Page 4 of Her Devil
“You might have classes with them, or I might,” he argues. “Not everything has to have an obvious use right in the present moment, you know?”
“Sure. Whatever.” I shrug, grabbing a handful of textbooks and carefully placing them in the moving boxes we picked up earlier.
We didn’t have half the things we’d need when we turned up here, but the guys in our apartment have been cool. Matthew showed us around the local town, and the best drinking spots are now firmly stored in our heads, we even tested them out to be sure.
James dug out a copy of the reading list for us and managed to get a replacement set of our schedules after ours magically disappeared. My money is on Jacob throwing them in a box or bag and unintentionally throwing them out, but what do I know?
They’ve mostly done a reasonable job of working out which one of us is which, most of the time. Not that it’s hard to tell, in my opinion. But then, I’m not likely to mistake myself for someone else, am I?
Now we get to do it all over again, in a house full of guys that are our competition, if what we learned the other night is anything to go by. Only three will make it through, and I’m going to do whatever I have to do to ensure Jacob and I are in the final three. How could I not? How couldhenot?
We couldn’t seriously be expected to go forward in our lives without the backing and support of the other, could we? I can’t imagine closing the door as he walks away into a life of power whilst I figure out what to do on my own. It doesn’t bear thinking about.
That shit might have worked for our brother Andrew, the golden boy, but he was always going to fall on his feet at Barrett Enterprises. The two of us, not so much.
“You guys nearly ready?” Ian asks as he pops his head around the doorway. “There are some people here to give you a hand.”
I look as confused as Jacob does as one of the guys from last night ambles casually through the doorway, pushing his surf boy locks back as he does, raising his chin in greeting.
“Figured you might need a hand,” he says by way of an explanation, dropping onto what was my bed and throwing his feet up like we’ve known each other half a lifetime. I don’t even know who the fuck he is.
“Oh, I think we’re good,” Jacob replies, fastening his case and straightening up the boxes of books.
“We’re here now.” He shrugs. “Might as well make use of us.”
“Oookay,” I reply, the guy clearly not taking the hint. I close up the box, marking a large ‘N’ on the outside of it. “Let me do one last sweep to make sure there aren’t any errant charger cables, but I think we’re ready.”
He whistles loudly twice and another guy comes through, the two of them grabbing boxes and making their way out.What the hell?
“Do they know where to take those?” Jacob asks as we both search the bedside cabinets, checking through our usual secret spots and making sure everything is packed and ready to go.
There’s not a lot, a couple of suitcases and a couple of boxes of books. The plan has always been to get what we need as we go.Good job really, I guess.
“I fucking hope so.”
No sooner have we lugged the last few bits out to the living area and said our brief goodbyes to the guys than they’re back, double-checking everything before following us out.
“Are you guys excited?” one of them asks as we wait together for the elevator. I still have no idea who either of them are. I wasn’t paying much attention to anyone last night, well, other than the guy that hit Jacob, and the rest is more of a blur. “We’re staying at the Big House and making it through the first round. Nice fight, by the way, man. You were a beast.”
He awkwardly offers me a high-five as the four of us wait. Someone asks about a football match and that’s all we need for the ice to be broken and the conversation to flow. By the time the elevator finally arrives, it’s like we’ve known each other for weeks rather than minutes. We load the car up, meandering our way through the campus to the main reception.
“You need the office upstairs,” the receptionist smiles. “First floor, second door on your right.”
With a nod, we make our way to the elevators down the corridor, the glass-fronted building streaming full of light.We didn’t need to do this when we got the card to the apartment.And just as that thought sinks in, the elevator arrives and the four of us file in. If it wasn’t for the lull in the conversation, I’d have missed the girl's yell.
Slamming my hand on the button, I hold the elevator for her, the door sliding back open on two red-faced brunettes. They’re both laughing as they thank us and squeeze into the elevator, an interested look being sent more than just my way by the shorter of the two. But it’s the leggy one that catches my attention.
Her jeans are practically sprayed on, and the heels she wears bring her almost to my height. Raven-coloured curls trail down her back, but the gaze that flicks around the cramped space is indifferent at best and frozen at worst. If I hadn’t seen the light in her eyes and the laughter on her face just moments ago, I wouldn’t have thought it possible.
She dismisses us with a turn of her shoulder and a flick of her hair, drawing her friend closer, like she’d be any protection in an enclosed space with four guys at least double their size.Nice try.
“Do you need a hand?” I offer, noting the welcome pack she presses against her thigh. Not that I looked at her thigh, honest. “With your suitcases and stuff.”
“I think we’re all set, but thanks,” the shorter girl, her friend, replies with a smile, turning to get a proper look at me.
“It’s a one-time offer,” I add, popping the dimple on my cheek and raising an eyebrow. If I can’t get the attention of the one I want, this one might work as an introduction.If only I can get their attention.“We’re on our way out right now, and we won’t be back if you change your mind.”
A blush covers her cheeks, mischief twirling in the light blue of her eyes, but it’s her friend’s attention I want, and she’s not giving it. All too soon, we hit the first floor, the doors open, and they’re released into the fresh air of a large open corridor.