Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
NOLA
I’ve never been one to feel car sick, but as I sit in the back seat, sandwiched between Wesley and Sylas, I am hyperaware of how close they are to me right now.
Their friggin’ thighs are pressed against mine! I’ve never been this close to them before. The mix of their scents has my head spinning and I feel like I’m on the verge of hyperventilating.
“Can someone open the window?” I manage to get out as we pull out of the parking lot.
“Yeah, sure.” Callie presses a button making all four windows go down. There’s a bit of relief as the fresh air hits my face.
Callie is chatting with Jasper about something as she turns the music on low.
Back here, though, it’s dead silent. I don’t know if that's a good thing, or if it’s worse.
If they try to talk to me, would I make a fool of myself?
My pulse is racing and I pray I don’t start sweating. That would be gross.
Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths.
I got this. I can do this.
This is good practice, right?
If we’re going to be together for the rest of our lives, I have to learn how to hold a damn conversation with them. The blushing needs to stop, and I have to give them more than a few word answers if they ask me anything.
“Breathe, Lola Girl,” Sylas’ voice is low and husky as he whispers in my ear.
I literally have to bite down on my cheek to hold back a whimper as my body breaks out into a shiver, goosebumps dancing along my skin as my nipples pebble against my bra.
That's how much they affect me. A simple whisper, the feeling of his breath against my ear has my core tightening with need.
“I am breathing,” I mumble out.
“You look like you're going to pass out,” Wesley says dryly, lighting up one of his smokes. “Would you relax? You're acting like we’re going to bite your head off.”
“Don’t you even think about it, Wesley Shaw. If you smoke that in here, I will make you eat it.”
“Geez,” Wesley grumbles, flicking his cigarette out the window. “You’re sounding very un-lady like, Callie.”
“Good thing I don’t give a shit about acting like a lady, or what you think about my lady-like status.” Callie flips him off.
“Sylas, your sister is mean. Why is she here again?”
“Because I’m a fucking delight.” Callie flashes him a stunning smile in the review mirror. “Unlike you boys.”
I roll my lips together, trying not to laugh. I should be jealous of how unfiltered Callie is around the guys. I wish I was able to banter with them like that. And if she wasn’t Sylas’ little sister, I probably would be jealous.
Seeing as how I can’t kill the girl, there's no point getting worked up.
Plus, it would be a shame to lose her as a friend when I just got her.
The way they act is more like siblings than anything. She did call them her brothers after all. And while two of them might not be blood, they treat her as if they were.
I like that. I like that even in their fucked up little world, my men have a sense of loyalty and family. I think they’re going to make good fathers to our children someday.
“Don’t listen to him, Lola,” Sylas chuckles. “We don’t bite.”
Wesley lets out a snort laugh. “Not at all.”
The ride to the cafe is short. And as much as I enjoyed having them pressed up against me, the space between us and the fresh air is nice.
“All this way just to get pizza?” Sylas asks as we walk towards the entrance. “We could have gotten that on campus.”
“Pizza?” Callie laughs. “No, big brother, I’m here for the gumbo. Do you know how much I’ve missed New Orleans cuisine?”
Gumbo does sound good. I think I’ll get some, too.
When we walk in, we find a table by the windows.
Callie and I sit at one end while the guys spread out, each taking a free side of the table.
“Well, I’m feeling more of a Po-Boy,” Sylas says, looking at the menu.
“Good choice.” I look up to see a young woman, maybe in her early twenties, with long black hair and breasts that are hardly contained in her uniform top, smiling a little too brightly at my guys. “What about you guys?”
Jasper and Wesley tell her their order. Jasper gets a steak, and Wesley ends up getting a slice of pizza.
“Coming right up. Do you want anything else to drink, or are waters good for you?”
My brows furrow, eyes flicking over to Callie. She looks annoyed. We share a look, then she rolls her eyes.
“Waters are fine,” Jasper answers.
“Alright then. Be right back with those,” she replies cheerily, completely ignoring us.
“Excuse me,” Jasper speaks up.
The waitress turns around, her smile slipping into something a little more flirty. “Yes?”
“You forgot something.” The look on Jasper’s face tells me he is not impressed by the fact that she ignored Callie and me, and it makes me oddly giddy.
“I did? I’m sorry. Was there anything else you wanted?” she asks.
“Not us. Them,” Jasper corrects. “You took our orders and completely disregarded the two women sitting at the table with us.”
“Pretty fucking rude if you ask me.” Sylas leans back in his chair, raising a brow.
“Oh.” She laughs nervously. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t even see you two there.”
