52. Lyric

52

LYRIC

T he academic school year is winding down and the campus buzzes with the stress and anticipation of finals. As I sit in the library, poring over my textbooks, my mind keeps drifting back to the boys. After our confessions, we've grown closer, sharing everything from our daily routines to our hopes and fears. Yet, a persistent anxiety gnaws at me, a fear that maybe they're only with me out of obligation because of Eli.

I try to push these thoughts away, focusing on my notes, but it's useless. The boys—Archer, Zane, and Levi—have been nothing but supportive and loving. But what if it's all for Eli's sake? What if they feel trapped by the situation? My heart races as the doubts swirl in my mind.

After a long day of studying, I head back to the frat house with Eli, my heart heavy with unspoken worries. The boys are waiting for me and we gather around the table, sharing a simple dinner. Their laughter and easy conversation should be comforting, but I feel like an outsider, my fears creating a barrier between us.

"Lyric, you okay?" Archer asks, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.

I force a smile, nodding. "Yeah, maybe a little tired from all the studying."

Levi gives me a concerned look, clearly not buying my excuse. "You've been really quiet lately. Something on your mind?"

I hesitate, my eyes flickering to Eli playing nearby. The thought of voicing my fears feels like stepping off a cliff, but I know I can't keep this bottled up forever. Taking a deep breath, I look at them, my voice barely above a whisper. "I… I worry that you guys feel obligated to accept Eli. That maybe you're only with me because of him."

There's a moment of stunned silence before Zane reaches out, taking my hand in his. "Lyric, we love Eli. He's our son. But we're with you because we want to be, not because we have to be."

Archer nods, his expression serious. "We missed out on so much time with him already. We don't want to miss any more. But that doesn't mean we don't want you. You're our other half, our better half."

Levi's eyes soften as he looks at me. "Yeah, you should know, Lyric… You're not just Eli's mom to us, you're our everything."

Tears well up in my eyes as their words sink in, the weight of my fears lifting. I squeeze Zane's hand, a small smile breaking through. "Thank you, guys. I needed to hear that."

As we finish dinner and clean up, my heart feels lighter. Later, after putting Eli to bed and spending time making gentle love to each other, they bring up my worries again.

"Why is it you think we don't want to be with you?" Archer asks, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. He's curled up in front of me, with Levi's warmth pressing into me from behind. "Is it stress from finals or is something else going on?"

I sigh. "Maybe finals are stressing me out, but I guess I worry that if I don't have you guys, I don't know what I have."

Levi's lips twitch upward, glancing at his brothers. "Should we tell her?" he asks.

My forehead creases. "Tell me what?"

"We should probably tell her," Zane agrees.

"Tell me what?" I ask again, agitation growing. "What's going on?"

"We should definitely tell her," Archer says, nudging my face toward him. "The Panhellenic Gala is on Friday."

"What does that have to do with anything?" I ask, my face a mix of confusion and curiosity.

"We want to take you," Zane says, reaching out to take my hands in his. "Actually, we'd like you to take us," he amends.

"Me take you?" Now I'm more confused than ever.

"We nominated you for Fraternity Sister of the Year," Archer says, smoothing his hand over my cheek.

"That's sweet," I say, remembering how they mentioned that in the disciplinary hearing. "So I'm one of the nominees?"

Archer and his brothers exchange amused looks. "Actually, Lyric, you're the winner," he reveals, making my heart stutter to a stop.

"What? How?" I ask, confused again.

"All the work you did with volunteering for us, helping with the car wash, the toy drive and the bake sale over Spring Break. Not to mention how you stepped up and helped organize all those girls to come forward and bring complaints against the members of Sigma Theta who assaulted them. You won."

"That's incredible," I say, warmth flooding my heart. "I don't get what that has to do with what I said, though."

Levi leans down and kisses the top of my head. "Baby, the nominees were put to a vote. You were voted as Sister of the Year by a landslide. So many people were impressed by all you did and you have way more supporters and admirers than you realize."

My heart feels so full that it might burst in my chest. "You're serious?" I ask, my voice going squeaky. "I can't believe it! You're not joking?"

