Tossing the phone onto my desk, I lay back down on the couch again. He wouldn’t text again. Knowing I was back home would be enough.
How did we ever become this? All those years ago, when I met them the very first day, how did we become four awkward kids to this . . .messthat we were now?
Onyx, the twins’ olderpsychoticbrother, had told them when the three of them were twelve that I would either break them or make them. I hadn’t understood what he meant then, and I wish I didn’t know now.
My actions had only made them stronger. Lonely and unsure and so pathetically desperate to beseenby them, that I was a girl just like the girls they were chasing, I had let Ash kiss me. It was a mistake that should never have been repeated. But repeat it, I had.
To Jett, I would always be a sister. He saw me as nothing more, and weirdly, I had absolutely no desire for him to see me any other way. He was attractive, he was funny, he had a mean streak, and he was a shit hot quarterback, but all I ever wanted from him was his friendship.
Ash had been almost the same, but Ash said pretty things to girls to get kisses. I knew he didn’t mean them, but Ash never looked at me the way he did the other girls, and it pissed me off. When I told him that it did, he had laughed, and then he started to whisper pretty things in my ear, and his quiet words had made me blush. Jett hadn’t paid attention, but it wasn’t Jett’s reaction I was looking for.
Gray had noticed, and it thrilled me that he did. Where Jett could be mean, Gray was cruel. Where Jett had a quick temper,Gray was explosive. Where Jett would be confused and would ask, his brother would become still and silent. And patient.
As Gray waited silently, watching and waiting for me to fuck it up, I made a mistake because I’d forgotten.
Forgotten that he was the most dangerous one of them all.
Chapter 2: Quinn
I loved October when the air turned cooler at night but was still pleasant in the daytime. The autumnal colors of orange, brown, and black dominated, and the aroma of pumpkin spice drifted lazily through the air. Leggings and mid-thigh sweaters were calling to me, and I could use my long hair like a scarf to protect me from unwanted prying eyes and the chill that was creeping in.
Sitting on a wooden bench between the cafeteria and the stadium, I had a textbook open on my lap as I stared out over the campus, sipping my coffee. Students bustled to and from classes, and I relished people-watching as I made up little stories in my head about the people as they passed.
“Hi,” Ava said to me as she approached.
Was she cautious? I made my smile brighter to appear more welcoming. “Hey.”
“Can I join you?”
“Of course.” My hand patted the bench, and she sat down beside me. “How’s your day been?”
“So far?” Ava gave a small laugh. “The professor from hell roasted me, once again. The professor who thinks I’m a jersey chaser pities me, and I had too much chocolate at lunchtime and feel sick.”
“Just a normal Monday then?” I asked her with a smile, and she laughed along with me.
“Yeah, although on the bright side, Ash protects me mostly from Leitch, and Jett just grins at Professor Matson every time she looks like she wants to save me from myself.”
“Ash protects you,” I murmured as I picked invisible lint from my leggings.
“Yeah.” Ava shifted uncomfortably. “How has your day been?”
“I had a two-hour practical this morning. I massaged and rubbed down two volunteers, although I think I may have dugtoodeep into my second guy’s calf.” I grinned at Ava as she listened. “He started getting a hard-on when I was doing his legs, so a little bit of pain is the best fix.”
Ava barked out a laugh as she looked over the campus. “Does that happen often?” she asked me with a wide smile.
“More than I would like to admit,” I told her as I shrugged. “I mean, it’s natural, and I will always have to accept it as part of the job, I guess, but the guy was so busy eye fucking me, I had to remind him who I was.”
“Pain will help with that.” Ava’s eyes danced with laughter, and I nodded.
“Yeah, I find it does. My consolation is that proper athletes are going to be too exhausted to get junior up or will have an actual sports injury they need me to fix.” I sipped my lukewarm coffee. “Horny college guys, or girls, are not what I’m going to be dealing with on a daily basis.”
“Girls?” Ava asked me as she turned toward me curiously. “I never even thought of the girls,” she said with a bemused smile. “I mean, wow, how sexist am I?”
“Meh, it happens. My hands are enough to turn anyone horny,” I told her with a wink, and she laughed out loud, drawing several pairs of eyes our way.
“Mia and I are going into Cardinal tonight. Atticus Dawn is playing, and Wade likes support.” Ava tugged her ponytail. “Mia was kind of dating the lead singer, and it’s a bit awkward, but Wadeisour friend, and I wondered if you wanted to come with us?”
I had nothing to say. I was sure my face showed my surprise, which irritated me, as I was used to being a blank mask. “Um.” I swallowed. “You’re asking me to go with you?”