“Sure you didn’t, hun.” Callie gives her a fake grin. “I’d like the gumbo. Nola, what would you like?”
“I’ll have the same as her.” I look up at the girl, wondering if it would cause too big of a scene if I were to grab this fork and cram it into her neck right now.
“You got it.” She nods, not even bothering to write it down before she turns around and leaves.
“God,” Callie scoffs. “Could she be any more obvious?”
“We handled it,” Sylas says. “Don’t make a bigger deal out of it than it needs to be,” he warns his sister.
“I bet she thought we were your girlfriends.” Callie leans back in her seat, crossing her arms. “Like, have a bit of dignity. If we were your girlfriends, she still wouldn’t have hesitated trying to hit on you three by the time we left.”
“Stop talking,” Sylas shudders. “You're my sister. I don’t ever want to think of you like that.”
“I mean, if she wasn’t disrespectful to the two of you, she might have had a chance.” Wesley turns around to look over his shoulder. I follow his line of sight. Is he checking out her ass?
White-hot rage simmers through me, my eyes staring daggers into the back of her neck.
“Maybe if she apologizes, she could redeem herself,” Sylas chuckles, making my stomach twist.
“Absolutely not,” Jasper shuts that down. “We have more respect for ourselves than that.”
“I don’t know.” Sylas grins as the waitress makes her way back over, not trying to be discreet about the way he checks her out. “I could be a little trashy, for the right price.”
I stare down at my cutlery rolled up in its napkin, my fingers fidgeting with the fabric.
“Here you go,” she says, placing the waters down. “Food will be out soon.”
“Could you have someone else bring it to us?” Callie asks. “Thanks.”
“Oh.” The girl sounds surprised. “Uh, sure.”
“Callie, you embarrassed the girl,” Sylas tuts.
“She embarrassed herself,” Callie says. “Is this what I have to look forward to now that I’m back?” she huffs, looking at me. “How do you deal with it?”
“Deal with what?” My brows furrow in confusion.
“The girls hitting on them nonstop when they're around you.”
“Oh.” The back of my neck heats up. “Uh, we’re not really friends.”
“What?” Callie’s brows furrow, looking between the three guys. “Since when?”
“Since years ago,” Wesley answers.
“Why?” Callie demands, sounding offended, for me.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “We just don’t have the same interests, that's all. People get older, they grow apart.” Or you get told by your best friend that it’s time to grow up, and they don’t want shit-all to do with you anymore.
Relax, Nola. Now you know why.
Still doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
“Well, things are going to change,” Callie says.
“They are now, are they?” Sylas asks, sounding amused with his sister.
“Yup. Nola and I are besties now, aren't we?” She grins at me excitedly.
I let out a little laugh. “Yeah, I guess we are.”
“See? So, that means she and I are going to be joined at the hip. And seeing as how you three sniff around me like guard dogs, you’re going to be seeing her more by default. The least you could do is be nice to the girl. No, scratch that. You better be nice or else.”
Part of me wants to argue, because as much as I’m excited to have a friend, I need my space. I don’t need anyone or anything intervening with my plans or keeping a close eye on me.
But I’ll make it work because I don’t want to be rude. Callie is a sweet girl. I’ve never met another girl like her. It would be rude of me to protest when she seems so excited to have me as a friend as well.
“Relax, Callie,” Wesley drawls. “You sound like a psychopath.”
“Takes one to know one,” Callie shoots back.
“Got me there.” He takes out a cigarette from his pocket and lights it up.
“You can’t smoke in here,” Callie hisses, grabbing it from him and tossing it into his glass of water.
“Sylas, control your sister,” Wesley complains.
Callie snorts. “As if he could.”
“Sorry, man. She’s her own woman.”
“Damn right.” Callie lifts her chin. “No one can control me.”
“No one better try,” Sylas grumbles.
“Okay, enough about you three. Nola, tell me, what do you like to do for fun?”
I can feel all three eyes on me.
Licking my lips I wrap my arms around myself.
“Nola is more of an introvert,” Jasper answers for me. “She doesn’t do anything for fun.”
“I do too.” My brows furrow. “I like to go for walks every night in the park by my place. I love music. And animals.”
“Yes!” Callie grins. “And we have to go to the zoo. I haven’t been there since I’ve gotten back. I have to see about getting a job there, too.” She turns to the guys. “Next weekend, zoo. The four of us.”
“We can’t,” Jasper says. “We have jobs.”
“You’re in university. Live a little. Have fun.” Callie waves him off.
“Trust me, our fun isn’t the same kind of fun as yours,” he mutters.
“Whatever. Nola and I will go then, right?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I’d love to.”
“Great. It’s settled.”