Falling For Them: A New Adult Reverse Harem Collection

by C. L. Stone

  While she was grateful for the job interviews today, on top of having to quit the study with Dr. Murray, she was, quite honestly, overwhelmed. Hurdle after hurdle waited to be jumped.

  The city bus rumbled up the road, stopping in front of them. The door opened and she climbed the steps, swiping her pass before sliding next to the window. The scenery blurred as the bus gathered speed, and in no time, they arrived at the grocery store.

  The woman at the customer service desk eyed her suspiciously when she let her know she had an interview. "You're the girl," she said.

  Her stomach dropped as she met the woman's much-less friendly gaze. She opened her mouth to reply when her named was called, "Honora Leslie?"

  Fixing a smile on her face, she turned to the store manager. He frowned, but led her back to his office. As soon as she had taken the seat he pointed to, he spoke, "The online application process automatically schedules interviews for anyone who meets a certain criteria."

  "I worked at a deli for the past two years, and I put my employer down as a reference. You can call him. I'm reliable, I'm punctual, and I’ll work weekends and evenings."

  "I don't need to call him. I can't hire you."

  “I—"

  The manager held up his hand. "I understand the police say you had nothing to do with the shooting. But I still can't hire you. We have families with kids come here every day and they won't feel safe if they see you."

  "I can work nights," she argued. "I can stock shelves."

  He raised his eyebrow. "Sorry, Miss Leslie. I can't. I apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for applying."

  He held out his hand, cutting off any other argument she could have offered. "Good luck with your job search," he told her, opening the door to his office and indicating she should leave.

  "Thanks for interviewing me,” she answered politely, though her voice shook. As she left, she met the smug gaze of the woman at the customer service counter.

  The sinking feeling in her stomach grew as she walked back to the bus stop. Her interview, if it could be called that, lasted all of five minutes, and she got in early. She had a solid hour and a half before her next interview to rehash and worry over everything the manager had said.

  There was nothing to distract her, and she couldn’t shake the sense her next interview would be a waste of time.

  After a while, people joined her at the stop. A mother with her baby, and reusable grocery bags stuffed full of groceries. A few teenagers. The mom fed her baby bits of a muffin until it began to rain and they had to huddle under the bus stop’s roof. The water dripped onto Nora’s head and trailed down the part in her hair, running under her ear and dripping onto her neck.

  Trying to get out from under the corner of the awning, she scooted a little closer to the center of the stop. The mom inched a little closer to the center, making room for her to squeeze in. The little bit of human kindness almost did her in.

  “Thank you,” she managed.

  When the city bus finally arrived, she was thoroughly soggy, and her anxiety rode her full force. Her feet squished in her shoes as she climbed aboard and found a seat. Huddling down, she embraced her misery.

  The ride to the bookstore took longer than the ride to the grocery store. They had to drive to the other side of town, and with the rain, more people waited for the bus. Each stop brought a blast of cold air and diesel fumes, so when they arrived at the bookstore she was both nauseated and frozen.

  Like she had at the grocery store, she went to the customer service counter and told them she was there for an interview. Without a visible reaction from the person working there, she had a moment of hopefulness.

  “Hi, I’m the manager, Cassie Watson. Come back with me?”

  Nora followed her past the rows and rows of books into a tiny office at the back of the store. Cassie closed the door behind her and leaned against it.

  “I’m sorry to have wasted your time like this, Honora,” she started right away. “But I can’t hire you. I’m sure you understand why.”

  Pushing a wet curl out of her face, and tucking it behind her ear, she answered, “I had nothing to do with the shooting at the school. I’m just trying to find a job. I’m dependable and I’ll work whatever hours you need.”

  As soon as she started talking, Cassie began shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter. You could be the best employee we ever had, but I can’t hire you. People would take one look at you and be afraid.”

  “Are you serious? You have no reason not to at least grant me an interview. I’m qualified.”

  “Do you really want to waste your time and mine?”

  Her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she shook her head.

  “Look. I really am sorry. It sucks, but I’ve got to think about my sales and the safety of my customers. I have to go on the worst-case scenario. I mean, what if…” She shook her head. “I can’t.”

  “I’m sorry I wasted your time.” She had to get out of there.

  “No problem,” Cassie said, as if her apology was genuine. “Good luck finding something.”

  Swallowing hard against the tears in her throat, she left the store immediately. Rather than wait for the bus, she walked toward campus. It was a two mile walk from the book store to Converse Hall, and it was still raining, but wet was wet, and she couldn’t possibly feel worse than she already did.

  She crossed the street, jumping over puddles and keeping an eye out for trucks that might splash her with dirty street water. As she walked, she tried to formulate a plan. Okay, so she couldn’t get a night job stocking shelves.

  Panic rose in her chest. How was she supposed to save money? She couldn’t expect the guys to support her for weeks on end. Waiting for the crossing sign to change, she watched the cars drive by. She had no car, only whatever money was left on her bus pass, and maybe $100 in savings.

  What was she going to do?

  The medical center was up ahead and beyond that, Converse Hall. The idea of seeing the guys, and telling them what happened, was embarrassing and depressing. They would be angry on her behalf, and then they’d feel bad for her.

