I was still pretty mystified about what had happened on Friday night. One minute I had been in the car with Matt – although I knew he wasn’t happy about it – I would get him to break down eventually. There was quite obviously something going on with the guys and I didn’t like that they were keeping me out of it. Matt was my best friend and I knew it was hard for him because he was Colton’s best friend too.
Over the years I had watched them interact with each other. Colton and Matt had a bond that was closer than brothers. Matt understood Colton better than Connor did of that I was certain. Sure, Connor was a brother through blood and they were close, but Matt and Colton? They were solid. Even Theo, who was always the less serious of the group, the three of them together were tight.
I knew that they would do anything for each other. The way Matt had been so tight lipped after the call from Colton and the way he removed Theo from my apartment – highlighted that they were involved in something and I needed to know what.
I frowned as I thought about it. I was sitting in the coffee shop, concentrating on a text book when I realised someone was standing at the edge of my table. I looked up and saw it was Connor’s girlfriend Corey. She was all golden tan and blonde hair and was smiling at me. I felt my stomach dip in trepidation. The sun was coming in behind her making her perfectly styled golden hair look like a halo. Added to her floaty white top, she was achieving angel like attributes without even trying.
“Hi, I’m Corey.” She stuck her hand out to me. I quickly glanced around and then tentatively reached out and shook her hand.
Corey took this as an invite to sit down. She propped her Frappuccino in front of her, took a quick sip and then smiled at me again.
“Er, hi?” I said. “I’m...”
“Arielle Miller. Yes. I know. Connor filled me in on your history with him and the guys.” She leaned back still smiling. Seriously she was weirding me out, who smiles all the time? Only sociopaths grinned manically all the time, didn’t they? What does she mean Connor told her our history? Oh God, I am so not prepared for this conversation.
“Filled you in?” I asked quietly. Her smile softened and she reached over and patted my hand. I drew my hand back automatically. She kept smiling and didn’t seem offended.
“Yes, I have to admit when I saw you and how he was so protective of you I was worried.” A tilt of the head and a little laugh. I looked around the cafe quickly, was she genuine? She wasn’t some crazy who wanted to warn me that he was hers and only hers – because I just couldn’t handle that. If she did, I was seriously worried I might laugh at her. Scary smiley people didn’t like being laughed at.
“But when he explained how you have all been friends for so long,” she drawled, “so.” I could only assume she came from down south somewhere. “I mean you the only girl and them four boys so protective of you; then for you to lose your mother like that and your dad whisk you away without telling them where you were.” She shook her head, she reached out for me again. “You must have been so alone. No wonder you didn’t contact them again, not knowing they didn’t know where you were. Thinking they had abandoned you. It’s so great you all being together again. Especially when you’re all so close, they all think of you as their sister.”
I had been trying to hide behind my mug of coffee when she started, so she couldn’t read my reaction. When she mentioned their brotherly love for me, I was so glad I hadn’t been drinking the coffee, else Corey the goddess would have been wearing a fine full rich dark roast.
“Their sister?” I stammered. She was still smiling, and now nodding. A smiling, nodding angel. God save me from this and I swear I will never curse again.
“I bet they were over protective of you! You’re such a stunner and them boys? Well…them boys are wild with a capital W!” She laughed again, annoyingly her laugh was like bells tinkling. I was beginning to dislike this girl. However, Connor had told a story full of half-truths so to correct her would have made him look like he was hiding something and lying. To not correct her kind of explained our relationship. All of our relationships really but missed out the huge important fact that this sister had a fairly incestuous relationship with two of the happy family. I was genuinely going to slap him for putting me in this position.
Corey sipped her drink some more while I sat there like an idiot, trying to figure out what she actually wanted.
“So,” she was looking at me again. “I need you to tell me all about Connor’s ex.” She sighed and looked out the window onto campus. “When I met him, he was all in knots about her, I think she broke his heart.”
