4. Nolan #2
She cuts her gaze to me as she passes the threshold. “I was Switzerland. Completely neutral.”
“Because I’m busy with science club ?”
She slows, pulling the door that leads to the basement open. “I didn’t know you were in science club . I just know that if my brother or sister needed a place to stay, I’d hope Katie and Hannah would be understanding and allow them to move in.”
She heads down the narrow, steep steps that lead down to the basement. They’re unfinished wood, our footsteps echoing with each step. I try to keep my gaze from her ass, realizing Katie might have drawn the line for us but Hadley’s certainly constructing them.
When we hit the bottom of the stairs, Hadley flips the lights on.
A single bald lightbulb turns on. She remains still, tracking across the large, empty space that is only partially finished.
The walls have all been covered with sheetrock, but only a few have been taped and mudded, and none of them have been painted.
The floor is concrete, which adds to making the space feel both darker and colder.
“Are you sure you want to stay here?” Hadley asks, slowly lowering the bag to the floor. “We usually lock the door that leads down here. Maybe you’d be more comfortable in the living room?”
“You don’t like the dark?”
“No, but cockroaches and giant spiders do.”
“I hate to tell you this, but they like the well-lit areas, too.”
She takes a final glance before ascending the stairs.
We’re nearly to the top when her phone vibrates against the counter.
Hadley takes the final stairs two at a time, grabbing her phone and hesitating only a second before she answers, moving the screen to reveal it’s a video call.
“Hey.” Her tone is filled with warmth and affection that has every nosey bone in my body coming to attention, wondering who is on the other end of the call.
I move closer to see her screen and see a woman with similar dark hair, and icy blue eyes.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were busy,” the woman says.
Hadley glances at me. “Oh, this is Katie’s brother.”
“I didn’t know Katie had a brother.” She leans forward as though it will help her get a better view of me. I move closer, catching the way Hadley blinks and pulls away before looking more closely at who I’m guessing is her sister. “Hi, Katie’s brother. I’m Lanie, Hadley’s sister.”
“Nolan,” I say. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I didn’t know Katie had a brother,” she repeats. “I thought she had an older sister?”
“An older and younger sister, actually,” I say.
“You have three sisters?” Lanie asks, eyes growing wide as she turns to look at Hadley. “Have I told you how glad I am that Mom and Dad had a second daughter? I can’t imagine having to live with two Geoffs.”
“I heard that,” a guy out of the frame says.
“You were supposed to,” Lanie sings.
Hadley chuckles.
“Nolan, are you the oldest?” Lanie asks.
“Second oldest.”
“Oh. You’re a middle child like me.”
“Four’s an even number,” Hadley says.
“Sure. But they have two middle children. Like a sandwich.” Lanie presses her hands together, and I realize both of them use their hands a lot when talking.
Hadley glances at me in the reflection of her screen.
“I only have a few minutes, but I wanted to call and thank you for the gift,” Lanie says.
“Christian nearly died of embarrassment opening those books. I wish I had recorded it because he was as red as a fire engine. It was priceless. Seriously, I don’t know where you found some of them, but they are graphic, and though the stuff for me is steeped in your twisted humor, it was really sweet. ”
Hadley rolls her lips as she fights back a laugh.
I suddenly realize how far outside of the boundaries I’ve stepped by not only caring who Hadley was speaking to but getting close enough that I could see. “I’ll let you two catch up. Nice meeting you.” I wave and take a step back to grab more things from my truck.
“No. No. I really do have to go,” Lanie says. “Oh, but first, I have a new show for you to watch. Only Murders in the Building . You have to watch it. I need to dissect it with you.”
I’m almost to the door when Hadley chuckles, the sound stopping me in my tracks.
“The last time I watched a show to discuss it with you, you stopped watching the show,” Hadley says.
“This is different. Christian and I are already on episode six. I need you to put down whatever book you’re reading and binge-watch it.”
“Text me so I remember the title,” Hadley tells her.
Lanie nods. “Already on it. Okay. I have to go. Tell Nolan it was nice meeting him. He’s hot, by the way. Like Chris Hemsworth-level hot. Are he and Katie close? Would that be weird?”
Hadley closes her eyes.
“Is he still there?” Lanie sounds like she’s cringing.
Hadley nods. “In the same room.”
I pull the front door open and look back long enough to flash a cocky grin.
“He knows he’s cute. It’s not newsworthy.” Lanie’s tone changes to dismissive just before I close the door behind me.
Hudson pulls up then in his Jeep. Palmer, Mila, Evelyn, and Hudson slide out.
“Corey and Grey are behind us with the furniture,” Hudson says.
Evelyn’s aunt gave me a king-size bed, nightstand, TV stand, and more, refusing to accept payment for any of it. I have no idea what kind of condition it’s in, but at this point, I’d be thrilled with a damn futon.
“This is it, huh?” Hudson asks, looking at the blue house.
“It’s nice,” Evelyn says, taking in the same view. “I love the stones on the front.”
The house is a medium shade of blue, with stone siding that hits the bottom of the windows.
It was built in the fifties but has largely been redone, however evidence of its age remains in some of the details like the short and steep descent of the stairs leading into the basement and the large, detached carport, but it’s been cared for and updated nicely, and at this point, I’d be content sleeping on that futon in a tiny apartment.
I grab two more bags, and the others follow suit. “It’s a trek from campus,” Hudson says.
“About fifteen minutes,” I say.