  Poor pitiful Nora.

  Ugh. Nobody wanted a sad sack girlfriend.

  As the grey stone building came into view, her stomach began to cramp. Forcing herself to keep her eyes in front of her, she fixed them on the stairs and front doors. If she looked over at the grass, she’d see where Tilly’s body had fallen.

  She walked up the stone steps, pulling open the heavy wooden door. The clock above the glass display case housing fliers for psychology clubs and tutors showed she had an hour until the boys arrived.

  On her list of shitty things she had to do today, this was the last box she had to check. However, it was arguably the one she was most nervous about.

  I need this day to be over.

  Finding the stairs, she began the climb to the fifth floor.

  ****

  “Hey, Nora.”

  Dr. Murray fixed her with a look she mentally labeled: disappointed.

  Well, fuck you, Dr. Murray. You’re the one who got us here.

  She was tired, wet, her feet hurt, and she couldn’t get a job. Who the hell did he think he was, being disappointed in her.

  She crossed her arms, a move that lost some of its power when a bead of water dripped off the tip of her nose.

  “Are you going to sit, or are you going to drip?”

  Narrowing her eyes at him, she nonetheless sat on the chair he gestured to. “I’m not going to participate in your study.” She took a deep breath. “Thanks for the opportunity.”

  It wasn’t even worth sitting down to deliver the news. Standing, she headed to the door.

  “Nora,” he sighed. “Sit back down, please.”

  “I think we’re done.”

  “Nora.” His voice turned hard and commanding.

  She gripped the back of the chair, holding on tight. They stared at each other, until he suddenly dropped his glasses on the desk and rubb
ed his eyes.

  “It was part of the study.”

  “I got that.” And it didn’t matter.

  “I needed a baseline to your stress response. Jessica took your pulse while Grant watched for demonstrable signs of breakdown.”

  She clenched her fists.

  “I’m not trying to be a jerk, Nora. But all of this was in the contract you signed. It said specifically you would experience events and questions that could be triggering.”

  “It said questioning, Dr. Murray. It never said events.”

  Turning around, he grabbed a paper off the desk and handed it to her. It was her contract. He pointed to a section, and she read it. It said exactly what he claimed.

  “Well…Balls.”

  He laughed. “Nora. I know I messed up. I didn’t think.”

  “No shit.”

  Turning to the window, he stared quietly at the grey sky. “This study is my life, Nora,” he said in a low, urgent tone. “I know people say things like that all the time, but this is the truth. I think what I discover here could change the world. I believe it with my whole heart.”

  He’d have to do it without her.

  “I need you, Nora.”

  His voice was beseeching, and when he spun toward her, his face was earnest.

  “I can’t be part of it, Dr. Murray. As much as I want the things you’re offering, I don’t trust you.”

  “You know what was fascinating about your response yesterday, Nora?”

  Despite herself, she was interested and shook her head.

  “When Nils accelerated, and you believed he was about to hit the students, your pulse rate spiked to 60 beats a minute.”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Your heart rate barely changed.”

  “I was scared out of my mind. I could feel my heart pounding.”

  “Maybe so. But your most outward sign of response was to yell at us and to close your eyes. You actually tried to reason with Nils. Not one of my study participants has done that before.”

  “I nearly peed my pants.”

  “Maybe.”

  “And now my side is killing me because Nils jammed on the breaks.”

  “Listen.” He rubbed his head. “It was a massive oversight. And Seok was right. This kind of thing makes the college look twice at my lab. I could lose my tenure.”

  “Yes.” Was this the source of his worry? She narrowed her eyes. “Sounds unfortunate.”

  “I’ve apologized, Nora. But I’m not going to beg you to stay. I want you to stay, but if you’re going to leave, this is the time to do it.” He held out his hand, and she stood, her shoes squishing as she walked toward him.

  “Call the business office on Monday. I’ll let them know I’m waiving the thirty-day repayment clause. They’ll set you up with a payment plan for whatever is owed to them.” He squeezed her hand and let her go.

  “What do you mean? I didn’t…”

  “There were some nonrefundable fees to hold your dorm room, but I don’t know how much it is. The business office will tell you.”

  “Shit.” She shut her eyes. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

  “Don’t stress about it Nora,” he told her. “Like I said, they have payment plans.”

  “I’ve gotta go.” How was she supposed to tell the guys about this?

  “Take care, Nora. And if you need anything, call. I’m really sorry things worked out the way they did.”

  “Okay.” Her mind was already moving ahead, trying to figure out payment plans, jobs, interest, rent, groceries. Fuck saving. That wasn’t happening.

  She left without saying goodbye, or even seeing where she was going

  “Nora!”

  Without remembering how, she’d left Converse Hall. The rain was coming down harder, and she put her hand above her eyes, trying to see through the water dripping into her face.

  “Crazy girl.” Apollo grabbed her. “I should have given you an umbrella. How’d you get so wet between here and the bus stop.”

  “I walked.” Her teeth chattered so hard she could barely get the words out.

  “Oh, chère.” Matisse took off his coat and put it around her shoulders. He wrapped his arm around her, hurrying her to the parking lot.

