Of Flesh & Bone

Chapter 1

Eve

U gh! It smells like bitches and pretension in here. My inner monologue races, threatening to seep out.

Focus. Just hit the ball, Eve.

One last serve and I won't have to see any of them for a few days.

Thump!

I serve and watch as the ball goes flying through the air at breakneck speed and soaring over the net.

Marley goes for it in a dive on the other side of the net, skidding across the floor with a grunt.

"Umpf!" It serves you right. I tried to show you how to read the ball.

But did you listen? No the hell you didn't. My internal thoughts are savage and demand to be set free.

Her efforts are fruitless. The ball hits the floor, and I smile. Something rare for me in present company.

I could offer some constructive criticism here, but I won't.

Several things come to mind, but my lips are sealed. These girls showed me who they were within the first week of my arrival and, if there’s one rule that I live by, it's when people show you who they are, believe them.

One might think that this state-of-the-art sports complex featuring three full-size volleyball courts, two Olympic size swimming pools, and a bunch of other shit I could care less about would be worth dealing with these assholes...it isn't.

Straightening, I turn and walk off the court. Saying nothing to anyone, they return the favor and say nothing to me. Sometimes I wish things had gone differently for me here, but I should have known better than to hope in the first place.

Hope is a killer.

As I'm wallowing in the regret and self-pity of it all, I look up and notice them. Three tall, gorgeous men stand at the bleachers inside the cutting-edge volleyball complex. I don’t recognize any of them, but I deduce they're athletes just by examining their tall, muscular builds and blazing self-confidence. Football or rugby, if I had to guess.

Damn, these guys are massive.

None of them could possibly be under 6'3, but my eyes are drawn to the shortest of the three and my thoughts begin to pivot.

Gorgeous black hair. Those seductive eyes are so dark. Where does the iris end and the pupil begin? How is he so muscular and lean at the same time? And that face. It's dangerously chiseled. Everything about this man screams menace.

Internally, my eyes scrape the back of my skull chastising me for my own lustful thoughts.

That's right. Bad news. Just keep walking, Eve.

I look to the bleachers where I sat my towel and Body Armor earlier. I see my towel and...

Where is my drink? I sat it there next to my towel, didn't I?

There is another Body Armor there, but it's not mine. That one is orange.

Orange mango flavor probably. It's good, but I brought a strawberry banana. Dark pink. Where is it?

Then, I see it. That hulking yeti has it. The dark, scary one. He’s holding MY delicious strawberry banana while his inferior orange mango sits UNTOUCHED on the bench.

Today is just not the day, asshole and I am not the one.

Walking straight toward them with indifference on my face and badassery in my steps, I call upon my inherent bitch.

The moment they notice me, fire nips at my neck and spreads across my skin. I'm hyper-aware of the dangerous looking one. Why is HE glaring at ME? The urge to wither under his scrutiny is strong but I glare back anyway.

The inner Eve sounds off in my head. I don't cower for anyone. Least of all you, jackass.

Just before I reach them, all three mountains of muscle turn to me with quizzical expressions. I keep walking until I'm nearly chest-to-chest with the drink stealer.

I am not afraid. I am NOT afraid. I am a badass.

He is obviously surprised but keeps that disdainful look on his face as I bend to the side and grab his drink from the bench.

He is immovable as I shove it in his chest. Looking down, he sees HIS drink in my hand.

Grabbing my drink and aggressively wrenching it from his grip, he looks at me with shock and anger evident in his glare.

There's something else there too but it isn't as easy to discern.

Arching a brow, I hold up my drink at his eye level.

He looks at the drink in my hand and then down to the bottle that I shoved into his chest. Before he can even look up to meet my eyes again, I brush against his chest with my shoulder and turn walking away from him.

The heat of his gaze follows me the whole way, turning my thoughts to mush and sending goosebumps prickling up my arms.

"Whew."

I audibly let out a breath that I hadn't meant to be holding.

It's only now that I'm able to process what just happened, what I just did, and the face of that dark dangerous man.

There's enough distance between us now that I shouldn’t be bothered by it, but my body still sizzles with the feel of his eyes on me.

