Chapter 9
Effie Harlow
Had I fallen asleep?
It was the first question that popped in my head, and it seemed like it was the only logical explanation for where I found myself currently.
I frowned, distantly and somewhat dizzyingly remembering that I had been tucked under Dakota’s arm, walking towards the car.
The others had been quietly talking behind us, their entire energy filled with tension, as a sense of guilt flooded me.
I’d caused that reaction. I didn’t understand why it had been such an extreme reaction, but I did know that I had caused it, and that alone made me sick. Now, though, I was disoriented and still felt shaky, waking up in a darkened room.
Panic gripped my throat as I began to clutch the bedding underneath me.
I didn’t like to be in unfamiliar spaces, especially unfamiliar dark places, and despite the bedding of dark purple and blue stars under my fingers appearing familiar and cozy…
it wasn’t mine. At least, I didn’t think so.
My throat dried as I tried to focus on moving my fingers against the soft bedding, enjoying the texture of how it felt under my touch, needing something to ground me fully to this moment.
I think it was in that moment that everything hit me at once. Being sent away from the only family I could remember. Leaving a house that I rarely did. Arriving on campus and meeting an entire group of faces that looked at me as if I should know them. It was goddamn terrifying.
A tremble took over my frame as tears welled in my eyes.
I tried to calm my breathing as I looked at the pattern of stars and moons over my body, yet I continued to shake more, feeling like the room was closing in around me.
I didn’t know how to pause that sensation.
I could feel anxiety threatening to wash over me and pull me down by the ankles.
My eyes flicked up to the door of my dorm room, realizing there was a warm light coming in from the main room.
That relaxed me. As well as the familiar scents that were coming from the rest of the dorm.
At least I could rely on that. Plus, someone had wrapped me in a cloud-like nest of pillows and blankets that were piled on my bed.
Everything around me was in dark but vibrant colors of blue and purple underneath the hallway light and the bright moonlight that shone through my large pane of windows.
This was my dorm? It almost felt like a shrine of peace and serenity, and it did a ton to calm my heart, if we were being honest. I took a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself.
How could this be my dorm, though? It didn’t look anything like before.
But it had to be mine, because I didn’t scent anyone unknown.
Everything inside of it was unfamiliar, though, and as I finally slipped down from the large full-size bed, instead of feeling what I expected to be a cold floor, my feet touched a soft, plush rug.
One that was a stunning silver shade that covered most of the floor and matched the bright light of the moon.
It was gorgeous and a far higher quality material than what I was used to.
I was tempted to turn on the large lamp that was against the wall to inspect it, but the beautiful lull and peace that came from the moonlight persuaded me differently.
There was a slight murmur from the television outside of my room, and as I walked towards the window, the long ledge filled with small objects, I could see the comfortable dorm room lounge reflected in the large panes of dark glass.
Where are the boys out there? What time was it?
Before I could question it more, I crouched down, briefly realizing that I was only in my jeans and shirt from earlier in the day.
Where had my jacket gone? I mean, I wasn’t cold in the least—the icy winter wonderland outside didn’t touch the heat that seemed to invade the space.
My eyes flickered across the skies that were growing heavier with clouds, snow beginning to fall in thick layers that I knew would cling to the ground and build.
I loved that. I felt like I was inside my very own… snow globe.
That was what I was looking at on this ledge. That was what was lined up here.
Hadn’t I only bought one earlier? Now there were seventeen of them.
All of them were from Diane’s and absolutely gorgeous.
Tears began to well in my eyes as a warmth grew in my chest, making my breathing catch.
Who had bought these? Actually, who had bought any of this?
I looked around, stepping cautiously across the floor, finding a few unpacked shopping bags near the dresser, along with my familiar bag that seemed to look dingy in comparison to the rest of the room.
Had they… had they bought all of this for me? Why?
“Little bit?” Tore’s voice sounded from the door. I turned sharply to meet his crystal blue eyes, which were light enough to rival the snow falling outside.