  The boys talked around her, but the rain poured harder and harder, drowning out their voices. Apollo’s car was ahead of them. The lights flickered when he unlocked it, and they piled inside, the windows fogging when he blasted the heat.

  “Why did you walk?” Seok asked in a low voice.

  The four guys were packed in back like sardines, shoulders pushing against each other, but he inched forward, trying to get closer.

  “I was done early, and—“ She stopped. “I needed to get out.”

  Cai caught her eye. He understood everything she wasn’t saying. “Job a no-go?”

  Willing her body not to cry, she shook her head. When it seemed like she’d lose the battle, she turned around in the seat, looking forward. And then, when she felt Apollo’s stare on her face, she turned toward the window.

  “Nore?” Ryan asked.

  Her voice cracked when she tried to reply, and Apollo immediately took her hand. “We’ll talk at home, baby. Just get warm.”

  She nodded, still not looking at him. The wind and rain whipped at the trees, covering the road in orange and yellow leaves. The storm would strip the foliage and by tomorrow, the trees would be bare, and everything would be brown or grey.

  Apollo maneuvered around the other cars into his space. As soon as he was parked, she opened the door before anyone else could. The guys jumped out behind her, all of them rushing to the front door.

  “Go upstairs and dry off,” Apollo told her. “Take a warm shower. We’ll wait for you here.”

  Matisse's head whipped toward him, worry tightened Ryan’s face, but no one said anything.

  Kicking off her soggy shoes and socks, she hurried up the stairs and into the bathroom. Her fingers were pruney and numb and she struggled with the button on her pants and shirt. She’d been so careful choosing her interview outfit, and in neither interview did she even have to take off her jacket.

  Her clothes hit the ground with a wet smack, and she turned on the shower as warm as it would go.

  Yanking the elastic out of her hair, she finger-combed the braid until her hair laid against her skin in long, wet curls. Her reflection stared back at her, the steam slowly filling up the room to obscure her face and she climbed into the shower.

  The warm water did nothing to dissipate the dread settled firmly in her stomach. She was fucked. So fucked. The water pounded against her muscles, but her entire body ached, tense from both the events of the day and the cold. As she warmed up, her shoulders slumped, but she was far from relaxed. She still had to talk to the guys, and then she had to figure out how deep in the hole she was. She knew they’d want to pay whatever debt she accumulated in 24 hours.

  It seemed unbelievable, but she knew how the college worked. There were fees on top of fees on top of fees. She hadn’t even spent a night in her dorm room, but she owed for it as if she had.

  Groaning, she leaned her forehead against the tile.

  “Are you okay?” Ryan asked.

  No. “I.." She opened the curtain to look at him, and shrugged. “I’ll be right out.”

  A look of hurt flashed across his face, but he didn’t argue.

  It is possible to feel worse. Alone again, she turned off the water and got out of the shower. She wrapped her long hair around and around, securing it in a bun, and dried off quickly.

  The boys were where they said they’d be, eyeing her cautiously.

  First thing’s first. “I’m sorry,” she apologized to Ryan.

  “I think I know what happened.”

  She nodded, wiping away her tears with the palm of her hand. “Both jobs were busts. They saw my name and said no way.” She sat, pulling her legs up and stretching her sweatshirt over her knees. “That was it. Just, ‘You’ll scare the custom
ers.’ ”

  Cai exchanged a look with Ryan, but neither of them said anything.

  “I offered to stock shelves at night,” she went on. The boys immediately began to argue with her, but she held up her hand. “He didn’t go for it. I offered to work evenings, nights, weekends. In the back! Neither job would take me.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t think I can get hired in this town, and honestly— maybe not in Vermont.”

  The guys wore similar looks of disbelief.

  “You can’t leave.” Cai’s deep voice was worried.

  “I don’t know what to do.” She hesitated, formulating the next blow. “Dr. Murray told me I owe the college money.” ‘

  They were as angry as she expected. Ryan’s voice boomed the loudest, and she had to hold out a hand, asking for his phone before he started making calls. “You know how this place works.” She stared pointedly at Apollo and Ryan who she knew were currently enrolled, and Matisse who was auditing. “There are registration fees, and holding fees, lab fees, and taxes.”

  “I’ll help you,” Ryan said.

  “I don’t even know how much it is.” She rubbed her forehead before leaning her face against her knees.

  “We’ll figure it out,” Matisse added. “You don’t have to do it alone.”

  9

  Jealousy

  Matisse walked into the house and threw his wallet on the coffee table before falling backward onto the couch.

  “What’d they say?” Apollo dropped the book he was reading.

  “Tough shit.”

  He smiled, a quick flash of dimples before getting serious. “How much was it?”

  “I didn’t think Nora heard them correctly,” he mused, not answering the question.

  “Where is Nora?”

  “Outside. Walking up and down the block. She wanted to walk back from the Business Office, but I was worried.”

  “I notice you’re purposefully avoiding the question.”

  Matisse sighed, running his fingers through his long hair. “Around ten thousand.”

  “Ha. Funny. How much?”

  He stared at Apollo.