Chapter Four
Savvy
I wake up feeling hopeful for the first time since my parents’ death.
Things will be okay for me. Though my initial arrival yesterday was awkward to say the least, it did get better. And now I’m officially employed by Smoke & Sugar.
My bedroom door has been closed, and I’m not the one who did it. If I had to guess, Cole wanted to stick to his rules. After climbing out of bed, I slip out of the room and brush my teeth in the bathroom before heading downstairs.
The microwave beeps, alerting me to someone else already being up. Travis, standing shirtless, and in a pair of sweatpants, watches as the microwave cooks what smells like leftovers from last night.
He’d been oddly insistent we take every bit home to eat later. Cole thought it was because, and I quote, “He’s a human garbage disposal,” but I felt like there was more to it.
“Morning,” I say as I enter the kitchen, making my way over to the coffee machine that’s already been started. “Did you make this for me?”
“Nah, must’ve been Cole. He gets up at the ass crack of dawn to run.” Travis turns around to face me, a sleepy grin on his face. But, when he sweeps his gaze over my form, the smile falls, and he gapes.
“What?” I ask as I pour myself a cup. “Leah got me started on coffee when I lived with them. I like it. Makes my mind sharper.”
He makes a choking sound. I glance over at him to see what’s wrong, but he’s already turned his back on me again, to fumble with the microwave. Don’t get me wrong. His back is nice. Really nice. Muscular, tattooed, smooth. But his whole demeanor changed in a second.
Why is he acting so weird?
I stir in some sugar and then hunt down some creamer in the fridge. Each time I pass him, he turns slightly away as if to avoid looking at me. Unease washes over me. Did I do something wrong?
“Is everything okay?”
He nods and then rushes out of the kitchen. Maybe he’s just one of those people who are grumpy in the morning.
The front door opens, and I hear Cole greet Travis. Then, Cole strides into the kitchen on a hunt for a cold water bottle. He guzzles it down in three gulps, not even noticing me standing there. I, however, can’t seem to peel my eyes off the way his soaked-with-sweat shirt clings to his muscular body. In just a pair of running shorts and T-shirt, he looks good. A lot younger too. And, if I’m honest with myself, really hot.
Now my cheeks are turning hot.
Great.
Finally, he turns his eyes in my direction. He flashes me a warm smile that lights up his handsome face, and then his eyes slide down my body. By the time he reaches my bare feet, he’s scowling and tense.
Not again.
“What the hell is that, Savvy?”
Travis sniggers from the living room.
“Coffee,” I say with a frown. “What’s the big deal? You drink it too.”
“Not the damn coffee,” Cole growls. “That.”
He flicks his fingers at me as if he’s disgusted. I glance down, suddenly horrified at the thought that maybe I started my period, and blood is running down my legs. Thankfully, nothing is there.
“What?” I ask, irritation blossoming in my chest. I set my coffee down and take a step toward him. “What’s the deal with you two this morning?”
Cole staggers back as though I have the plague. This has me pausing, heart rate hammering in my chest. He angrily thrusts a finger at me.
“That,” he says, pointing at my shirt, “and that.” This time, he points at my shorts.
They’re being weird because they don’t like my pajamas.
Seriously?
“You’re forbidden from wearing that ever again,” Cole snaps. “Go change now.”
I gape at him, confused. Travis materializes behind him and clutches his shoulder.
“That’s enough, man. You’re being a dick.”
Cole shakes his head. “She’s practically naked, Trav. Naked . What the fuck?”
Naked?
Is he insane?
I’m wearing a T-shirt and shorts. I’ve had these pajamas for like three years. My mom bought them for me.
“I’m going to be late for work,” Cole grumbles, shaking off Travis and hightailing it out of the kitchen. Seconds later the door to his room slams shut.
Feeling embarrassed, I cross my arms over my chest, fighting tears. “I don’t understand what just happened. What did I do wrong?”
Travis, whom I now see is wearing a shirt, groans. “Nothing, little S. We’re just not used to having a…”
“A what?” My voice is shrill and I’m shaking.
He steals a quick glance down at my legs and then his cheeks turn red when he looks back up again. “A woman in our house looking all domestic, and you know, really, really, um, underdressed.”
Now we’re both blushing.
This is so stupid.
They’re acting like assholes because I’m walking around in my sleepwear.
“Underdressed? They’re freaking pajamas, Travis.” I turn on my heel and head over to my coffee. He makes another garbled sound behind me. “What?”
When I spin around, I catch him adjusting himself. Wait. Are they both losing their minds because they like what they see? The thought is shocking, but also, gratifying.
Two grown men attracted to little ol’ me in sleepwear.
“I’m going to be blunt, little S,” Travis says, shaking his head. “Your ass is hanging out of those shorts.”
Feeling emboldened, I sip my coffee and then grin at him. “Learn to control yourselves. This is your new normal. Get used to it.” I’m a woman. They’re men. It’s the way of the world.
He bites down on his bottom lip, trying and failing to hide a smile. “Touché. I can handle it, but five bucks says Cole’s in the cold shower right now beating his dick into submission. Go easy on him.”