If she had slammed my head onto the table I wouldn’t have noticed, her words made me numb. Seriously, how was I going to sit here and listen to this? To her talking about me? Taking my complete silence as a sign to continue, she ploughed on oblivious to my own pain or discomfort.
“Yeah he was a mess with a capital M.” She nodded. I made some noise, I wasn’t sure what she took it to mean, but it seemed to encourage her. “He is just so darn scrummy and he was all sad and I thought to myself, Corey, that boy needs sunshine in his life and I made it my mission to bring that back to him.” She took another sip of her rapidly melting drink.
What was I going to say? “Yay you, you superstar you?”
“So, what was she like?” A blinding white smile was once again shone at me.
“She was nice,” I muttered. Lame Elle, so lame.
A derisive laugh was my response. “Nice? She clean ripped his heart out! Cheated on him you know.” She added this in a whisper, like it was a big secret and she was letting me in on it.
I felt the cool wash of anger rush over me. My hands gripped the coffee cup. “If I remember correctly, she didn’t cheat on him, they were already broken up.”
Corey’s eyes narrowed, “Are you sure?”
I forced a bright fake smile on my face. “I am absolutely positive – after all, I’m like a sister.” I heard a snort behind me. I froze. Oh Jesus wept, please not now. Not like this.
Corey’s smile became a little brittle. She hastily stood, wiping her hands on her short denim skirt. Gee was she going to curtsy? I stopped a giggle from escaping.
“Colton. I didn’t see you come in, I was just getting to know Arielle.” If I hadn’t been frozen, I would have turned around, but God himself couldn’t make me turn at this moment in time. My prayer for an intervention had been answered, but by the wrong side.
Corey swept down, kissed me on the cheek and before I could even process the turn of events, murmured, “It’s been fun, we should do this again real soon, but I gotta run.”
Her chair scraped back. I saw his denim covered thighs, raising my eyes to take in the black t-shirt pulled across a wide chest and taut over muscled arms, and then the dark column of his throat, with a slight five o’clock shadow.
“Eyes up here Ari.” His voice was like velvet. It always had been, he was quiet and commanding, his voice was sin personified. He wasn’t hiding the smirk I knew he would be wearing. I didn’t deserve this. This was an ambush too much. I felt myself flush. Jesus, I need to man up and more importantly, maybe I needed to look up, otherwise I really was just staring at his chest like a fool.
I met his eyes. No one should have eyes that green. It was abnormal. They practically glowed. I looked away again hastily.
“What are you doing here?” I muttered.
“I’m fine thank you, been a while since we spoke. You look well.”
I glared at him but couldn’t hold the mocking stare. I looked away again. Damn him.
“I came in for a quick drink and who do I see? My long lost friend being interrogated by my little brother’s friend.”
“I thought she was his girlfriend?” I muttered. Articulate better Arielle, use your words.
“Why? Are you jealous?”
I frowned at him, still not quite meeting his eyes. “No, don’t be stupid. Connor said she was his girlfriend.”
“Connor’s an idiot,” w
as the terse reply. I saw him take a drink of his coffee out of the corner of my eye. Even side on, he was breathtaking. I frowned; it wasn’t like him to be dismissive of Connor.
“What do you want Colton?” I asked softly. I was toying with my own coffee cup which unfortunately had long since been emptied. His finger caressed my chin as he prompted my head to look up, to look at him.
“What? The others get pancakes and sleepovers and I don’t even get a nice to see you? Or eye contact?” A smile played around his lips.
“It’s complicated.” I muttered, jerking my head away. His face twisted into a sardonic smile.
“Is it?” He looked at me, saying nothing. He stood, gathered his coffee, looking down at me. I didn’t look up. “Good to see you Ari, try not to run too far this time.” And with that he walked away.
I was shaking. I packed up my stuff quickly, this shop was a dangerous place, all I needed was Robbie and I had a hat trick of disastrous run-ins.
I headed out to the quad and then did exactly as Cole predicted. I gave up halfway across and headed back to my apartment. I needed to regroup. I needed to hide. I needed to leave this city. I got into the apartment and dumped all my stuff in the corner, then started pacing.
