“Oh, these are my parents,” Miles said as two older people walked into the room. It was a little awkward since they were far older than my siblings, and my brothers were acting like my parental units in this case. They made introductions and went off with my family to look around after speaking with Miles.
“Well, I guess it’s the five of us,” Sanders said, glancing around. “I was a little wary when it came to looking at a flyer for roommates, but I figured…why not? I needed a place, and I wasn’t really ready to move in with my girlfriend.”
“Is she going to be here a lot?” Tanner asked, scowling.
Sanders shrugged. “Maybe. Is that going to be a problem?”
Tanner shook his head. “No, just don’t have sex on the couch,” he said.
Miles laughed. “Yeah, we did get it at a garage sale. It’s probably already been broken in.”
“Okay. So, first thing we’re going to do is sanitize the thing,” I said quickly, and the others laughed. Even Tanner cracked a small smile.
“I feel like we’re overstaying our welcome,” Violet said and reached out to pluck lint from my shoulder.
I rolled my eyes. “You don’t do that usually. Why are you acting so weird?” I asked, and she blushed.
Cameron reached around and smacked me on the back of my head. “Behave.”
“I’ll try. You guys go. I know you all have busy days, and I need to unpack.”
“If you need anything, you let us know,” Brendon’s wife said quickly.
“I will. But I’m going to be living…what? Thirty minutes from you guys? It’s fine. I’ve lived away from you before. For years, even.”
I saw my new roommates look at one another at that, and I held back a wince. I hadn’t meant to mention anything about my past, but I was nervous enough that I’d let things slip.
“We’re going to be overprotective. It’s what we do,” Aiden’s wife said quickly.
“And on that note, we’re leaving,” Cameron said and pulled his wife and the rest out. I waved and closed the door after Miles’ parents left, as well.
And then there was just the five of us. I looked around, shoved my hands into my pockets, and held back a grimace. I had no idea what I was doing, and I really hoped I hadn’t made a mistake.
“Well, we’re at least partially moved in, so I’ll count that as a win,” Pacey said.
“That’s good,” I said. “I guess I should finish unpacking a bit before I go and meet with my new counselor to finalize my schedule.”
“You haven’t finished that yet?” Sanders asked, his eyes wide.
I hoped to hell I wasn’t blushing. “Since I’m a new transfer—and a little late at that—it’s taken them a bit longer to fit things in, especially with all the credits being transferred. But it’ll be okay. I’ll make up what I have to next semester.”
“You’ll be fine,” Tanner said, surprising me. “They’re really good about making sure you get the classes you need, even if you aren’t one of their precious darlings.”
I frowned at that. “What do you mean?”
“Just the regular stuff,” Pacey answered for him, and I hoped that they were on the same page, at least. “Some people are really good at schmoozing their way into the classes and the grades they want. For those that grade on a curve, it kind of screws the rest of us. But we make do. You just have to decide what kind of student you want to be,” Pacey added.
“Yeah, the suck-up, the loser, or the one who gets by,” Sanders said, and I froze.
Tanner shook his head. “You can be whoever the hell you want to be. Just get your shit done. And don’t fuck anyone on the couch,” he added.
Miles nodded vigorously. “Yes, we can make that a house rule. Along with divvying any chores that need to be done. I overheard your sister making remarks about a chore wheel. And while that sounds like it might work, I really don’t know if we need that,” he said quickly.
“Well, if after a month we completely muck up this house, maybe a chore wheel will be needed,” Pacey said dryly.
“You never know,” I said. “I should get busy before my meeting since I still need to work tonight.”
“You have a job?” Sanders asked.
I blinked. “Yeah. My family owns a bar and a couple of other businesses. I need to pay for rent somehow, right?” I asked, laughing a little nervously.
“I think this guy here is the only one without a job,” Tanner muttered and hitched a thumb at Sanders.
Sanders winced. “What? My parents want to make sure I get a good education. Can’t really do that if I’m focusing on work.”
