“Good morning,” Violet sings from her spot by the stove.
“Morning.”
“I hope you’re hungry.” My stomach rumbles right on cue.
“You have no idea.”
Panic flickers inside me as I look down at myself but I quickly talk myself down because there’s no way anyone here would know that I’m two dress sizes down on what I’ve always been, thanks to the stress of the past year.
“Grab yourself a coffee and it’ll be ready in a few.”
“I can help,” I offer, heading for the coffee machine.
“We have a food rota. You’re tomorrow and Friday. The guys luck out during the season, but we’ll ensure they make up for it once it’s over.”
“You’re assuming I can cook.”
“You don’t have to cook. Buy a box of cereal if you like, order something. You’re just in charge of those days.”
I smile at her, loving how the six of them work like a well-oiled machine. If I’d have known about this before I moved in, I might have been intimidated about joining them, but they’ve welcomed me as if I’ve always been here and I couldn’t be more grateful.
They're the family I didn't know I needed and it's only day two.
I'm sipping on my coffee when Ella and Micah join us and Violet begins plating up.
"Still here then?" Micah jokes.
"Yeah, you didn't all put me off too badly last night."
"And here I thought West and Brax's jokes might have been the end of you."
I laugh, recalling some of their worst pickup lines last night. "They're harmless."
"There are a few broken hearts walking around campus who probably wouldn't agree with you."
I roll my eyes. "Football players. I know all about them." I think of Luca and his ways with women over the few years I've known him.
"Oh, so…" Ella pipes up. "You never actually explained how you know them," she digs.
"You need to get over yourself. They don't want you," Violet groans as she sits down with us to eat. "She's been chasing them around like a lost puppy for two years. It's becoming pathetic."
"I haven’t chased anyone. And…" she points out, poking her knife in Violet's direction. "As you well know, I was with Sawyer for most of freshman year."
"Ugh," Micah complains. "We know. No need to remind us."
I watch as the three of them bicker like siblings and I realize why the vibe in this dorm works so well, they really are a little family.
"So, the twins," Ella prompts once again, ignoring the others and their attempt at a topic change.
"I moved to Rosewood when I was sixteen. Luca was my lab partner in my first week and we just hit it off. The rest is history."
"You slept with them?" she asks, leaning forward on her elbows and soaking up my every word.
"Err…"
"Oh my God, you have. Tell me they tag teamed you, please." The excitement in her eyes is amusing as hell and I realize that I'm going to have to introduce her to them for the comedy value alone. She'll lose her shit.
"No, I haven’t been in a Dunn sandwich, so I can't feed your fantasy, sorry."
"Ugh, what kind of use are you?" she sulks.
"I'll introduce you next time we see them."
"Yesss," she hisses. "Oh, maybe I shouldn't eat this. If this happens today I don't want to be all bloated and gross."
We all stare at her. "For real?" Violet asks, her brows raised.
She's got a point, Ella's got a banging body and the most insane curves. Any guy would be lucky to get their hands on her.
"Just eat the damn bacon, El. No guy wants a skinny bitch anyway."
None of them look my way, and I know that the comment isn’t in any way directed at me, but still, I feel myself retreat a little. I hate how I look right now. I hate that when I look in the mirror, my ribs and hip bones are so visible. I miss my curves, my breasts, my ass.
Silently, I cut into my breakfast and pop each bite into my mouth but I don't taste any of it. Thoughts of my body take me back there and I'll do anything to keep my head in the present.
"So what do you say, Letty? You in?"
"Uh…"
All three of them are staring at me but I have zero clue as to what they're talking about.
"Party Friday night. You in?"
Dread sits heavy in my stomach at the mention of a party. I should say no. I should make an excuse about the amount of work I have to do and hide in my room.
But as I look between them and the hope in their eyes, I realize that I can't be that scared little girl anymore. I'm here and it seems like I might have already landed some incredible friends. I need to embrace it.
"It's a football party at the Dunn's place," Ella adds. "They'll probably invite you anyway."
"Oh, um…" The thought of Luca and Leon being there makes me feel better and I quickly find myself agreeing.
"Sweet. We'll get ready here, head over fashionably late, hopefully, catch some eyes." Ella wiggles her brows.
"Girl, the twins don’t want you," Micah spits, sounding totally exasperated by her.
"I wasn't talking about them. I'll take any athlete. I'm not choosy."
"We know. We have to listen to you, remember."
"Aw, Micey." She pouts while his face hardens at the awful nickname. "You're just jealous because you haven’t gotten laid in…" She starts counting on her fingers as if she has actually worked it out.
"Fuck off, El." He pushes his thick-rimmed glasses up his nose and stands with his empty plate in hand. He turns his dark eyes on me. "Sorry, Let. I hope you have a good day."
He damn near throws his plate in the sink, drills a hate stare at Ella and storms from the room.
Interesting.
"Girl, do you have to push his buttons?" Violet snaps at Ella who just shrugs innocently.
"Not my problem that he can't get over his ex."
"He's over her and you know it. Cheating bitch doesn't deserve any more of his thoughts."
"Amen to that. Chloe was a bitch with a capital b."
"You finished?" Violet asks me, glancing at my empty plate.
"Yes. Thank you, it was delicious. Feeling the pressure for tomorrow."
"It's not a test, Let. Just make sure there's something to eat and we're all good. Ah, here come the boys. Get that pan on the go, Vi."
The booming sounds of West and Brax's voice filter down to us a few seconds before they come bounding through the door.
They're both freshly showered by looking at their hair. They throw their duffels in the direction of their bedrooms and simultaneously pull out a chair each and sit down.
"Where’s the food, Vi? Two starving athletes here."
"You're back early," Ella mutters. "You might even get to class on time today."
"Session was cut short. New guy turned up and caused havoc." West waves it off as nothing as the sizzling of bacon fills the room once more.
"I'm just gonna get sorted," I say, pointing to my room and then quickly head that way to gather my books ready for class.