"No jokes, no pranks," Archer assures me. "You made a huge impact on the school. You deserve this win. Even if you didn't have us, you'd have tons of people who would befriend you in a heartbeat, who would stand by your side after all you did for them. You're not alone anymore, baby."

I reach out and hug them tightly, tears falling down my cheeks. "I'm so happy. Things have changed so much for me. I wouldn't have gotten there if it wasn't for your support. Thank you guys."

"So, what do you say?" Levi murmurs against my neck. "Will you take us to the Panhellenic Gala, Songbird?"

I giggle, warmth blooming inside me. "Yes!" I say, pulling Archer and Zane in for quick kisses before twisting to kiss Levi as well. "Absolutely. I can't wait to tell Valencia."

She and I had become closer after working together to take down the Sigmas. It was nice having a friend. She had even introduced me to some of her other sorority sisters. We had a study group for chemistry every Thursday evening.

Finals come and go, and then evening of the Panhellenic Gala is finally upon us, excitement palpable. Annie is at the frat house to watch Eli for the night while the boys and I get ready, buzzing with anticipation.

I slip into my dress—a sleek, floor-length gown in a deep ocean blue that complements my eyes and fits like a glove. As I adjust the straps and smooth the fabric, I can't help but feel a flutter of nerves and excitement.

When I step out of Levi's bedroom, the boys' reactions are immediate and unanimous. Archer's jaw drops, Zane's eyes widen and Levi lets out a low whistle.

"Wow, Lyric," Archer says, his voice filled with awe. "You look gorgeous, baby."

"You clean up real nice," Zane adds with a grin, giving me an appreciative once-over.

Levi steps forward, taking my hand and twirling me around. "Absolutely stunning," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my cheek.

Blushing, I thank them, feeling a surge of confidence as we head out together for the event. It's being held in the student center and the place is decorated to the nines when we arrive. The grandeur takes my breath away.

The space is decorated with twinkling lights and elegant floral arrangements, creating a magical atmosphere. As we make our way inside, I spot Valencia and Emma near the entrance, both of them beaming when they see me.

"Lyric! You look like a sexy mermaid!" Valencia gushes, pulling me into a hug.

Emma nods in agreement, her eyes sparkling. "Hey, everybody, this is the Sister of the Year, right here!"

I laugh, feeling the warmth of their friendship envelop me. We chat for a bit, catching up and enjoying the festivities. The boys stay close, their presence a comforting anchor in the bustling crowd.

As the night progresses, the moment I've been waiting for finally arrives. The president of the Panhellenic Council takes the stage and I feel a surge of nerves.

"And now, it's time to present the Sister of the Year award," she announces, her voice echoing through the hall. "She has shown dedication, resilience and true commitment to the Panhellenic community. Please join me in congratulating Lyric Shaw!"

A round of applause erupts as I make my way to the stage, my heart pounding with awe and disbelief. The boys cheer loudly, their support giving me the courage to step up and accept the award.

As I hold the glass award in my hands, I glance out at the sea of faces, my gaze lingering on the boys. They smile up at me, their expressions filled with pride and love. In this moment, surrounded by friends and family, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy.

After a brief thank-you speech, I rejoin the boys and my friends, the weight of the award a reminder of how far I've come and the incredible support I've had along the way. The rest of the evening is a whirlwind of congratulations, laughter, dancing and by the time we return home, I'm all but exhausted.

Before we head upstairs to bed, though, the boys pull me aside.

"We have one last surprise for you," Archer whispers, deferential to the late hour.

I tilt my head, wondering what they have up their sleeve.

"You and Eli are coming with us to Europe this summer," Levi reveals, pulling out his phone to show off the plane tickets. "We're spending all summer there, just the four of us and our son."

My jaw drops. "Oh, my God. This is incredible! I've never gotten to travel there before. I can't believe it!"

This truly is the perfect way to end the year. After everything we've been through, it will be wonderful to get away and relax for a while. I take their hands and we head upstairs to bed, basking in the glow of the evening.