I met the other guys’ gazes.
“You make do with what you have,” Pacey said easily. “Anyway, we all have work to do. I guess I’ll see you around. Welcome home,” Pacey said, and I nodded at the others before making my way to my room, wondering once again what the hell I was doing.
Chapter 3
Dillon
* * *
I looked down at the red Solo cup in my hand and frowned. “Well, apparently, my brothers were right about this place,” I mumbled.
Tanner just gave me a look and snorted. “Because you didn’t want to party? Or because you think you’re too cool for a nearly flat beer out of a keg?”
I shook my head and took a sip. “It’s not nearly flat, it is flat,” I said with a grimace, then finished it anyway. Because, hey, beer.
“Pacey and Sanders are working on the next keg. You just happen to come from a family that owns a bar. And from what I hear, knows what they’re doing when it comes to beer.”
I shrugged and looked around my new place, currently filled to the brim with people I didn’t know. “My brothers wanted to make sure they had the best beers available, local and craft, and everything hipster you could possibly think of. I may have tasted some, but I’m going to plead the fifth.”
Tanner just glanced at me, his eyes filled with laughter, surprising me since they were usually a little more brooding. The other man took a sip of his beer and grimaced. “I hope the next keg is good. I mean, anything is better than this, unfortunately.”
“Do I want to know where Pacey and Sanders got the kegs? Considering I’m pretty sure all of us are twenty.”
“Sanders has an older brother who graduated last year. He makes sure Sanders always gets what he wants.”
There was something more in that particular statement, but I let it go. We were only a week and a half into living together, and we weren’t quite meshing yet. Nobody was rude or uncomfortable, but we were still trying to find our routines. Considering how I wasn’t good at finding a system thanks to hating change, it wasn’t easy.
“Okay. We’ve got it,” Sanders said, to the cheer of the others in the living room and kitchen.
“I didn’t realize this many people wanted to be here before school started,” I said as Miles came to my other side. The guy looked even more nervous than I did and kept hunching his shoulders as if afraid someone might notice he was there. Once Miles got to know people, he wasn’t as shy—at least given what I’d seen so far. But for now, he tended to hide behind Sanders or Tanner until he got more comfortable.
“I’m pretty sure Sanders knows all of these people. Or knew at least some of them, and they invited everyone else.”
“Sanders or Pacey,” Tanner added.
I looked at my two roommates, the ones who hadn’t invited the rest of the world, and felt like maybe I had found some kindred spirits. Or perhaps I was deluding myself.
“Hey there, Tanner,” a redhead with a very low-cut shirt and very short shorts yelled as she came up to Tanner’s side. She smiled and leaned against the other man at her side. “We were just talking about you. How about you show us the rest of the house? We’d love a tour.”
The guy holding the woman raked his gaze over Tanner, and Tanner shrugged, set his cup on the counter, and held out his arm. The guy and the girl split apart, each going to Tanner’s sides as they wrapped their arms arou
nd his waist before they left. I could only assume he showed them around the house then—our new home.
I looked over at Miles, whose eyes were so wide, I was afraid they might fall right out of his head.
“Well, I wasn’t quite expecting that right out of the gate,” I said with a laugh, and Miles shook his head.
“I knew he was bi or pan because I’ve seen him date men and women throughout the time I’ve known him. Just didn’t realize he did it at the same time. Good for him.”
I shook my head, holding back a laugh at the confusion on Miles’ face. “A few friends of the family are in poly relationships, even have kids. The idea doesn’t shock me. The fact that it’s Tanner, the one who usually doesn’t even say two words unless he’s in the mood, is what does.”
“Maybe it’s the brooding thing. I should try that on someone.” Miles looked around. “Although that would require me talking to people, and I don’t know if I’m up to that.”
I laughed as a girl with thick glasses, a short skirt, and two shots in her hands came up to Miles’ side. “Hey, Miles. I’m going to beat you for the curve this year. But first, we’re going to make out. I hope that’s okay.”
