Chapter 3
Felicity
What had just happened? Seriously. What the hell had just happened?
Why had Callum Ashford been at my door after dinner just to check on me? He could have called. Could have texted. Could have done anything. Instead, he showed up.
I frowned, tapping my foot against the carpet. Maybe he had only done it because, once again, he needed to take care of Rune’s baby sister. But I wasn’t a baby. Though, with the way that Rune treated me, maybe everybody was always going to think that.
I pulled my hair out of its bun and made my way to the shower. I hadn’t been lying. I was going to shower and then cuddle up into a blanket with a book. There wasn’t much out there that could compete with how amazing that idea was.
My phone buzzed, and I looked down at it, a bright smile on my face.
I answered, the video call coming in brightly, and the background sounds a little obnoxious. My brother’s smiling face, including a lovely black eye and a cut on his chin, filled the screen.
“Atlas! What the hell happened? Are you okay?”
In answer, my brother glared. “What the hell are you wearing? Are you out in public in that? Go put some clothes on.”
“If you’re really going to talk about what I’m wearing, let’s talk about the girl that was sitting on your lap in that photo that just hit the internet.
Huh? What was she wearing? And frankly, I’m glad she was wearing that.
Because she’s allowed to wear whatever the fuck she wants.
She’s an adult. At least, I hope to hell she was over eighteen.
So if she’s an adult, she could do whatever she wants, and you can’t judge.
I’m not going to judge her. So step off. ”
Atlas merely blinked at me. “The circular reasoning of that, in which how I’m suddenly a bad guy and creeper, confuses me. And I don’t know who that girl was.”
I rolled my eyes as he flipped me off. Yay for big brothers. “You have so many women on your lap that you don’t even know who she was?”
“No. She just showed up at the restaurant we were at. It wasn’t even a dive bar or anything.
She showed up and ended up on my lap. I tried to shove her off and then realized shoving off somebody so they hit the floor was probably not the best idea, so I put my hand around her waist to help her stand up.
She giggled, said it was for a dare, then kissed my cheek. That was it.”
“Oh, brother of mine. What are we going to do with you?”
“She didn’t find out, did she?” he asked, his voice low.
I winced, knowing show she was. It seemed that whenever anybody tried to leave Ashford Creek, you couldn’t truly do so. The past was always there to bite you in the ass. Or at least haunt you when you weren’t expecting it.
“Probably. She does have a phone with social media on it. And knowing the town busybody baker, it’s probably going to be in the town bulletin.”
“Fuck. I’m not an asshole.”
“I know you aren’t. You’re my favorite big brother who happens to play hockey.”
“I’m your only big brother who happens to play hockey. And seriously, what are you wearing?”
“I’m wearing random clothes that I left here last time I was staying at Rune’s because I was just cleaning up after the four Ls.”
Atlas cringed. “Are they still there?”
“You don’t need to keep the disgust in your voice when you talk about my friends from college.”
“I do when they treat you like shit.”
“They don’t,” I argued for what felt like the twentieth time.
“They use you.”
“What could they possibly use me for? It’s not like they’re using me to get to you or Rune. You guys wouldn’t touch my friends like that.” Atlas’s jaw tightened, and I gasped. “Which one?”
“None of them. But each of them has come onto me. It was awkward as hell. And I didn’t like it. Despite what the press says, I don’t like it when women constantly fawn over me. I’m not a lecher.”
“I’m going to write that on your tombstone,” I grumbled.
Of course, the four Ls had hit on Atlas.
They were doing so with Rune and Callum the night before.
I hadn’t missed it when Laurel had sidled up to Rune and rubbed her body all over him.
Then Laura had tried to do the same to Callum.
It had taken all within me not to pull them by their hair and scream about how Ashford Creek was mine.
I wasn’t too territorial about my brother because, hello, he was an adult who could do what he wanted with his dick. And frankly, I shouldn’t be territorial at all when it came to Callum.
He wasn’t mine.
“Did they really hit on you?”
“It doesn’t matter. They’re your friends, and I’ll be better about them. I’m sorry that I’m an asshole. I’m just tired. We lost.”
The dejection in his voice slapped me, and I cursed once again.
