23. Ford
Chapter 23
Ford
M atthew stayed until late last night, as we all got used to being together as a unit for the first time. Other than a minor hiccup or two, it went well. Easier than I thought it would, especially with Jacob and Matthew being together in the same room with our girl. The true test came when Dylan sat down in Matthew’s lap and they kissed in front of us. Jacob tensed at first, then his face softened and the fucker actually smiled. I guess he really is in this for the long haul. We all tried to get him to spend the night, but he declined, saying he had an early morning and didn’t want to wake us when he left.
“Kitchen’s unpacked!” Dylan screams up the stairs. Since there were four bedrooms, we decided to all take one for ourselves, knowing there would be times we want to be alone, or one of us would want some private one-on-one time with Dylan.
“Good, ‘cause I’m hungry!” I call back as I sit the empty box in my hand on the floor. I’ll break it down later and when we’re all done, we can load all the trash up and take it to the dump.
“Me too, man.” Jacob appears at my door, sweat beading on his forehead and looking tired. I can’t lie, I am too. After the drive, the excitement of getting here and being with Dylan, and the late night, I’m exhausted. We only got a few hours of sleep.
We go down the stairs, neither of us saying a word. We’re at college, playing a sport we love for the school we wanted and we’re with our girl.
Life couldn’t get better than it is right now.
Stepping into the kitchen, Dylan has her back to us. Her denim skirt barely covers her ass. All I can think about is bending her over the table while I fuck her.
“Lunch is served.” She turns, a beaming smile on her face as she sets two bowls of chili on the table.
“How did you make this?” Jacob questions. “There’s no food in the house.”
“There’s this life saving thing called grocery delivery. I’m very good at that. I figured when we went out today to show you around campus, we could hit the grocery store and stock up. We need to get back to eating healthier options and not spending money to eat out. It’s expensive. Which brings me to another topic. Finances. How are we going to afford the utilities and everything?”
Jacob and I take a seat at the table as Dylan gets her bowl and joins us. I notice we don’t have anything to drink and get up to get three of the sodas from the fridge. We had some snacks left over from our trip and brought them in last night.
“We’ll be fine. Once we renounce our housing, that will be extra money from our scholarships that’ll go to us. Then we can reduce our meal plan; if we eat at least one meal at school, that’ll be extra money in our pocket. As far as electricity and rent go, my parents told me we didn’t need to worry about it. Our goal is to focus on our education and the team.”
I look up just in time to see both their jaws drop. I can feel all the emotions they’re experiencing right now because I felt them too, when my parents told me.
“That’s too much.” Jacob runs his hand through his hair as he blows out a breath.
“Jacob’s right. I can’t expect them to pay for me. For us. I’ll get a part-time job or something to take care of my share.”
I laugh. My parents know Dylan better than I do, and they haven’t even known her as long or intimately as I do.
“It’s not funny, Ford!” She crosses her arms as she presses her lips firmly together.
Reaching out, I take hold of her arm, pulling it away from her and cradling her hand in mine, caressing the top of it with my thumb. “I know it’s not, Kitty. I had this same conversation with my parents, and they even joked about how you might react this way. They wanted me to let you know that you will not get a job. The house is paid for, and it’s going to end up being mine, anyway. As far as the electric, they want you to think of it as a gift for putting up with my hard-headed self. Now, do you want to hurt their feelings by declining their request and trying to pay them?”
Her eyes tear up, and she shakes her head before a gentle sob escapes. “It’s been so long since someone has been this nice or thought about me. Well, other than you two and Matthew.”
“Now that we’ve got that sorted and learned that Ford has the best parents other than me, let’s eat. We have a campus to see,” Jacob announces boldly, brightening the mood in the room, causing us all to smile. But I know Dylan is masking a deeper pain. I wish her parents could be different and truly see the pain they’re putting their daughter through.
Chapter break
“Shh.” I place my finger over my lips and whisper to Jacob as we sneak into Dylan's room and give her a kiss on the forehead. She’s sleeping so deeply she doesn’t even wake, just rolls over and curls herself against Matthew’s body.
Matthew came over last night and we all fell asleep in the living room watching a Scream marathon. Around three this morning, we all made our way up to bed, with Matthew following Dylan. By their state of dress, it would appear they didn’t do anything more than sleep. I’ve got to give it to him. He has more restraint around our girl than I do.
“Why are we going in to see the counselor this early? It’s barely seven,” I ask Jacob as we step into the hallway, gently shutting the door behind us.
“Because it’s all they have available for the next week and we want to go over our classes and make sure they’re what we want before they fill up. We also need to let them know we’re staying off campus so our tuition can be adjusted,” he reminds me.