Miles coughed into his hand, looked at the shot glass, and grinned. “I think you’re welcome to try. Now, what were you saying about shots? I mean, making out?” He stumbled, and I held back a laugh as the girl and Miles did the shots together, then went off to some corner, presumably to see who was going to beat that particular curve.
I shook my head and realized that I was once again standing alone in a room, even though it was my house. I should probably be better at this.
“Are you going to leave the corner and talk to people? Or are you the quiet guy I wasn’t aware of?” I looked over at Pacey as he pushed his hands through his blond hair and shrugged.
“I’m just getting the lay of the land. I kind of went from hanging out with mostly people in their late twenties and thirties, all thinking about marriage and babies and 401ks, to coming back to college like this. I feel like I’m a little behind.”
Pacey gave me a look, and I didn’t know what it meant. “You know, we’re all behind in some things, and yet ahead in others. I would bet amongst all of us, you probably know your way around the world a bit more than someone who might have been under his daddy’s thumb for his entire life and is just now learning to live on his own.”
I gave Sanders a pointed look, and Pacey’s smile appeared. “Wasn’t exactly talking about him,” he said and grinned as I gave him a look.
“You, then?” I asked.
“Maybe. I like being the mysterious British one, though, so you’re going to have to ask later. Now, let’s introduce you to everyone. We know most of these people, even if it’s just in passing from school. This is the best way for you to learn who to avoid, who to rub up against—figuratively and literally—and who is who amongst our social set.”
“I feel like I should be taking notes,” I said dryly.
“It wouldn’t hurt. Sasha, darling, come over here,” he said as a woman with dark brown skin, bright red-and-purple hair, and tight leather pants came towards us. She looked like a goddess, and I nearly fell to my knees. She kissed Pacey hard on the mouth and grinned. “Hello there, Pacey,” she said, her accent upper-crust British, the same as Pacey’s. “I was afraid you would never say hello to me.” She looked at me, her brown eyes piercing. “Who’s your friend?”
“This is Dillon, one of my roommates. He’s starting his first semester at DSU.”
Her gaze studied mine before she lowered them to the rest of my body and backed up. I had a feeling I had just been observed and categorized in every way possible. “You don’t look like some eighteen-year-old little boy finding his way.”
I coughed. “No, not even a little.” If she only knew.
“That’s good. Pity I’m in a serious relationship with that guy over there,” she said, pointing to a large muscular man with dark skin and kind eyes. “That’s Jason. We’ve been together for a year now. If you see him around and you’re lost, he’ll be able to tell you where to go. I swear he doesn’t even need a compass, and he can find his way out of any situation, even on a mountaintop. It’s a little annoying, though I’m grateful because I have gotten lost inside my own home before,” she said and laughed.
My lips twitched, and I shook my head. “Good to know.”
“So, are you looking for something fun tonight? Or just here to get to know everyone?” she asked.
“Our Sasha here is a little blunt. That’s why we like her,” Pacey said at my confused look.
I nodded, relaxing. “That is good to know. And, honestly? Between work and school and my family, I don’t know if I have time for a relationship or anything that resembles one.”
Sasha’s eyes brightened, and she met Pacey’s gaze before Jason came over, and they all laughed.
“Those are the famous last words,” Jason said as he tilted his head.
I sighed. “Well, that’s reassuring.”
“I have the perfect person for you to meet,” Sasha said as she took my wrist and pulled me through the horde of people.
Sanders was off in the corner, sitting on a large chair that made him look as if he were on a throne. His girlfriend, Mackenzie, was perched on his lap, laughing at something he’d said, while they held court amid those around them. I actually like Sanders’ girlfriend. She was brilliant, very type-A, and knew exactly what she wanted. And I liked Sanders when he wasn’t so sarcastic, where I didn’t know if he was being mean or not.