“I wasn’t checking the scores. I was too busy cleaning up all the vomit, and well, I’m sorry, big brother. I’m sure you kicked ass.”
He snorted, though the humor had long since fled his expression. “I let two in during the last period, so not too great. Coach wants to kick my ass.”
“Are you in trouble?”
“No, maybe. We have a young D-line, and they’re having issues, so I’m having to step up. It’s just, well…it’s work. I’m one of the old men on this team, and it takes me longer to recover.” He pointed at his black eye. “This was from an elbow in the locker room.”
I burst out laughing, even though I hated seeing Atlas hurt. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, because I’m an idiot. Or these young kids are idiots. I didn’t realize how young they were. A couple are younger than you. Infants.”
I scrunched up my nose. “I really would appreciate it if everybody would stop calling me young and infantile. I’m an adult. A woman. About to graduate college and get a full-time job. Maybe even get my own place.”
“Why would you need your own place? You could live with Rune or Mom and Dad. Hell, live in my empty house that I have up there, and I only stay at when I’m in town.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes because he was just never going to get it.
That I was an adult. With fully functional feelings that sometimes needed space.
It wasn’t like I was going to go out and buy a place of my own and go into crippling debt without thinking about it, but it would be nice to think that maybe they would assume I wouldn’t be alone. Or I would want to step out on my own.
But I didn’t say any of that. It would just be talking to empty space at this point, when I knew everybody had their own words.
“Enough about me. Are you really okay? Did you put ice on that?”
“I did. Don’t worry. I’m taking care of myself. I just wanted to see how you were after that lovely twenty-first birthday. How much of that puke was yours?”
“I made it into the toilet and only did so because of the sugar. But I’m fine because I drank water. That’s what happens when you have a brother who owns a bar and grill, and his best friend owns a brewery. They make sure you’re fully hydrated. I had to pee like one hundred times, but I digress.”
“Too much information, little sister.” He paused. “Wait. The four Ls made you clean up after them?”
“They were guests.”
“So were you. And they’re fucking adults too. I don’t understand kids these days.”
I truly didn’t want to think of the four Ls at the moment. Not that we weren’t friends, but because Atlas always got grumpy. “And on that note. I need to go shower. I feel gross, and I just want to go to bed.”
His brows rose. “It’s six thirty in the evening. I guess when you said you were an old lady, you meant it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Have fun. Don’t end up on the front page of the gossip column when I’m not looking.”
“You know I will. I can’t help it.” He let out a sigh.
Poor guy. “I love you.”
“You too, kiddo.”
I said my goodbyes and went to take a shower.
I was a little tired from cleaning up after the girls.
They had cleaned up most of the things on their own.
But any vomit that had been in the bathroom had made them feel queasy.
I hadn’t minded cleaning up after a hard night.
After all, a job was a job. I’d worked in offices and retail all during college, and the four Ls hadn’t.
My parents had a steady income and had been able to send me to a nice college, but I still needed to work for room and board.
I didn’t mind that I was a different socioeconomic level than my friends. I only minded that they dared put their hands on Callum. No, I wasn’t going to think about that. No, no, no, no.
I was just stepping into the shower when my phone buzzed again.
Thankfully, it wasn’t a video call, so I answered.
“Hey, Lauren. Everything okay?”
“Everything’s great!” she practically squealed, the sound of music blaring through speakers likely behind her.
“It sounds like you guys are having fun,” I teased as I shook my head. I put my face under the spray, careful not to get my hair wet, as I quickly began to wash.
“What’s up?” I asked, wondering why she was calling me tonight.
“Go get that little black dress on and come meet us.”
“I told you that I’m staying in tonight.”
“No, you aren’t. I’ve got you a date.”
I sputtered, practically drowning myself in the shower. I quickly turned it off, ignoring the soap underneath my arms. “What?” I snapped as I put the phone to my ear. “I have a date?”
“Yes. We’re going on a cinco date. I don’t know if that’s a thing because I don’t know how to say double date or triple date.
That makes no sense. But there are five guys and only four of us.
And while Laurel wouldn’t mind taking two home with her, the other guy wasn’t feeling it.
However, we showed him photos of you, and he’s super excited to meet you. ”
I groaned. “Are you serious right now? I can’t believe you just set me up with a random stranger.”