“You mean you and Dylan need to. I already did that.” I give him a wink. When we were talking about it last night, Matthew said he would help Dylan get hers adjusted.
It doesn’t take us long to drive to campus and within a few minutes, we are parking in front of the administration building. Dylan’s tour yesterday helped.
“Man, this campus is huge. Even seeing it yesterday, it still astounds me.” I blow out a breath as we walk up the sidewalk to the building. Students are casually moving around, some huddled in groups, while others are in pairs or alone. Each one has a story and a new life awaiting them. I’m just happy I have my best friend and girl with me on this journey.
Jacob pulls open the door and stands back so I can enter. I can’t help but laugh at his chivalry. “Well, thank you, sweetheart. It’s so nice to have a strapping young man like yourself who still knows how to be courteous,” I joke, barely moving in time to dodge his punch.
“Fuck you, asshole,” he snarls before laughing with me.
“Nah, I’d rather fuck our girl.”
He’s mumbling under his breath as we step up to the receptionist. “How can I help you?” the middle-aged woman asks without looking up from what she’s doing on her computer.
“We’re here to see Mr. McStevens,” I tell her, reaching over to the rack beside her desk that holds the school’s catalog of classes.
“The both of you?” she asks as she shifts her gaze to us, raising her eyebrow as she looks over the rim of her glasses.
“Yep, I’m Ford Nickels and this is Jacob Stoll. We’re freshmen and newly recruited players to the lacrosse team.” I puff my chest out with pride. Playing for CSU is going to be a dream come true.
“Take a seat and I’ll let him know you’re here.”
We turn, and my eyes go wide, seeing the line behind us. Jacob and I step out of the line, move around the crowd, and head toward the two vacant seats against the wall. Before we’re able to sit down, we hear a husky voice calling our names. Turning, we see our counselor. He looks to be in his thirties, with shaggy dark hair and a mustache that looks like he’s been transported out of the seventies.
“Right here,” Jacob answers, giving him a wave as we head in his direction.
“Good to meet you. The appointment note stated you wanted to go over your schedule and to discuss your housing situation.”
“Yes, sir. We do,” I answer for the both of us as we follow him to his office.
“Please, take a seat and let me print off the schedules I have for you. I know in your email, you gave me the classes you’d like based on your individual majors or what you’re currently thinking of declaring. I know that you’re uncertain at the moment, Mr. Stoll.” He gestures toward the seats in front of his desk and we each sit down.
“That’s right, sir. I figured I’d take the first couple of semesters doing required courses, while I decided on my major. I’d rather not waste money, then figure out three years from now it’s not what I want and have to start from scratch,” Jacob states nervously, as if admitting he’s not sure what he wants to do with his future makes him a failure.
“That’s a smart choice, young man. I wish more of the students would use that logic. It’d save me a lot of headaches.” Mr. McStevens laughs at what I guess was a joke as the printer comes to life behind him, dispensing papers into the tray. He reaches back and pulls them out, handing one to each of us. “Here are your schedules. Just take a moment to look them over and then tell me about the housing issue.”
I take a glance at my schedule, happy with the courses listed. Speech, English, Psychology, and Art. Yep, a couple of hard courses and a few easy ones. Just like I wanted—especially with having practices.
“Jacob also needs an adjustment to his tuition. He won't be needing housing. My parents have a house here and we’ll be living in it and commuting.”
“Jacob, you’re wanting to give up the housing that came as part of your scholarship?” He raises his eyebrow in question. Does he think I’m lying? Coercing Jacob to live with me against his will. Suddenly the counselor I liked is ticking off a mark in the I hate his guts column.
“Yes, I do. I’m not much of a dorm person and it will be quieter so I can focus more on my studies.”
“Very well, I’ll let the Finance Department know and they’ll get the correction made. You should see an update on your account within the next twenty-four hours. Is there anything else?”
“No, I’m good. Jacob?”
“I’m good too. Thank you for your help, Mr. McStevens.” Jacob stands and reaches out to shake his hand.
“My pleasure, boys. I look forward to seeing you in action on the field.”
“You won’t be disappointed.” I smile as I stand and head to the door. I’m already pulling out Dylan’s schedule I copied last night so I can compare it to ours. I didn’t want to do it in front of the counselor. I’d be too tempted to have him rearrange my whole schedule to match hers, and I know I can’t do that. I have to pursue my education path the same as she and Jacob do.
As soon as we’re out the door and it’s closed behind us, I stop.
“What did you get?” I ask Jacob.
We compare our schedules first, no classes together, and then we look at Dylan’s. I have Speech with her and Jacob has Calculus. Each of us has one with her, which is better than nothing.
“Let’s go home. I miss Pickle.” Jacob smiles and starts walking away, not even waiting for me.