4. Jayden
4
JAYDEN
“Get whatever you want,” I told Tori as she perused the menu. She sat across from us in a booth at a diner that looked straight out of the ‘50s. The large bench seat made her look even smaller. And the way she kept nervously toying with the end of her ponytail made her look younger. “My treat.”
Her brow wrinkled. “I’m not homeless.”
I tilted my head to the side. “It kind of looks like you are.”
“Well, okay, but I’m not broke.”
“Good to know, but you’re still not paying.” Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Lucas’s nod.
The whole reason we were here at all—and why she wasn’t sleeping in a fucking car in a parking lot—was that he’d sensed something was up.
He told me about the camera that creep had planted after we dropped Tori off, and I saw fucking red. No wonder women were cautious around men. With assholes like that out there, I didn’t blame them.
But even with that knowledge, I’d been content to drive off and leave her at that laundromat.
Lucas had convinced me to park across the street and wait. I was tired and wanted to go home, but he’d made us stay.
And he’d been right to.
“Can I get chicken strips?” She looked up from the menu.
“Get whatever you want.” Lucas said it this time.
I frowned at the menu. “Isn’t that a kid’s meal?”
Tori gave me a small smile, but as usually happened, my attention was drawn to that long, silky ponytail. She was fucking gorgeous with those long lashes, dark eyes, and full, pink lips. But it was that glorious dark hair of hers that I couldn’t stop watching, even when I was supposed to be studying.
Especially when I was supposed to be studying.
A waitress came, and Tori ordered her chicken strips, while Lucas and I got burgers. Then I winked at Tori before turning back to the waitress. “And she’ll have a strawberry shake.”
The waitress left before Tori could protest. “I’m not that hungry, that’s why I ordered off the kids’ menu.”
“And that’s why I ordered you a kid’s drink.” I smirked at her, hoping to get her to smile, and feeling rewarded when she did.
I took a sip of water, hoping the sodas would come soon. “So what’s with the whole van life thing? Or, in your case, the sedan life. Trying to make it big as a travel influencer?”
Lucas elbowed me, but my question earned another small smile from Tori.
“Nothing that glamorous. I was just tired of paying for that overpriced hotel room.”
“How many places have you lived in the last few months?” Lucas asked.
“A lot,” she admitted. “I haven’t had very good luck with roommates.”
Judging by that asshole Todd, it seemed she was right about that.
Lucas tensed, but his voice stayed gentle. “Did he do anything else besides the camera?”
Tori shook his head. “He just… I thought we were friends, and he seemed to think we were something more. He’d always want to know where I was going, and he just got, like, super possessive.”
“I’m sorry that happened,” I said. And even more sorry that I hadn’t known she needed help during our first study group session last week.
“Housing is a bit hard to find around here, but I’ve got a couple leads.” It was clear she was doing her best to project confidence. “I’ll find something soon.”
“And sleep in your car until then?” I asked, incredulously.
But it was Lucas who answered. “No, she’ll stay with us.”
His solution didn’t shock me—that’s where my mind had gone, too, but Tori shook her head rapidly. “I can’t ask you guys to put me up.”
“You didn’t ask,” I pointed out.
“I’ll be fine,” she insisted. Of course, the last time she’d said that, we’d found her in a dark lot in the middle of a fucking park. “I can go back to the hotel.”
“We’ve got room.” Lucas’s voice was gentle.
“Yeah, you can have my room.” It was only fair. It was Lucas’s house, so I should be the one to give up my room. Me sleeping on the couch was a hell of a lot better than her sleeping in a car.
“You’ll be safe there,” Lucas continued. “Your own room and a door that locks.”
Tori’s face flushed. “I didn’t mean to imply I wouldn’t feel safe, it’s just that…”
Lucas reached across the table and lightly touched her hand. “The last thing you need to do is reassure us that you’re not scared of us. After what that creep did, I’m surprised you’re not going after every man you meet with an axe.”
I watched Tori’s face, and the little flicker of relief there, but mostly I was amazed by Lucas’s words. He somehow knew what Tori needed to hear, and it was impressive. Though he’d had a girlfriend for three years in high school, I’d never considered him to be good at talking to women.
But maybe he was just good at talking to this woman. It had been more than obvious he’d had a crush on her all last year.
“I’ll change the sheets for you,” I said. “And I’ll take the lumpy pillow out to the couch; you can keep the good one.”
She gave a small smile that widened when the waitress set a frothy pink shake down in front of her. She immediately took a sip. “I haven’t had one of these in years.”
Our food arrived, and for a while we ate in silence. Tori toyed with her chicken strips but ate a few fries. Finally, she looked over at Lucas. “Is your house in Blayton?”
“Not far from there. It’s kind of out in the middle of nowhere.”
Shit. So much for Lucas knowing the right things to say to Tori.
Her eyes widened, and I cut in. “But there are neighbors close by. It’s just in an unincorporated area. It’s great, though. You can hike through the woods and see the rolling hills—I moved in at the start of the summer, and I love it here.”
She nibbled on a fry. “Wait, it’s up in the mountains?”
“Pretty much,” Lucas said. Though the higher peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains were north of us, this area was by no means flat.
Tori still looked hesitant, and I wondered what I could do to convince her that we’d never harm her. That we only wanted to help. And honestly? Every guy who’d ever made her feel unsafe deserved a kick to the head. Or the balls. Maybe both.
“If you don’t want to, we’ll take you to a hotel. Or your friend’s house.” I sighed. ”But it’s late. It’ll be easier just to follow us home. I promise you’ll be safe.”
“It’s not that,” Tori began. “I mean, thank you for the offer. But I grew up in southern Georgia. I’m not really good at driving in the mountains—especially at night.”
Relief filled me; that was a problem that was easily solved. “I’ll drive your car, and you can ride with Lucas.” Sure, she could’ve ridden with me, but I felt that Lucas deserved to be the one to drive with her. He was the one who’d figured out she needed help in the first place. Plus, it was his house.
“Are you guys really okay with this?” Tori asked. “It’ll just be for one night?—”
“It’ll be for as long as you need,” Lucas cut in, and I nodded.
“Well… thank you. Thank you both.” Her gaze slid to me. “And for the food.”
“It’s a full-service experience,” I said. “Dinner, a chauffeur, and housing in one, all-inclusive package.”
She smiled. “If the food is for kids, what’s the room like? Is there a racecar bed?”
“You’ll have to come with us to find out,” Lucas said, a smile tugging at his mouth.
“Okay,” she said softly. Then she took a deep breath and sat up straighter. “But if there’s no racecar bed, I’m going to leave a bad online review.”
“It’s a deal,” I said.