That tan skin, those full lips, the dark piercing eyes, and perfect white teeth. Damn, I’ve never seen a mountain that beautiful.

Walking toward the exit, I'm attempting to shake the tantalizing scenery from my mind when I hear them.

Ada asks, “What the hell was that?”

I know she’s speaking to the yeti even before I hear him say “Oh come on, Ace. Don’t be jealous. You know you’re my girl.”

The door handle makes a loud CLACK as I exit the gym.

I regret my decision to come to Eden University and I deserve the chastisement I keep giving myself for the pathetic reasons that brought me here.

The classic old-world beauty of this place and the lifetime of opportunities that come with attaching my name to the elite Eden University blinded me to the true nature of this place and the assholes inside it.

During orientation, the very British dean stood in front of the incoming freshman and told us, "Ladies and gentlemen, you have arrived.

Every late night, all of the hair-pulling stress, and the countless hours of preparation have been worth it.

They led you here. Whatever happens from this moment forward, YOU ARE EDEN.

Doors will be opened by the mere mention of the name.

You have officially placed yourselves twelve steps above the rest. "

...........

I pull into the parking lot of the very nice but definitely not Eden material off-campus apartment at Pinecrest Place that I share with my best friends in the world, Vaughn Webb and Eli Washington.

As soon as I park, I feel that familiar sense of unease.

It's like someone is watching me. I know they aren't. It's my own messed up mind playing tricks on me.

Does that mean I'm crazy? Don't answer that. This bitch is nuts. Sometimes, my mind is my worst enemy.

I need to see Vaughn's beautiful face and hear her encouraging voice. She has a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners type of attitude about life. She would slay my enemies and display their heads on spikes if I would allow it.

Scoring Vaughn and her boyfriend Elijah as roommates was the luckiest of breaks.

Vaughn doesn't attend Eden. She's an aspiring novelist and a bartender at Cornerstone. Responding to her ad about a room for rent was the best decision I've ever made, even though I could’ve stayed in the very fancy scholar’s dorms or the equally showy women’s athletics dorms. Everything at Eden is ostentatious.

I ultimately chose to get an apartment for more freedom and independence than campus life would allow.

How's that working out for you, Eve? What exactly have I done with all this freedom I thought I needed? Not one damn thing. Maybe my own thoughts will eventually be the kick in the ass I need, even when they kick hard.

No regrets here though. Vaughn and Eli are the best things to ever happen to me.

I fell so head over heels into these friendships that I moved to the bustling, sweltering city of Austin early so I could spend the entire Summer with my new roommates.

Summers back home in Warwick, Maryland, boast significantly more comfortable temperatures, but Warwick doesn't have a Vaughn and Eli.

This living arrangement is one decision that I'm thankful for despite how much shit I have taken from the pretentious assholes at this school.

I would do it all over again if it meant finding Vaughn and Eli.

They have been like family to me. We would all go to war with the world for one another even though we've only known each other a short time.

Vaughn and Elijah met nearly one year ago, not long before Eli set out on another leave.

They met at Cornerstone, where Vaughn still works.

It's a popular local nightclub at night, but they serve lunch and fancy baked goods during the day.

It sounds like a love at first sight situation from everything they've told me. They’ve essentially been together ever since that first night.

I met them both at the beginning of summer when I came to interview and look at the apartment. Our apartment is an adorable two bedroom with plenty of space. We each have our own private bathrooms and there's a half bath down the hall for guests. Guests that none of us ever have.

The three of us clicked immediately and our instant connection heightened my hopes for the upcoming year at Eden. Our effortless bond inspired me to move in right away despite it being early May and school not starting until August.

Click.

At the sound of the deadbolt engaging, Vaughn steps out of her room, and I can’t stifle my smile even if I wanted to.

The sight of her fills me with peace and a sense of rightness.

She looks at me and I know she knows. The expression on her face says it all.

Reading me with just one look, she sees that I have had another bad weather day.

Bad weather day is a phrase Vaughn’s mom taught her.

