I don’t understand.”
“Don’t understand what?”
“That…” Katt leaned against the sink and stared blankly at his shirtless reflection, stark images of what he’d just done with the twins and Samson playing on a loop in his head. “That is the initiation ritual?”
“Yeah. Why? Isn’t that what Todd told you?”
Katt gripped the edge of the counter. “No,” he whispered numbly.
“What did he tell you?” Franco asked, the humor leaking from his voice.
The question sounded distant and muffled over the phone as Katt’s mind reeled. Had Toddliedto him? Why would he do that? Was he lying about wanting to be friends again?
A tightness squeezed Katt’s chest, and a sudden rush of emotion flooded his system. His reflection swam before him. He didn’t understand any of this: why Todd would lie—or why ithurtso much. Katt had never been very emotional. He dealt with his feelings bysuppressingthem rather thanexpressingthem. But suddenly, his eyes burned with tears, and he wanted to punch the fucking mirror.
“Katt?” Franco pressed. “Whatdid he tell you?”
Katt swallowed hard. “Nothing,” he muttered, his voice raw. “It… It doesn’t matter.”
“You sound upset.” Franco seemed concerned. He and Katt had been roommates for less than a month, but they’d already become friends. “What’s going on? Where are you?”
Katt didn’t want to tell him. Not from lack of trust, but pure humiliation.
“Katt, come on,” his tone softened. “You can talk to me.”
Katt felt like he was coming apart inside. His jaw knotted as an ache webbed into his throat, and his eyes burned hotter. “I can’t,” he whispered.
