47. Hayden
I curled into Cillian’s side, letting his scent wrap around me. I’d never thought of smells as especially comforting before, but that all changed when I met the guys. The smoky cedar filling my senses was like a balm to my soul.
Cillian pulled me tighter against him. “You okay?”
I nodded as Knox took my feet into his lap and began massaging them.
“She’s not okay,” Cáel growled.
I sent him a pleading look. “Even if I’m not, can we just pretend that I am? Can we just play normal for one night?”
“Sure, we can,” Cillian said and then paused. “What do normal people do on a weeknight?”
A laugh bubbled out of me and, God, it felt so damned good.
Cillian tickled my side. “Are you laughing at me?”
I squealed and smacked his thigh. “Stop it!” His tickling eased. “You have to admit, it’s slightly amusing that you guys have no idea what normal is.”
Knox kept kneading my foot. “Normal’s overrated.”
He had a point there.
A commotion sounded from the hallway, and everyone’s gazes went to the family room door. Someone appeared, ladened down with pillows. But the stack was so high you couldn’t see who it was. A second later, the figure dropped the huge pillows onto the floor.
“Uh, redecorating, East?” Knox asked, amusement in his voice.
“Just a sec,” he said, hurrying back out.
A few moments later, he came in with a second heap of pillows. But he retreated before we could get any answers. Then he returned with his arms full of various bags.
Cáel arched a brow. “Preparing for the end of the world?”
“Maybe,” Easton quipped. He turned to me, suddenly looking a little nervous.
He set the bags down on the coffee table and began pulling stuff out of them. There was kettle corn, cheddar popcorn, Red Vines, peanut butter Mamp;M’s, and root beer.
My heart started to beat faster. “Those are all my favorite snacks.”
Easton shrugged. “Like I said, I pay attention.”
I heard the message underneath his words. Easton was challenging my assumption that he didn’t know me at all. Just because he hadn’t been an active participant in conversations didn’t mean that he wasn’t hearing everything that was said.
I swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
“What about my favorites?” Knox pouted.
Easton rolled his eyes, picking up another bag and tossing it at his brother. “I got your weird-ass favorites, too. I knew you wouldn’t shut up if I didn’t.”
“Hey, pickle potato chips are not weird.”
I scrunched up my nose. “That does sound a little gross.”
Knox looked affronted.
Cáel chuckled. “Knox is like a pregnant woman with his snacks.”
“Well, you assholes aren’t getting any of my potato chips,” Knox huffed.
“Real hardship,” Cillian muttered.
Easton unloaded a bunch more stuff onto the coffee table that I assumed were Cillian’s and Cáel’s favorites.
“What are all the pillows for?” I asked.
He grinned at me. “Any good movie night needs a pillow fort.”
My mouth curved in an answering smile. “I like a good pillow fort.”
“See, all sorts of stuff in common.” Easton handed me the remote. “The only thing I don’t know is what kind of movies you like.”
“Please don’t make us watch The Notebook,” Cáel muttered.
I glared at him. “Actually, horror movies are my favorite.”
The guys all stilled.
Then Knox started laughing.
“What?” I demanded.
He struggled to get his words out. “Easton is a total scary-movie wimp.”
Easton picked up a pillow and smacked his brother with it. “Shut up.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling. “What if I promise to protect you from the boogeyman?”
Tiny flecks of gold sparked in his eyes. “Gotta let me sleep with you tonight so he doesn’t get me.”
My stomach flipped. “Okay.”
Easton’s smile was back, and this time, it was a full-watt one. The effect was dazzling. It made his entire face light up. I was so very screwed.
I stood quickly. “I’ll arrange the pillows.”
I pushed the coffee table away from the couch so we’d have space as Cáel started listing off movie options.
“What about a classic?” I asked. “The Exorcist?”
Easton groaned. “That little girl is so fucking creepy.”
I chuckled as I flopped down onto the pillows. “It’s not her fault she got possessed by the devil.”
He shivered as he lowered himself to the spot next to me. “They should’ve just killed her.”
I gaped at him. “She was a little girl.”
Easton shrugged, moving in closer to me. “Sacrifices must be made.”
Cillian settled in on my other side. “He has a point.”
I wanted to argue, but I was too distracted by their nearness. I hadn’t gotten used to Easton’s scent yet. That sea air with a hint of citrus. It was potent as hell and made me feel a little drunk.
I took a steadying breath. I could do this. Just two hours of my body going haywire.
Knox stood from the couch, crossing to turn off the lights. But he pulled up short as Maddox filled the door. “Hey, man.”
Maddox looked exhausted. There were dark circles under his eyes and tension running along his shoulders. I had the sudden desire to launch up and give the man a hug.
“Want to watch a movie with us?” Easton offered.
Mad shook his head. “No, I’m going to get a little work done and then call it an early night.”
Cillian shifted next to me. “Updates from the dean?”
Maddox shuffled his feet. “She doesn’t know anything. Just asked me to take one of Brent’s classes and an advisee or two.” He cleared his throat, his gaze locking with mine. “Hayden, I’m your new advisor.”
Everything in me locked. Oh, shit.