Almost instantly my entire body froze, before a jolt of energy surged through me, and I was crossing the room, throwing myself against him.
I didn’t even care about the bruising in my ribs.
That meant absolutely nothing to me compared to the affection and gratitude I felt towards this large, dangerous man.
Tore had bought the snow globes when he had left the diner.
I realized that now. As if surprised by my actions, his body froze momentarily before his arms closed tightly around me, causing me to nuzzle against his chest. A low rumble broke out of his throat as I pressed my hand to his heart between us, loving the steady thump. The noise and sensation surrounded me.
“You bought the rest of them?” I asked, my eyes leaking with moisture. I tilted my head back, not afraid to let him see the tears in my eyes. I saw a flash of emotion crowd his gaze as he examined my expression and his thumbs gently brushed over my cheekbones.
His nod was sharp before he gruffly said, “I didn’t want to risk anyone else buying them.”
I smiled, small and hesitant, before I looked at the collection. “I absolutely love them, Tore. Thank you… I don’t know what I did to deserve any of this. What about all of this other stuff? Why did you guys buy it?”
Tore brushed his nose against mine, the action causing surprise to draw across his face momentarily, as if he hadn’t expected himself to have done that. “Why wouldn’t we, Effie? You needed all of it and liked it, so you should get it. It’s that simple.”
I found my voice after a moment of emotion. “I… I’ve never had this many beautiful things before. Never at home. Before I came to the pack, I don’t think I had much of anything either, but I can’t remember that.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
Before I could explain my loss of memory, an alert sounded, and he pulled his phone from his pocket in confusion. He muttered a curse. “We are about to get hit by a pretty bad storm.”
“I’m glad we are inside,” I shivered slightly, thinking about being caught in that outside and how horrible it would be.
“Want to come watch a movie with us? It’s not too late.” I could see he was feeling a bit vulnerable still, an odd look to his eye as if he wasn’t sure of what he was saying. Not that he didn’t want me there, but as if he really didn’t understand how he was acting.
“Sure.” I nodded before my eyes flickered to the long mirror that was on the bathroom door.
Our reflection caught my attention, making me tilt my head, finding that I loved what I saw.
First of all, Tore was overwhelmingly larger than me, and I liked that.
I liked feeling so petite next to him. But more than that, the way he was holding me seemed natural.
I looked back up at him, deciding that there was something I needed to do before movie night.
“I think I’m going to shower first, if that’s okay,” I murmured, knowing that I looked a bit messy.
My clothes were rumpled from traveling all day, and my hair was knotted from the wind.
I wanted the feel of Guy’s hands and scent off me completely.
I didn’t smell him anymore… but I still wanted to wash him off.
Tore’s eyes flashed darkly before he seemed to consider something, but offered a grunt and kissed the top of my head before leaving the room.
I watched him go, and after letting out a small sigh at missing him already, I made my way towards the door of the bathroom.
My mouth popped open, realizing that this bathroom was completely mine, something that seemed absolutely insane.
Especially since it looked nothing like the worn-down bathroom in Theresa and Gerald’s apartment.
It was gorgeous, with a pale white tile and a large vanity with lots of space for storage.
The tall shower matched the height of the room, and despite having no windows, the entire room felt light and comfortable.
I turned on the vanity light and winced at just how messy I looked in comparison to the men.
Walking from the room, I briefly opened my bag on the floor and grabbed my bathroom bag, along with a pair of comfortable pants and a t-shirt.
It would have to work for a movie night.
Although, I was wishing I owned something way nicer right now.
Locking the bathroom door, I slipped off my clothes and frowned at my reflection, the hot water of the shower steaming up the room.
Bruises littered my ribs from this past weekend, and new ones from Guy were forming along the back.
The first ones, I had made the mistake of walking home from the store past one of the local hangout places.
It had left me bruised and sore enough that it was just now starting to look like a normal injury.
Or a smaller one, like my wrist, from Gerald.
I offered a small, sad smile in the mirror, wishing that I could look like the girl in the diner, or even half as beautiful as the men I lived with.