Chapter 9 #3
However, the point of me going away to college was to experience new things.
I needed to make friends, branch out, and do all the stuff my mom never would have let me do.
And being in a boy’s room on a school night when I needed to study was normally a huge no-no.
But my new mantra was to turn my no into a yes.
I couldn’t forget that. These two years were going to fly by, and they’d be gone before I knew it.
“You know what, I’d love to watch something. But nothing long.” One of the things I loved about Adan was that he didn’t expect or want anything beyond friendship from me.
He grabbed his laptop and opened it. “What sort of movies do you enjoy?”
“I’m pretty open.”
“You okay with sci-fi?”
“As long as it’s not a horror film, I’m good.”
He turned something on, then lay back on the bed and stretched out next to me, the laptop resting on his thighs.
“What are we watching?” I asked.
“Surprise.”
I rested my head next to his shoulder as the movie began. “Thanks for this.”
“Anytime.”
The bedroom door burst open, startling me.
“What the fuck?” Adan asked. “I like my door. Let’s try not to obliterate it.”
Rowan stood there, one hand on the doorframe and the other on the handle, his chest heaving as if he’d just run here.
“Do you need something?” Adan asked. “We’re watching a movie.” He pointed to his laptop resting on his thighs.
Rowan finally looked my way, his eyes darkening with something dangerous as he noticed the way my head rested against Adan’s shoulder.
“Rowan?” Adan said, reaching forward to pause the movie.
“A few of the dads drove in for our game tomorrow,” Rowan said, his voice coming out strained. “They’re here to take us out to dinner.”
I glanced at the time. It was eight at night. A little late for dinner.
“I already ate, but I’ll go,” Adan said, sitting up. “I just need to walk Laney home.”
“We’ll drive her. We can drop her off on the way.”
I had no idea why no one bothered to ask me what I wanted to do.
It was planned for me as if I were an invalid, incapable of doing anything for myself.
“I’ll just walk.” I sat up and grabbed my sneakers, sliding them on, then I picked up my backpack.
Without waiting for the two of them to argue with me, because I was certain they’d argue, I stepped around Rowan to head downstairs.
Only, when I went to go around him, I accidentally brushed against him.
He hissed. The spot where we’d touched, although it had been brief, felt as if a fire had scorched me. I made the mistake of looking up into his eyes. They were bright blue, the shape of them shifting slightly.
Adan put his hand on my shoulder, shoving me slightly into the hallway, breaking my connection to Rowan.
“Let’s go,” Adan said, pushing me toward the staircase.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Rowan said, his voice so low and vicious, it was almost a growl.
Not wanting to deal with their testosterone and whatever was going on between them, I hurried down the stairs where I stumbled to a stop so I didn’t run into the hulking man blocking the front door.
I stood there frozen, staring up at the largest guy I’d ever seen. He looked like Rowan, only on steroids. The guy had to be at least six-five, and he was as wide as the front door. His arms were corded with muscles that pulled his shirt tightly across his chest, the fabric straining.
He made no attempt to move out of my way and instead, sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I hope you’re not scampering out of my son’s room,” the guy said, his voice deep and throaty. Even though he was old, probably around forty-five, he was as gorgeous as Rowan.
I blinked, trying to gather my wits about me. “It would be in your best interest if I was,” I responded.
He lifted a single brow. “And why is that?”
“Because it would mean we’d been studying.”
A smile spread across his face. “My son doesn’t need to study.”
I’d known Rowan was smart, but it was interesting hearing his father confirm it.
I extended my hand. “I’m Laney Lake. I assume you’re Rowan’s father.”
He reached out, shaking my hand. “Guilty as charged. I’m Caleb Ward.”
“If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Ward, I need to get back to my dorm.
I have other classes to study for.” When I said his name, it jogged a memory from my first couple of days here at Stonemore University, when several of the rugby players and Emily had asked if I knew the Wards.
I wondered if Caleb was either a donor to the school or an alumni.
Maybe he’d played rugby here in his days.
A loud bang came from upstairs, as if Adan and Rowan were rough-housing. Then I heard their angry voices growing in volume.
“Excuse me,” I said, hoping to get Caleb to move out of my way. I vaguely wondered where the other dads were. Or where the other players were.
“Why don’t you come out to dinner with us?” he asked. “We’re going to grab burgers.”
“Thanks, but I already ate.” I took a step closer to him, hoping to compel him to move out of my way.
Instead, a strange sensation overcame me. It was that weird feeling of familiarity that I got around some of the rugby players and Emily. I looked up into his eyes, trying to figure out what was going on. If I’d met him before, I was certain I’d remember, since he was such a distinctive guy.
“Tell you what,” Caleb said. “We’ll drop you off.” Then he looked to the top of the staircase. “Rowan, Adan, let’s go.” His voice had an authoritative ring to it, leaving no room for argument.
Both guys immediately came downstairs, neither meeting my gaze. Adan’s hair was mussed, as if he’d been wrestling with Rowan.
“Everyone else already left,” Caleb said. “Let’s go.” He opened the door.
I’d just stepped onto the sidewalk when Adan clasped my arm. “It’s not safe for you to walk back when it’s dark like this. Please let us drop you off.” He released me, letting me know it was my choice.
“I’ll be fine.” I just wanted to get away from Rowan and his dad as quickly as possible.
“The bridge can be dangerous,” he said. “And after what happened the other night, I would feel better if you let us drop you off. It’ll take us two minutes, and we’re headed that way anyway.”
I glanced at Caleb and Rowan, who’d gotten into a large four-door truck, the engine on, waiting.
“Fine.” I figured it was faster to just agree than to stand there arguing. I went over and climbed into the back seat. Adan got in next to me.
Caleb pulled away from the curb. “Are you two study partners?” he asked, looking at me in the rearview mirror. “Or are you two dating?”
“Laney and I are just friends,” Adan answered.
In the closed space of the truck, I couldn’t help but smell Rowan.
I don’t know how I could identify his specific scent when there were three men in the truck, but I could.
It was distinctive, intoxicating, and it called to me, pulling me in.
It seemed as if invisible tendrils of smoke were curling around me, luring me to him.
Adan coughed, startling me.
I glanced up and noticed Caleb watching me intently in the mirror. His eyes were hard, unyielding, and prodding. It seemed as if he were trying to strip me bare so he could discover my secrets. I shivered, not understanding the strange reactions I’d been having lately.
Even though my mom hadn’t changed the dosage of my insulin, I needed to let her know that either I’d been hallucinating or…well, I didn’t know what. But something. My emotions, my feelings, they were off. Different.
Caleb pulled up to my dorm. I wondered how he knew which one was mine. Without asking, I got out of the truck and headed inside, thankful the strange encounter was over.