LAILAH #2
“Careful, it’s hot. Do you need me to get you some water or something?” Brayden asked, leaning forward, worried.
I waved my hand as he tried to stand. “No, I’m fine, just didn’t test it before taking a drink.”
“There’s no rush on my end. I have the whole evening free,” Brayden said, settling back into his chair.
“Oh, I guess I don’t have much going on tonight either except for homework, but who doesn’t,” I said, feeling a little awkward.
“What piece of the school did you decide on for your University 101 class?”
“The chapel. I remembered hearing about how Ryevick used it to get the church off his back so the school could run the way he wanted it to,” I said, remembering that was when I’d met Brayden for the first time. “I’ve also been doing a side project on the Elementi.”
Brayden choked on his coffee. After taking a moment to compose himself, he looked up at me. “Why would you be looking into that?”
“Come on, you’re telling me that you wouldn’t want to know more about a secret group of the Knights Templar?
Professor Phillips even gave me access to the special archives room.
I found the stuff about the chapel, but I also found a lot more about the Elementi.
I was talking to Cami about what I learned and the strange things that happened around them.
Something she said made me think of the story you told me about the fountain,” I said, excited.
“What would the fountain have in common with the Elementi? Aiden Ryevick was born way after the Knights’ golden era.”
“Yes, but this Elementi group didn’t get started until the end of the Knights’ peak. What if Ryevick was part of this splinter group? He might not have been as crazy as people think he was,” I said, sharing for the first time the thoughts that had been rolling around in my head.
Brayden set his cup down and leaned into me like he was going to share a secret. “Let’s say he was, do you think this group is still around today?”
I sighed and shook my head, sitting back. “No, I think that the group died off. The strange happenings that came with their involvement died out during the Victorian age when coal took the world by storm.”
“I have to say that I’m quite impressed with your detective skills. Maybe you need to change from a history major to something in criminal justice.”
I grinned at him. “You tease, but when I get interested in something, I can’t seem to let it go, especially when it’s history related.”
“So how would someone find himself gaining your interest?” Brayden asked, a smoldering look in his eyes.
“Seeing that it only happened once before, it won’t be easy.” I decided to leave off that once I’d been an idiot, letting myself be used and left when he was done.
“Nothing worth having is ever easy,” Brayden said, looking me over.
I never would have guessed that Brayden would have this side to him. He had struck me as a go-with-the-flow kind of guy. I guess even the mellow guys have a wild streak in them.
“How are your studies going?” I asked, trying to change the topic. I wasn’t sure how much more sexual tension I could handle in public.
“We’re working on a project to find the best way to help restore forests after wildfires. It happens all over the world, and it’s one of the hardest things to control, but what we do with it after it happens is as important as controlling the burn.”
“That’s cool; we didn’t have that problem where I grew up. Wisconsin gets lots of rain, so everything stays really lush and green,” I said, thinking about the forest fires I’d heard about in other states and how devastating they were.
“The Student Council is working on our Halloween party in three weeks. We always do some big gathering since it will be right before cracking down for midterms.”
“No way. That’s awesome. Does everyone dress up?”
“Those who want to can, but it’s not required, although lots of people do. Everyone here likes to let loose.”
“Do you dress up?” I asked, not sure I could picture him dressed up in some silly costume.
“I dressed up last year,” Brayden admitted.
He was not going to make this easy. “As?”
“Guess you’ll have to go with me to find out,” Bryden said with a wink.
I laughed, seeing how he’d played me. “Sounds good to me.”
“No fair. I was going to ask her to go with me.” Parker’s voice came from behind me.
I turned and saw him dragging a chair over and sitting next to me. I looked over at Brayden, unsure of what to do. Brayden’s answer to Parker joining us was to move the small table between us and drag my chair over closer to him.
“Sorry, Parker, but Lailah and I were having a private conversation,” Brayden said, glaring.
“Sorry, but you’re in a public place, and I’m allowed to sit where I want,” Parker said, scooting to my other side.
“Um, I can go if you need to talk to Brayden about something,” I said, trying not to fidget while stuck between them.
“No, Trouble. That’s not the problem. Brayden just needs to learn how to share time with friends,” Parker said, patting my hand that was gripping my dress. “So, did I hear correctly that you’re going to the Halloween shindig?”
“Brayden was just telling me about it, I don’t see any reason not to go,” I answered, trying to stay neutral when I saw Hudson walking over to us.
“Hey, Lailah, guys. I didn’t know you all knew each other,” Hudson said as he pulled a chair to join our group.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Lailah on her first week here; we bumped into each other in town,” Parker said, puffing out his chest.
“If crashing into me and crushing my cookie is what you call bumping into each other.” I snorted.
“Come on, are you ever going to let that go?” he whined.
I ignored him and looked over at Hudson, “Brayden, like Jay, rescued me from wandering around the school grounds lost during the school tour.”
“Wait, when did you meet Jay?” Parker butted in again. “Trouble, you been keeping secrets?”
I laughed. “It’s hardly a secret. I got lost going on a run, and Jay found me and brought me back to the school grounds. He’s also the one who gave me Hudson’s number to tutor me.”
“Well, it seems you’ve met all of us now,” Brayden said.
I quickly counted each interaction. “Huh, you’re right. I didn’t notice that till you just said it.”
After a bit, all the guys seemed to relax, and we all chatted comfortably with each other.
I noticed that even though they all lived together, it didn’t seem like they really knew each other.
I was laughing at something Parker said when the sprinklers in the coffee shop went off, and the blare of a fire alarm filled the room.
Parker grabbed my wrist, pulling me out of my chair and ushered me out before I even realized what was going on.
Brayden followed on our heels, and I felt his hand on my lower back, making sure I didn’t get knocked over by others running out of the cafe.
“You alright?” Hudson asked once we found an open space to stop.
“Yeah, a little damp but no worse for wear,” I said, trying to brush the water droplets off my dress. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m sure we’ll hear about it later,” Brayden said, brushing his damp hair out of his face.
I felt internal heat rise as I noticed the light-blue T-shirt he had on was sticking to his chest, showing his well-defined muscles.
Trying not to stare, I looked over at Parker, whose back was to me as he was taking his shirt all the way off.
The muscles that moved along his sculpted back made my mouth water.
“Lailah,” Hudson said, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder.
“Hmm?” I said, turning to look at him after being caught ogling Parker.
“Do you want one of us to walk back to your dorm with you?” Hudson repeated with a knowing glint in his blue eyes.
“Nope. I mean, I’m good; it’s not that far, honestly,” I said, trying to pull my scrambled thoughts together.
“After hearing how often you seem to get lost, I just wanted to make sure.”
“Thanks, Hudson, really, but I actually have gotten much better,” I said, grinning.
“If you say so, Trouble. Call one of us if you get lost so we can send out the search party,” Parker said, and I could feel his body heat from behind me.
I looked up at him, smiling. “You got it.”
I waved at them all and made my way back to my dorm, grinning at how the evening had turned out.