"Shush," I chastise.
"Girl, if it's true, you know all these guys need to know about it."
I pull out my books and a couple of pens as Professor Collins sets up at the front before turning to her.
"No, I don’t have diamonds anywhere but my necklace. I've been friends with them for years."
"Girl, I knew there was a reason we should be friends." She winks at me. "I've been trying to get West and Brax to hook me up but they're useless."
"You want to be friends so I can set you up with one of the Dunns?"
"Or both." She shrugs, her face deadly serious before she leans in. "I've heard that they tag team sometimes. Can you imagine? Both of their undivided attention." She fans herself as she obviously pictures herself in the middle of a Dunn sandwich. "Oh and, I think you're pretty cool too."
"Of course you do." I laugh.
It's weird, I might have only met her very briefly this morning but that was enough.
"We're all going out for dinner tonight to welcome you to the dorm. The others are dying to meet you." She smiles at me, proving that there's no bitterness behind her words.
"I'm sorry for ignoring you all."
"Girl, don't sweat it. We got ya back, don't worry."
"Thank you," I mouth as the professor demands everyone's attention to begin the class.
The time flies as I scribble my notes down as fast as I can, my hand aching all over again and before I know it, he's finished explaining our first assignment and bringing his class to a close.
"Jesus, this semester is going to be hard," Ella muses as we both pack up.
"At least we've got each other."
"I like the way you think. You done for the day?"
"Yep, I'm gonna head to the store, grab some supplies then get started on this assignment, I think."
"I've got a couple of hours. You want company?"
After dumping our stuff in our rooms, Ella takes me to her favorite store, and I stock up on everything I'm going to need before we head back so she can go to class.
I make myself some lunch before being brave and setting up my laptop at the kitchen table to get started on my assignments. My time for hiding is over, it's time to get back to life and once again become a fully immersed college student.
"Holy shit, she is alive. I thought Zayn was lying about his beautiful older sister," a deep rumbling voice says, dragging me from my research a few hours later.
I spin and look at the two guys who have joined me.
"Zayn would never have called me beautiful," I say as a greeting.
"That's true. I think his actual words were: messy, pain in the ass, and my personal favorite, I'm glad I don't have to live with her again," he says, mimicking my brother's voice.
"Now that is more like it. Hey, I'm Letty. Sorry about—"
"You're all good. We're just glad you emerged. I'm West, this ugly motherfucker is Braxton—"
"Brax, please," he begs. "Only my mother calls me by my full name and you are way too hot to be her."
My cheeks heat as he runs his eyes over my curves.
"T-thanks, I think."
"Ignore him. He hasn’t gotten laid for weeeeks."
"Okay, do we really need to go there right now?"
"Always, bro. Our girl here needs to know you get pissy when you don't get the pussy."
I laugh at their easy banter, closing down my laptop and resting forward on my elbows as they move toward the fridge.
"Ella says we're going out," Brax says, pulling out two bottles of water and throwing one to West.
"Apparently so."
"She'll be here in a bit. Violet and Micah too. They were all in the same class."
"So," West says, sliding into the chair next to me. "What do we need to know that your brother hasn’t already told us about you?"
My heart races at all the things that not even my brother would share about my life before I drag my thoughts away from my past.
"Uhhh…"
"How about the Dunns love her," Ella announces as she appears in the doorway flanked by two others. Violet and Micah, I assume.
"Um… how didn't we know this?" Brax asks.
"Because you're not cool enough to spend any time with them, asshole," Violet barks, walking around Ella. "Ignore these assholes, they think they're something special because they're on the team but what they don't tell you is that they have no chance of making first string or talking to the likes of the Dunns."
"Vi, girl. That stings," West says, holding his hand over his heart.
"Yeah, get over it. Truth hurts." She smiles up at him as he pulls her into his chest and kisses the top of her head.
"Whatever, Titch."
"Right, well. Are we ready to go? I need tacos like… yesterday."
"Yes. Let's go."
"You've never had tacos like these, Letty. You are in for a world of pleasure," Brax says excitedly.
"More than she would be if she were in your bed, that's for sure," West deadpans.
"Lies and we all know it."
"Whatever." Violet pushes him toward the door.
"Hey, I'm Micah," the third guy says when I catch up to him.
"Hey, Letty."
"You need a sensible conversation, I'm your boy."
"Good to know."
Micah and I trail behind the others and with each step I take, my smile gets wider.
Things really are going to be okay.
3
Kane
"Whoa, look who decided to show their face. Classes started this morning, you know," Devin barks as I join him and the twins in their kitchen.
"Fuck off," I grunt. "I was busy."
"Our old man taking liberties again?"
"Something like that," I mutter. "One for me?" I ask, nodding at the beer in Devin's hand.
"Sure thing, man."
He pulls one from the refrigerator and throws it over. I catch it easily and knock the top off.
"Behind before you've even started. Not the best start to your college career, Legend."
"Whatever, nerd." I rub my hand on Ellis's head and jump up on the counter. "So, what have I missed?"
"They wouldn't know. Both were so fucking hungover they missed classes."
"And you're giving me shit?" I balk at Devin and Ezra.
"Was worth it though, right?" Ezra says, looking at Devin with a smirk.
"Hell yeah, she was a filthy bitch."
"Christ, I'm gonna unpack."
I leave them behind to relive their previous night's antics and I'm not surprised to hear another set of footsteps behind me as I jog up the stairs to the bedroom I know is mine.
"You ready for this?" Ellis asks me and when I look over my shoulder, I find him leaning back against the doorframe with his arms folded over his chest.
"Of course, man." His brow rises suspiciously. "I earned this just as much as you did."