No. I was panicking. Of course I was panicking. The guy was like a freaking hunter, but was I really his prey? No, he was playing with me. He knew I would panic. God damn him, he knew exactly what I would do. I wasn’t having it. I was going to go find the egotistical jerk. I was going to have it out with him. This was my college, he could go change somewhere else. Asshat.
I flung my coat back on and threw the front door open. I stopped dead. He was leaning against the wall, one leg cocked resting against it. His arms folded. Smirking. That bloody smirk.
“Going somewhere Lil Bit, or were you planning on looking for me?” The eyebrow raised. Bloody stupid eyebrow.
I did the only thing a girl can do when faced with overwhelming odds. I turned around and slammed the door in his face.
His low laughter settled somewhere in my core and spread outwards. I pressed a hand to my mouth. There was a slight tap on the woodwork. I stiffened.
“When you’re ready, come around the house, the boys need you there.” I heard his hand knock the door gently, softly. “You look good Ari.” I heard him descend the stairs.
I slumped against the wall and then slowly slid down, gathering my knees to my chest. Oh man, I was in trouble. I was in so much trouble.
Seeing Colton for that brief amount of time was not enough. It shamed me to admit it, I knew I was a terrible person for thinking it, but it’s like I craved him. I started thinking about him, how he had looked. Which was mighty fine in my humble opinion. His hair had been a tad longer than last I saw him, but he didn’t look bad. I don’t think he had the capacity to look bad, those ridiculous green eyes, that tan, that jaw…those lips.
Ok enough was enough. I needed a hobby. His shirt had been the perfect fit, tight across the shoulders but not like he had been poured into it. It still hung loose round his waist. Maybe knitting? I heard it was relaxing and stress relieving. Also…it wouldn’t hurt to have a sharp object to stab myself in the eye whenever my thoughts wandered inappropriately.
I jumped out of my chair and decided to do some cleaning. Cleaning is good for the soul as my Gran says. It took me about an hour and it would have been less if I hadn’t started daydreaming about strong hands running down my back at the most unsuitable times. I heard my phone beep from the kitchen where I had left it. I gave up trying to rearrange my wardrobe and walked through. It was Matt, he wanted to see if I wanted to go to the house to hang out.
Did I?
No?
Yes!
No!
I stood looking at my text then the phone started ringing.
“Hello,” I answered. I leaned against the kitchen counter. I needed some form of support I supposed.
“Theo will be there in five Ari, stop overthinking it and move.” Matt’s voice was gentle, but I could hear the humour in it.
I let out a sigh. “I don’t know Matt...” I trailed off, unsure.
I turned to look out my kitchen window. It was a lovely day, maybe I should go out, but not to their house. It wouldn’t be comfortable really would it? I mean, it could only be awkward.
I heard a sound of the phone being muffled and then a yell of surprise and then Connor was on the phone.
“Ari get in the car, come over. Corey will be here too, she is dying to spend more time with you, says she met you the other day but didn’t really get a chance to talk to you properly. No arguments Arielle. It’s a Friday. It’s not even six o’clock. We’ll just come drag you if you resist.” He hung up.
I growled at the phone. Then the door was knocked and I contemplated ignoring it. Theo wasn’t to be deterred though, he simply knocked louder. He tried the handle – because yes – that’s exactly what I would do, leave the door unlocked.
Sighing I opened the door. Theo’s grin grew wider and he outright laughed at me. He brushed me aside as he entered the apartment.
“Matt said you would be ready.”
I closed the door and turned to him. I waved a hand down my front – I was wearing cut off jean shorts and a somewhat sweaty old t-shirt.
“I’m clearly not dressed to go out. I was cleaning,” I bit out. I folded my arms and looked at Theo. He was in simple dark jeans and a t-shirt. Men had it so easy when it came to dressing.