I heard Miles’ low laugh from another corner and risked a glance over at him and the girl with glasses as they leaned into each other, talking about something I probably didn’t want to know about.
Tanner and his duo were long gone, and I had a feeling they were upstairs enjoying the end of the tour.
Pacey was back with Jason, while random groups of people came up to talk to them. Pacey was that magnetic, and it made sense to me that people gravitated towards him. They all wanted a piece of him. And, frankly, I liked being around him, too. He made me feel like I wasn’t some lost kid still trying to find his way.
“Mandy, come over here,” Sasha said, holding up her hand.
I gave Sasha a look. “You know I was letting you lead me around by the wrist. Not the balls,” I muttered. “I don’t need you to hook me up with anyone.”
Sasha just laughed at my comment, though thankfully didn’t take it to heart. “Oh, shush. You’re allowed to have fun. You’re young, free, and probably have a thousand things you’re worried about. Getting laid shouldn’t be one of them.”
A girl with long hair, bright gray eyes, and swollen lips came over to us. She looked fucking sexy.
“Mandy, this is Dillon. Dillon, this is Mandy. I don’t know Dillon’s major, darling, but he’s new here. It would be great if you could show him around.”
Mandy grinned and studied my face. “Well then, Dillon, if you have Sasha’s approval, I’d love to show you around campus. Or wherever,” she said, a little giggle added onto the end.
I cleared my throat. “It’s, uh, nice to meet you. Although I only met Sasha about thirty seconds ago.” I turned, and Sasha was gone, presumably off to where Jason and Pacey were. I shook my head as Mandy laughed outright.
“That sounds like Sasha. She’ll throw you to the wolves. But I promise, I don’t bite. Too hard. Unless you ask.”
I shook my head, a smile playing on my lips. “I thought that was a line I was supposed to give.”
Mandy just shrugged. “Maybe. But I like to be in control. Got a problem with that?”
“Depends on what you’re talking about, Mandy.”
“You know what? I think I like you. Let me show you around. Maybe introduce you to a few of my friends.”
She waved to a group of girls, who all gave me the once-over and gestured for me to come towards them. I looked around my new home, my friends scattered about with their couples, and I figu
red…why the hell not? I had responsibilities later, and I would deal with them.
But for now, maybe I would have a little fun.
Chapter 4
Dillon
* * *
Mandy stood in front of me at the coffee counter, going through her long order. Mine was probably just as long, but she was meticulous in making sure she got precisely what she wanted. But that was Mandy. She always got what she wanted. Somehow, that included me. I wasn’t quite sure how I’d even ended up in a relationship for four weeks with a girl I was still getting to know, but I was happy-ish. Mandy made me smile, laugh, and took my mind off the fact that school was fucking hard, in addition to dealing with work and morning sickness. Not that Mandy had morning sickness, thank God. But I was over at my old place often enough that I had even held back Violet’s hair.
That was an experience I never wanted to repeat.
I liked Mandy, but we didn’t have much in common, truthfully, and we were only near each other for certain things. Things that I wasn’t going to talk about with my brothers.
My sisters-in-law wanted to meet her, and I had no idea why. I mean, I understood why, but Mandy and I weren’t like that. She had been very clear about the fact that she did not want serious. She wanted to date around. I was fine with that. It was college. It’s what you did.
And, frankly, I was too exhausted to worry about anything but focusing on what I needed to.
“You ready, babe?” Mandy asked. I nodded and held up my phone. She shook her head. “No, I already paid. Come on. You get it next time.”
“Sounds good,” I said and moved over to the side of the line.
“Pussy,” a guy muttered under his breath as he walked past, and Mandy narrowed her eyes.
I shook my head. “It’s not worth it. And I just want coffee. Just because he’s not enlightened enough to learn that, ‘Hey, your girl wanting to pay for coffee is a good thing,’ doesn’t mean we need to deal with it.”
My First Glance: An On My Own Prequel Page 3
