LOIS: I miss you guys, I love you soooo much!
Can’t wait to see you next month.
MOM: We love you too, sweetie. Have fun with your friends.
No mention of Kirk, thank God.
When I hear the three honks, I race down to meet my driver.
“It’s so cold.” I shiver as I slide into the car. I’m a Florida girl through and through.
I bury my chin in my coat collar and rub my hands together.
“Need a hug to warm you up?” Donovan wiggles his eyebrows.
“Just drive, Donovan.”
“Okay,” he sighs, turning up the heat.
We pull over outside his dorm, and I follow him up to their room, gasping as the door swings open.
“Holy crap! And you call this a ‘dorm room’?!”
I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I knew the college has “superior” rooms as well as the standard ones, but this thing here is an actual apartment.
“How did you guys get the presidential suite?”
“My dad is a Cardinals coach.” Donovan grins. “It has its upsides. Plus, Lewis’s dad is a VIP, too. Winning combo, right there.”
I take in the sweeping living room. “Jeez, I’m actually jealous. And look how nice and tidy it is, too.”
“Hey, Loiiiis!”
Lewis bounds over for a hug, squeezing me way too tight.
“Let her go, you’re suffocating her!” Lane shoves him back and grabs the zip on my coat, sliding it down and slipping it off.
Am I imagining things, or do his eyes widen when they land on my dress? He kisses me on the temple like it’s the most natural thing in the world before striding away with my jacket under his arm, and I’m officially weirded out. I greet Carter, who shoots me a look I don’t quite understand, and head over to where Adam and Lewis are huddled over the stove.
“That smells so good. Need help?” I stand on my tiptoes to peer into the pan.
Don yanks me back. “Forgive her, she knows not what she says!” He wags a finger at me. “Nobody in the kitchen except these two pros. Too many cooks, you know?”
Adam winks at me. “Thanks, Lois, but we’re almost done here.”
Lane waves me over to the table.
“You look really pretty tonight.” He grabs my hand and spins me around, and I feel myself blush.What the hell is going on?
“Thank you.” I look closer. “And check you out! Is that an actual shirt? Worn denim, sure—but a shirt all the same.”
“Lane!” Adam calls out. “Come and carve the turkey.”
“Duty calls.” Lane salutes me. “I grabbed you a beer—it’s on the table.”
I collect my bottle and take a sip as I trail Donovan with my eyes. He’s walking weirdly.
“Did you hurt yourself or something?”