“Without traffic,” he counters. The one thing that pisses Peters off above all else is when someone is late.
I could drop a pass, and trip over my own damn two feet without a defensive player in sight, and my being late would still be a worse offense.
Two years ago when we were freshmen, Jamal Smith was playing for Camden as a first-string running back.
He was easily the best running back in the league, guaranteed to go pro—until he showed up late one too many times and Peters fucked him over by refusing to let him start.
Jamal traded teams, which forced him to redshirt a year, and never made the draft—may never make the draft.
The fact that a single action—a single person—can have that much influence over another person’s life scares the shit out of me. It always has.
The front door opens, and Hadley appears, her dark hair tied up. She looks nervous, borderline skittish as she lingers there. I’m waiting for her to make the excuse about the textbook again when there’s a scream behind me.
Mila is nearly in the bushes to avoid the spider Hadley had avoided.
“Shit!” Evelyn nearly stumbles, noticing it as well.
Palmer steps closer, examining its yellow and black striped legs. “Damn. That is a big one.”
“That’s what she said,” I say, setting my bags down and grabbing a stick.
“Don’t touch it!” Mila says. “That thing will take your arm off.”
I glance at Palmer, dirty jokes lining up in my head like a damn playlist, begging to be heard. He chuckles, clearly thinking the same damn thing.
“Sorry about that,” Hadley says.
I collect the spider and its large web. “Why are you apologizing for mother nature?”
Hadley glances at me, and I can tell by the exasperated expression she likely apologizes for most things she has no control over. A people-pleaser tendency. I know because that was me until recently.
“You were at the coffee shop,” Evelyn says, looking at Hadley. “The Spiced Chai.”
Hadley turns her gaze to Evelyn and smiles the same shy and courteous expression she gave me this morning in the kitchen.
“I’m Evelyn.” She glances at where I’m moving the spider before moving closer to the door. “You’re friends with Nolan?”
“She’s one of my new roommates,” I say. “This is Hadley.”
Hadley lifts a hand, offering a vague wave.
“Hadley, this is Hudson, Mila, and Palmer,” I introduce the others. “Evelyn’s from the Southwest, too.”
Evelyn draws her chin back. “What area are you from?”
“Vegas.”
“Albuquerque,” Evelyn says, pointing at her chest. “Have you gotten used to the humidity, yet?”
“God no. I’m convinced even the locals haven’t adapted to it.”
Evelyn grins, before glancing at Mila who looks mildly intrigued. Emotions war in my chest at their obvious approval, clouding the waters between Hadley being someone I’m cordial with and someone I might spend time with and get to know.
“Watch your step,” Hadley says, pointing at the cement stairs that lead up to the porch. “That first one catches people.” She backs into the house and pulls the door open wide for us to enter.
Mila releases a low whistle as she gazes around the foyer and living room off to our right which is filled with light gray furniture and bright orange details. “Okay. I get it. I would rather stay here than in the dorms, too.” She turns to Evelyn. “Maybe we should have looked at renting a house?”
Evelyn shakes her head. “Don’t get any ideas. Our lease isn’t up until August.”
“You guys haven’t even finished unpacking,” Hudson adds.
Hadley closes the door as another fly follows us inside.
“The bugs are unreal, aren’t they?” Evelyn asks.
“Not this again,” Mila says. “I will literally tattoo, ‘I love Oleander Springs’ to your forehead if I have to.”
Evelyn chuckles, but Hudson shares a nervous glance with Mila.
Evelyn wasn’t sure about moving here or attending Camden at the beginning of the summer, and those uncertainties still hold stock of Hudson’s thoughts sometimes, that and the draft have been two subjects that have been haunting my friend.
“I do love Oleander Springs,” Evelyn says. “Just not the bugs … or the humidity.”
Hadley grins. “I have to get going, but if you guys need anything, please feel welcome to help yourselves. I put mine and Hannah’s numbers on the fridge, too, in case you need something, or in case LeeAnne shows up.”
“LeeAnne?” I ask.
“The neighbor.” Hadley points across the street. “She’s kind of our self-appointed neighborhood watch. I think the shotgun is for looks, but,” she shrugs, “we are in the South.”
“Good to know,” I say as she grabs her bag. “You don’t need that textbook?”
Hadley’s crystal-blue eyes slide to me. “I forgot, it’s in my car.” She gives another casual shrug. “It was nice meeting you all.”
“You, too,” Evelyn says. “Hopefully, we’ll see you again soon.”
Hadley smiles at her before heading back outside. I watch the door close, tempted to follow her and thank her again for coming and tell her she’s not imposing if she wants to stay, but instead, I lead the others to the door leading down to the basement. “Careful, the stairs are steep.”
“I like her,” Evelyn says.
“We couldn’t tell,” Mila says.
“Someone’s jealous,” Palmer teases.
Mila flips him off in response before wrapping her arm around Evelyn’s shoulders so tight, it nearly looks like a chokehold. “I’m an only child, you have to expect the occasional possessive tendencies.”
Evelyn chuckles.
I head down the stairs, the temperature dropping with each step.
“Cozy,” Mila says, looking around. “It has a nice, comfortable prison vibe.”
“You sure this is better than the dorms?” Palmer asks, setting the bags he’d carried inside down.
Hudson turns his full attention to me, awaiting my answer.
“Fuck, yes,” I say.
Palmer nods. “I’d endure the prison vibe to live here with three chicks, too. This is going to be interesting.”