She told her that bad days are like bad weather; they come and go, but they never last long and the sun always comes out to shine on your face eventually.

Looking at her makes me wonder. How did I get so lucky? Well, I was definitely due some good luck that's for sure.

She comes straight to me with a smile on her face and hugs me tightly. She hugs me the way that only my best friend can. Vaughn is like ice on a burn. Instant relief for my bad weather day.

We're still clinging to one another when she says, “I’ve been doing some research for the book, and I have learned some really cool new methods of murder. Do you know their dorm numbers?”

Giggling at her joke, I peer down at her, and she looks at me like she’s genuinely confused as to why I'm laughing.

Reluctantly pulling out of the hug, “I don’t need you to kill anyone. You're all that I need. I don’t even want other female friends at this point. As far as I'm concerned, it’s me, you, and Eli against the masses.”

“That’s right, Sunshine” and she beams at me.

......................

"Humpf."

Looking out across the expertly landscaped parking lot at the prestigious Eden University, I muse. This place again. My own personal fancy little hell.

Frances, my cherry red Jeep, is my most prized possession. Hopping out of her onto the smooth blacktop, I take inventory of my appearance.

Gray hoodie, check.

Heavily worn jeans, check.

Black converse, check.

Bob Dylan-worthy aviators, CHECK.

Approximately zero minutes of my day are spent worrying about how I appear to others.

This look helps me to fly under the radar, which is right where I want to be.

I prefer to go completely unnoticed. The weight of the penetrating eyes of others sets my nerves on edge.

It’s not that I care what they think. It’s just that I don’t want the attention.

I don’t like to answer questions, and I don’t like to engage in unnecessary conversation.

My thoughts wander and I ask myself probing questions. Am I unapproachable? Am I a snob? Is that why the girls on my team want nothing to do with me?

I want to not care but I do care. Although, I would never admit that out loud.

Those girls are the majority of the reason that I came to Eden in the first place, and they hated me on sight.

It's been several months since we first started practicing in the summer, and our relationships have definitely not improved. I’m not sure what I could’ve or should’ve done differently or if it would’ve had any impact on the way they feel about me but there's nothing to be done about it now.

The only time I have ever made a good first impression was with Vaughn and Eli. I can’t even explain what happened that day. I guess the stars just perfectly aligned and the sun shone down on our faces in the best weather day.

My phone starts playing Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd and I look at it with confusion. That's the event alarm in my calendar. I can’t remember for the life of me what I set it for until...I open the alert.

DAMN IT!

I was supposed to be in class early today for a conference with Professor Stalk. Why did I set the alarm for now? I’m going to be late. Time to run, Eve.

Bursting through the gilded double doors of Hampton Tower, I hotfoot it down the passageway in a dead sprint.

The large baroque hall is nearly empty and I’m thankful for that because, as I mentioned earlier, I hate attention, and nothing draws more attention than running through the halls of a prestigious university dressed like a hobo with the expression of a methed up squirrel on one's face.

I’m running so fast, and I'm so focused on the end goal that I don’t see those three Sasquatch assholes step into the hall until it’s too late. I hit him so hard that I swear my teeth rattle, and I can see the big comic bubble above my head that says ‘SMACK!’

When I hit the brick wall that is the gorgeous drink stealing yeti, I bounce right back off and hit the marble floor HARD, groaning, “UGH.”

Without even looking up I can feel their intense gazes on me. They say nothing and they make no attempt to help me up. They just stand and stare down at me.

Assholes.

Wasting no time and rolling to my side, I say in a groan “Fucker.”

Getting to my knees first, I then quickly stand.

Without ever looking their way, I hear the two non-drink stealers cackling and one of them says, “I think she’s talking to you, Captain.

” I don’t know the Captain, aka the yeti, but I do know that his eyes are on me all the way into my classroom.

It’s a scalding heat that I feel on every inch of my skin.

I felt that same heat yesterday when he looked at me for the first time.

Feeling it in my hands at first, it quickly crawls up my arms and into my chest by way of the blood in my veins.

I feel it on the back of my neck, and it moves up into my scalp, tingling and burning.

What. The. Hell. Is. That?