61. Aurora
T he guys have me on lockdown again. Ever since I opened that box of photos on Thanksgiving last week, they haven’t let me go anywhere alone.
And worse than that? My parents are now involved.
There was no escaping telling them, not when they were sitting right there, but still, the aftermath is completely suffocating.
My mom and dad have been calling me every day, with David also texting for updates every few hours, and I feel like I am going insane.
I get they want to protect me and watch my back, and I’m not sure if I’m just numb to the fear, but I can’t find it in me to worry.
I still haven’t told any of them about the letters or other gifts, but they managed to piece things together, from the photos to the vandalism to my door, and the flowers I received the morning of Gemma’s funeral.
Although they conveniently left out what happened to Harden’s car.
Apparently it’s only my safety they are concerned about.
They have forbidden me from going back to the dorm.
My parents only left the night of Thanksgiving because Everest promised not to let me out of his sight, and he's stayed true to that promise. He and my mom met with the Dean, explaining the whole situation and got all of his assignments for the next month, so he has a free pass to skip class. Not that he’s taking it.
No, instead he has taken up residence beside me in all of my classes, glaring at anyone who gets too close, even the professors.
Griffin and Harden aren’t much better, the former tailing me every time I go to the art studio, even with Everest in tow, and the latter calling Caden Miles every night about the whereabouts of his cousin.
I think that’s why I can no longer find it in me to be scared, because I refuse to let Jason Miles take anything else from me.
We told my mom and David what happened that night, and after a few curses and a lot of tears, we took out a restraining order against him. Not that anyone has been able to locate him, but just having it in place makes me feel better.
So, the only place I go is to class and then back to the house.
I did manage to force them not to skip practice, but only because I roped Aubree into sitting through them with me so I wasn’t alone.
All the guys still watched me more than the puck they were supposed to be following, but I know Aubree explained to her dad what has been going on, so he didn’t call them out for it.
It’s Sunday morning now, and I’m sitting on the sofa with Harden, watching a movie, while Everest sits beside me reading something for class. Griffin is in the middle of cooking breakfast for us all, when we all hear the front door open and close.
All three of them tense, shielding me instantly, and I roll my eyes, knowing that thanks to the new locks, there are only five people who can get in and out of this house. A fact that is confirmed, when Bishop rounds the corner and eyes us all with a grim smile.
“Hey guys,” he sighs, shifting nervously, as Everest returns his attention to his book.
“What’s up, Burke, bad pussy?” Griffin asks his friend, moving back toward the kitchen, and Bishop shakes his head.
“Not exactly.” He reaches up and rubs the back of his neck, and I feel Harden’s focus on him completely unwavering. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” he starts, and Everest slams his book closed again.
“What happened?” he demands, and now it’s my turn to shift, sitting up straighter in my spot, and Bishop’s stare meets mine.
“I just left Aurora’s dorm, and her door has been completely kicked in, and her room totally ransacked.” He cringes slightly as he delivers the bad news, and I blink back in surprise.
I know he’s been seeing one of the girls there, and though the guys haven’t filled him in on everything that is going on, he knows enough.
The rumors of what happened to my door last time spread like wildfire, and he saw the new locks that were fitted to the house.
He didn’t dig beyond a few questions, sensing the guys’ protective tone, but he’s always had my back alongside them.
“Fuck,” Everest snaps, pushing to his feet, as Harden is already reaching for his phone.
I once again wait for the fear to grip me, but it doesn’t come, it can’t. Not when I know they would all go to war for me, so instead, I take a steadying breath as I stand up.
“Did you see anything else?” I ask Bishop, and he shakes his head.
“No, sorry trouble, it was pretty quiet, I don’t think anyone else has seen it yet, not before I left anyway, I figured I should come straight here and tell you guys.”
I nod, knowing it’s still early for a Sunday, but Everest is already moving to grab his shoes. “Haze, grab your shit, we’re leaving,” he grunts, and it’s only at his words that I finally feel some panic.
“Where are you going?” I rush out, following after them both, as Griffin moves to follow.
“To find that prick, Miles,” he curses, slipping on his shoes and snatching up his coat, as Harden does the same, his fingers moving furiously across his phone screen.
Everest’s focus moves to Griffin. “Don’t fucking leave her side, Blake,” he commands, pointing at him, I can barely keep up with what is happening, and Griffin nods.
“No, please, just stay here,” I plead, rushing toward him, but Griffin snatches his arm around my waist, hauling me back against him.
Everest closes the distance between us anyway. “Don’t worry about me, princess, I got this,” he tells me firmly, before kissing me roughly, but far too quickly.
Harden is right there when he pulls away, a fierce look in his eye, as he signs. Don’t worry, pretty girl, I won’t let anything happen to him.
“Don’t let anything happen to you either,” I demand, and the smile he gives me is both brutal and beautiful, before he also kisses me.
When he pulls back, he shifts his attention to Griffin, not even giving Bishop a second glance, before he kisses him too, outing their relationship that up until now they have kept under wraps.
I can tell Griffin is as surprised as I am, because he startles a little, before returning his kiss completely.
“Stay alert,” he tells us both with a nod, before pulling back and following Everest to the door.
Griffin only releases me when they have both left, cursing as he locks the door behind them, before turning back to the two of us.
“Do you want me to finish breakfast?” Bishop asks carefully, sensing the anger rolling off his friend, but Griffin shakes his head.
“Fuck breakfast, I need a drink,” he snaps back, and Bishop snorts a laugh at that.
“Whiskey it is, my friend,” he replies, before leaving us alone to head to the kitchen.
“Griff,” I gasp, the fear now pulsing through me, but he marches toward me and pulls me into his arms.
“Don’t worry sweetheart, you’re safe here with me.”