I nearly choke on my coffee. The image of Cole stroking his cock to thoughts of me is shocking. I don’t hate it, though.
“As soon as he gets out of the shower, I’m hopping in,” Travis says with a wink. “Apparently I need to get my body in check too.”
He leaves before I can respond to that statement.
My blood hums in my veins and my heart races. This is the most alive I’ve felt in a long time.
Driving those two men crazy with my outfit choices, in an effort to remind them I’m my own person and not some kid they have to watch, sounds like my new mission in life.
Game on, guys, game on.
I miss Addison.
She was the only person who could make me laugh when I wanted to do anything but do that. I’ve been in a constant state of pain since Mom and Dad died, and she was the only relief.
Now I’m living in a new home, driving to a new school, with my new friend. Brayden Foss, Moonlit Gable’s owner’s son, doesn’t seem to be at all bothered by this development where a random girl is now his daily passenger. He’s comfortable and chats amicably while I worry over my classes. When I see a cell phone store, I stare longingly at it while we wait at a stoplight.
“Did you need to stop there?” he asks, glancing my way.
Brayden isn’t really my type. He’s tall and probably lean based on the way his hoodie swallows him. Bones in his hands protrude and his cheekbones are prominent. While he doesn’t have the best complexion, his smile and eyes make him sort of cute.
My type is older, muscular, tattooed.
Like your roommates?
Rather than admit that to myself, I nod quickly. “I just want to see how much it would cost me to get a new phone. When I left the foster home I was at, they took it back.”
He turns at the light and pulls into the parking lot. I run in to browse the store and end up coming out with a new iPhone, a monthly bill, and a sense of freedom. Thankfully they were able to put the phone on a payment plan so I could walk out of there not spending a whole lot which is great considering I don’t have much.
With my new phone in hand, I program Brayden’s number while he drives us to school. I’ll have to message Addison on social media to get her number again and I know I have my roommates’ numbers written down at home.
Roommates.
Home.
It’s weird to think I have a place now that I feel safe at. I also don’t have to worry about getting kicked out. And now I have a job, too.
“I’m sure you’re used to being all popular and all,” Brayden says as we pull into the parking lot at Brown High, “but I’m just a low-key guy with a handful of friends. You can pretend not to know me if that helps you.”
Brayden is the complete opposite of Addison, her brothers, and all their friends. It’s refreshing to be honest. He shares a Chevy truck with his dad and dresses like a regular guy. If I had to guess, Brayden has less than five pairs of shoes to his name and he’s completely okay with that. Rhett, Addison’s older brother, has over two-hundred pairs.
Thoughts of Rhett make my blood run cold. I quickly shove him and his shoe obsession from my mind.
As we park, no one looks our way. Brayden doesn’t seem like the guy who attracts much attention which is fine with me. I’m good with flying under the radar.
It’s strange to be wearing regular clothes. When I went to the private school with Addison, we were required to wear uniforms. Pleated skirts, button up shirts, knee-high socks, and Mary Janes. You would actually get detention if you deviated from the strict uniform rules. It was a nightmare.
I’m comfortable today in a pair of holey jeans, a black Queens of the Stone Age T-shirt I’d inherited from Dad, and a pair of Hey Dudes Addison gave me. My backpack is light on my shoulders, but I know that’ll change once I’m issued a Chromebook.
Brayden leads me to the front office of the school. He’s nice enough to wait in the lobby so he can walk me to class once I know my schedule. I’m about to tell the receptionist I’m here to see the principal when an older man walks out of a door, eyes searching. When they land on me, he smiles.
“Savannah Collins?”
I give him a small wave. “That’s me. Principal Renner?”
He grins and shakes my hand. “Enzo is a friend of mine. He made sure everything would be a smooth transition for you and already handled the transfer paperwork. All I need from you is a few signatures and then we can get you your computer.”
I follow him into his office. He is exceptionally good looking for an older guy but walks with a slight limp as if he’s injured. Once we’re in his office, I notice some military-type awards on the walls. There’s a picture behind his desk of him with a much-younger wife and their children.
“Sit,” he says before sitting in his seat. “I see Brayden Foss is a friend of yours. Good kid. Stick with him and you’ll do fine.”
“Seems nice. He lives in my townhome complex.”
Principal Renner slides over a few forms for me to sign and then taps his knuckle on a laptop. “This is yours. There’s a sticky note inside with a login and password to get you started. You can change it from there.”
“What’s my schedule?”
“Lucky for you, I have you with Coach Long for first period. He’s gruff but good at his job. If you’re into sports, he’s the man to talk to. He’s the track and field coach.”
I’m not much of an athlete and I’m not sure I’ll even have the time for such extra-curricular activities with my new job, but I nod anyway.
“Normally, our guidance counselor handles new students, but we’re waiting to hire someone for the position since ours moved away, which means you have me if you run into any issues with your schedule.” He taps on his keyboard for a second to check something on his computer and then nods. “You’re on the same lunch hour as Brayden, so that’ll help, too. Any questions?”
“I don’t think so,” I say after a beat. “Thank you.”
He gives me a warm smile. “Not a problem. Welcome to Brown High. You’re going to love it here.”