Brodie laughed at that and released her, gesturing for me. “So you already met Evie? When’d that happen? Aren’t you supposed to be in Haiti for another six months?”
Lacey rolled her eyes and shot me a smile as if to say,this guy!“I was in Malawi this time. Haiti was last year, doofus.”Shifting her attention to me, she shrugged. “I work with a volunteer organization that provides schools and housing to poverty-stricken communities.”
I nodded, trying really freaking hard not to be a bitch to the literal reincarnation of Princess Diana, but damn it was tough when her perfectly manicured hand was on Brodie’s arm.
Snap out of it, Eve. She’s not a fucking threat, you cavewoman.
“That’s…very admirable,” I muttered, brushing past Brodie. “We were just heading downstairs to playCall of Duty.”
Brodie gave me a squinty look. “We were? I thought we were about to?—”
“Play COD,” I cut him off sharply. “Yes, we are. I promised Haze a rematch before dinner.”
Total bullshit, I’d done nothing of the sort. But Lacey’s arrival at our house had really turned the cold taps on that heated moment with Brodie sothatwasn’t going to continue. Maybe I could sneak away for dinner tonight or something.
Leaving her standing there with Brodie, I raced downstairs to find the house abuzz with conversation. Our other roommates had returned, and everyone stood in the kitchen catching up. I found myself pausing just outside the door, enjoying the banter between Andrew and Connor, Haze even piped up every now and then with his dry humor that I secretly loved, and for once, Ethan and Connor weren’t in the middle of a sibling rivalry which should have died out when they were kids.
“You have the worst luck with students,” Connor said, laughing, like the asshole he was. “How do you manage to find them naked in your office at least once a week?”
Okay, now they really had my attention.
Brodie appeared behind me as I leaned in to listen, but he didn’t push me to enter the room, choosing to wrap his hands around my hips and hold me against his hard length.Fuck.I almost groaned and gave our position away.
“Trust me, I kick their asses out so fast, their tits flap in the fucking breeze. It’s annoying as hell, but rich bitches think the world owes them everything, and they can’t seem to take no for an answer. If any of them cost me Eve with this bullshit, I will murder them.”
Wellwell,who knew the threat of murder could be so romantic?
My fists still clenched at the thought of those thirsty bitches, the cut on my palm smarting at me, and Brodie chuckled lightly. “Easy there, Evie babe. You heard Ethan. He hasn’t got eyes for anyotherstudent in the college.”
I was distracted when Andrew asked, “Why didn’t you do the same with Eve? I find it odd that after two years as a professor, turning down students left, right, and center, you suddenly found yourself dick deep in the one we need to keep safe.”
Need to keep safe?What the fuck was he talki?—
“What’s happening?” Lacey asked, having finally joined us downstairs. I had no idea what she’d been doing since I raced out of my room, but hopefully it wasn’t planting cameras in there to spy on me. No one could be as altruistic as she appeared…there had to be a dark side.
Clearing my throat, I stepped into the kitchen like I hadn’t been creepily hovering outside the door. Brodie remained close, and when I crossed to press my lips against Ethan’s, I found myself sandwiched between the two.
When my gaze met Haze’s neutral expression, I remembered my excuse for rushing down here. “We need to have our rematch ofCall of Duty,” I said, hoping he’d play along.
I did my best not to glance over to where Connor and Andrew stood, though my curiosity over what he’d meant bykeeping me safewas filling my brain to capacity.
There’d been so many little oddities I’d ignored sincemeeting Andrew Knightsbridge, starting with his actual interest in me in the first place, followed by the weird fight in the dining hall and the punishment that followed.
Now that I knew them all better, absolutely none of this situation made an ounce of fucking sense. In my stupid grief, trauma, and sleep deprivation, I’d just been ignoring all the warning signs and red flags in my life, but my spark of clarity today—and maybe that full night’s sleep—was opening my eyes in a whole new way. Andrew was up to something, and it involved me.
“That’s right. I’ll get it loading,” Haze said, striding toward the door like he’d known this was the plan all along.
Lacey squealed, and I wondered why she stood so close to me and my guys, and hadn’t raced around to hang off her massive boyfriend, who stirred his stupid pasta on the other side of the island. “I don’t know how to game,” she said, “but I love to watch. It’s so cool that you can hold your own with the boys. I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
Liked me?She’d known me for about eight seconds of life, and I was the chick who had all but taken her place in this group, crushing on every guy in this house, including her boyfriend. Not that she knew that part of the equation, but still, this was weird.
“I’m really not that good,” I mumbled, before shooting her what had to be the most awkward smile in existence. I felt like a fucking alien wearing a skin suit with no idea how humans actually acted.
Sure enough, the other guys were all looking at me weirdly, which I ignored as I made my legs move into the living room. Haze already had the system set up, and I crashed on the couch a few feet from him, wondering if the horror of my awkwardness was still written all over my face.
“I need to change your bandage,” he said, glancing at the space between us. Lacey was temporarily wiped from my mindwhen he adjusted his seat, moving us much closer together, until I could feel the heat from his arm near mine.
“Yeah, thanks. I don’t want it to get infected.”
