We ordered pizza and sodas, already forming plans on how we would decorate our trio dorm—where we each had a small room for just a bed and would share a kitchen, living area, and bathroom. Logan had been placed in the same dorm, just three floors above us. We were halfway done eating whensomeonethought it would be a good idea to drop by. And by someone, I meant fucking Aaron, Tanner and Zade.
My weird massive bodyguards. Fuck.
Lorelei missed her mouth with her pizza, Rachel froze and stared and Logan sat up straighter at their approach. “Aaron, why are you here?”
“You texted me you’d be out. We felt like going out.”
“Youfeltlike going out? To the exact place where I told you I would be?”
“Fine. I wanted to meet your roommates to see if they were batshit crazy or not.”
Oh my god.I cringed and made the awkward introduction. “Lorelei, Rachel, this is my obnoxious brother Aaron. I apologize in advance for his attitude. This is Zade Willows and Tanner Johnson. They are overbearing baseball idiots.”
“Kenzie, that is no way to speak about us. We’re more than idiots.”
“Shut up, Zade.”
He winked at me before shaking their hands. When he got to Logan, he said, “Who are you?”
“Her twin brother.”
“Interesting.” Zade put a hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “Why does he look familiar?”
I answered. “He’s on the football team.”
“Oh, that’s it. Nice to meet you, dude.” Zade didn’t wait before sitting on the other side of the table, right next to Rachel. The poor girl turned beet red when Zade helped himself to some fries and it was weird to see my two worlds colliding. Aaron sat next to me and Tanner—who hadn’t said a word yet—sat across from me.
“You all excited to move in? I remember how fun it was freshmen year.” Zade pointed to Tanner. “Dude, do you remember all the dumb shit we did?”
“Yeah, but not as dumb as Hilly, here.”
“We don’t need to rehash the past.” Aaron flagged down a waitress and ordered a beer—prompting TJ and Zade to do so as well. Apparently, they were staying.
“Um, guys, I love that you assumed you can stay, but can we see if it’s all right withmyroommates?”
“I don’t mind,” Lorelei said way too quickly, her gaze lingering on each one of them. Even Rachel squeaked that she was okay with it. I sighed, accepting defeat.
“Fine. Stay and embarrass me, you hooligans.”
“Tell us your best Kenzie story, Aaron,” Lorelei said, the traitorous bitch, and I elbowed my brother in the side, prompting everyone to laugh.
“Don’t you dare.”
“This one time, she was like three or so, she didn’t know how to go to the bathroom by herself and—”
“No! No, fucking shut your whore mouth!”
They all cackled, but Aaron didn’t care. He continued, trying to embarrass me to death. “She was upstairs alone at our aunt’s house and couldn’t wipe her own ass. Instead of yelling for help, she slid down the stairs, butt-naked, leaving evidence all down the carpet. We still talk about it today.”
“Oh, my god. Kill me.”
Logan really liked the story, laughing hard and hitting his fist against the table. I dared to look through my fingers covering my face and found Tanner smiling at me with a little too much heat in his eyes. I sucked in a breath at his warm expression and forced myself to remember Aaron was right there. “Fuck you, Aaron. How about the time you stuck your hand in the toilet and—”
“Now, now, Kenny, shh. I have a reputation to uphold. You don’t. So, Lorelei, tell me about yourself…”
The evening went on, my brother embarrassing the shit out of me and my new roommates eating up every word. It was incredible to experience it—new friends and my brother’s friends and Tannerall together laughing and joking around.
We all said goodbyes, hugging one another and making plans to hang out again, and even Logan gave me a hug. Tanner stiffened, but I refused to think about it.Five daysflashed in my mind on the walk back and my momentary high from dinner turned to an anguished knowledge of my running timeline with Tanner.