“You look good to me,” Theo said scanning me up and down. “Anyway, it’ll only be us and maybe a few others, we’ve seen you in worse.” I flinched. Theo immediately took a step towards me.
“I meant that horrific unicorn onesy thing you used to wear,” he said softly. I laughed, I had loved that onesy, but unfortunately it had been left behind when we left.
“Come on, get ready, I’ll wait.” Theo then wandered off onto my balcony which would have been fine if it wasn’t attached to my bedroom. They genuinely didn’t think sometimes. I think both him and Matt completely forgot I was a girl. I was just Ari. I grabbed clothes and headed for the bathroom. A quick shower later and I was ready. I’d put the shorts back on and replaced the t-shirt with a simple peasant blouse. I brushed my hair back into a ponytail and applied a quick sweep of mascara and some tinted lip balm.
I went to get Theo who was sitting back with his eyes closed soaking up the late sunshine. He glanced at me when I entered the bedroom, nodded and then was up and heading for the door.
“One thing I have always loved about you Lil Bit, is your no-nonsense approach to getting ready.”
I knew he meant well but I still looked down at myself wondering if maybe I should have put more effort in. I shrugged, this was me, they knew me, this was what they were used to. I grabbed my wallet and housekeys and was out the door after Theo.
I hadn’t realised the house they were in was off campus too nor that it was so big. It looked huge and imposing, it had Jake Dawson stamped all over it. I immediately hated it. Then I instantly resented the fact that he still riled me up when he wasn’t even here. The house was all glass and shiny and I was so glad in that moment I didn’t have to clean the windows.
Theo led me round the back of the building, I could hear music and the sounds of laughter, I reached out and snagged Theo’s arm. He turned to look at me and stopped.
“There are more than a few people here,” I commented sternly. Theo shrugged and yanked me forward again. It was them, so there were always people hanging around them, I should have expected it. Matt and Theo made friends with everyone, I think they had some form of social disease personally. I frowned thinking that Theo was going to let me come in the shirt I had been cleaning in! Asshat.
We rounded to the back of the house and I took in the trees, the sparkling pool and the number of people just milling about. The house was more glass to the back, honestly it looked ridiculous – there was just glass, glass and more glass. There were what appeared to be two decks, the lower
one ran around the pool and then the other was set up a level and ran only around half the lower deck.
Still, it was like a flashback in time. It drew me up short. I looked around, trying to see signs of Matt. He was at a table with a group of guys laughing uproariously, he caught sight of Theo and I saw him look behind Theo to find me. His smile grew and then he was off his feet and on his way towards me.
I couldn’t help the answering smile, which quickly vanished when I was lifted and flung over his shoulder and carried off into the house. I heard Theo laughing behind me as he followed with me insisting that Matt put me down. This was getting beyond ridiculous. Bags of potatoes didn’t get lifted and hauled about as much as I did.
I was placed abruptly down in a kitchen. I turned to march away from Matt, so I had better space to scold him. When I turned, I was greeted with the sight of Colton sitting at the end of a breakfast bar drinking a coffee. His left eyebrow lifted in question. I immediately couldn’t think of one thing to say. Theo was still laughing as I turned back to them and saw Theo reach out to grab Matt’s arm.
“Best way to avoid Lil Bit shouting at you, throw her down in front of Colton and then...” My jaw dropped in disbelief to glare at Theo and then watched him and my best friend Matt run back out of the kitchen. I took one faltering step after them but was brought up short with Colton’s low laugh. I turned around to him and with whatever dignity I could salvage – which I am pretty sure wasn’t much – I walked to the breakfast bar and pulled out a stool. I hopped up onto it and looked at him.
He was assessing me and when I dared look him the eye, he was laughing at me, which immediately made me scowl again. Colton grinned.
“Hi,” I mumbled.
The grin grew. I decided then and there I would do my utmost to make Theo and Matt’s social life very, very uncomfortable from now on and I was no longer feeding them. Ever. Food privileges were going to be revoked.
Indian Summer Page 11
