by Smoke, Lucy
"I knew you'd get it, Jamie."
"Awesome, honeybuns!"
I squealed and leaped at my nearest boyfriend who happened to be Cody as he was standing up to put his plate in the dishwasher. He quickly set his plate down on the table and caught me, laughing. I was breathing hard and adrenaline was coursing through my veins. This was it. This was exactly the kind of internship that could lead to a real career outside of college. Too many college students graduated and moved back in with their parents with loads of debt and still no direction in their lives. That wasn't going to be me. An internship through the USPA - The United States Press Association with the Washington Post would get me going.
"I'm so proud of you, Jamie," Cody said, kissing my lips before passing me off to an impatient Dex.
"That's wonderful news," Dex said, circling me in his arms. I sighed and rested my head against his chest. I was only nineteen - recently nineteen at that - and yet, it already felt like everything was falling into place. I had great men in my life, a great internship on the horizon. What could go wrong?
Chapter 2
Morning sunlight streamed in through my dorm window as my roommate, Stacey snored on. I groaned lightly and rolled back over. My classes didn't start for at least another couple of hours. I paused as I stuffed my pillow on top of my head. What had woken me up?
I tugged the pillow away and glanced at my desk. Sure enough, my phone was lit up like a Christmas tree. I groaned again and slid out of bed, grabbing the phone and my shower carrier before tiptoeing into the hallway. Despite her snores, Stacey was a light sleeper and I didn't want to have to deal with her bitchy attitude if I accidentally woke her up. She was normally bitchy, but if she didn't get 100% of her bitchy sleep, she would be even bitchier.
I yawned as I headed across the hall to the communal bathroom. It was empty, which was no surprise at this time of the morning. I glanced down at my phone and saw that I had a missed call from Darren and a couple of text messages. One of the messages from him had been sent not more than a few minutes before - my unexpected wake up. I decided to just call him back while I waited for the water to heat up. It took forever in these old buildings.
Darren picked up on the third ring, his voice sounding a little slow and tired. "Hey, babe," I said. "Sorry, I just got your texts, I didn't think you'd be sleeping."
"Hey, Sweetheart," he replied, perking up a bit. "No, I'm not sleeping. I'm actually heading to morning practice with Cody and Taylor. They told me about your internship. I'm so happy for you."
I couldn't stop the grin from spreading across my face. "Thanks. I'm really excited."
"I'll bet."
"I'm supposed to head to Washington DC on our extended weekend coming up. I already asked the guys and they said yes, but I was wondering if you wanted to come?" I bit my lip.
Weekends were usually when he worked at the gym across town. He picked up the second job when he came back from Christmas break. I knew he would hate to say no, and a large part of me hoped that he wouldn't. Darren was always working so hard and I hardly ever got to spend time with him anymore. I missed him.
He sighed into the phone. My heartbeat galloped in my chest. "Jamie," he began. My shoulders drooped, and I plopped down on the bench just outside of the shower stall for the girls to set their clothes and towels on, waiting for the inevitable disappointment. I held my breath. "I can't promise anything," Darren continued. "We'll have to see, but I'll try. For you, Sweetheart, you know I'll try."
A ridiculous grin overtook my face and I had to stop myself from screaming. That wasn't a yes, I reminded myself. But it hadn't been a no either.
"That's fine!" I said quickly. "Well, my shower is ready. I'll let you go. Have fun at practice. Give the other guys kisses for me. I'll see y'all tonight."
"I'm not kissing their ugly mugs!" he called into the phone.
"Who are you calling ugly?" I heard Taylor say just before the call ended.
I was laughing as I soaped up and rinsed my body. It was days away and yet, I was already excited by the prospect of spending an extended weekend with my guys in a city I had never been to before. The tour was only going to be a couple of hours. After that, we could see the sights. Visit museums. Go to dinner. I sighed with bliss. I thought that dating four men would have been a lot harder. I thought there would have been hardcore jealousy and fights and...so far, it hadn't been anything like that. I hoped it lasted.
When I got back to my dorm room, with a towel wrapped around me tucked firmly between my boobs, Stacey was up. She grumbled as she passed by with her own shower carrier smelling like last night's flavor of the week. And unless she had picked up a new habit, whoever last night's flavor of the week had been was definitely a smoker. I wrinkled my nose in distaste before dropping the towel and yanking on my underwear.
I so rarely slept in my own dorm room anymore. By the start of next year, if things were still going this well with the guys, they would probably end up asking me to move in with them. Even though our relationship was still fairly new and fresh, I found myself not minding that idea. Not one bit. Quickly finishing with my morning routine, I threw a suitcase together and then headed out. I knew I’d be with the guys for the next few nights if not longer and I didn’t want to have to come back if I didn’t have to. Unfortunately, my luck ran dry the moment I approached the elevator and saw a crop of short, curly, bleached blonde hair. I almost turned and hightailed it in the opposite direction, but Kristen Gaines turned and caught sight of me in that very next moment.
“Jamie!” she called.
I barely managed to hide my grimace and turn it into a hesitant smile as my feet slowed and I continued to approach the elevator.
Kristen Gaines was Victoria Packer’s - Cody’s ex and my ex best friend - sorority sister. She had never been anything but nice to me, even when Victoria had outcasted me from the sorority sisters, banning me from the events all because I couldn’t pay my dues. I’m sorry, but I just hadn’t had the funds to pay for my friends… or what Victoria had called putting a down payment on my future networking connections.
“Hi, Kristen,” I glanced around, wondering why she was alone.
“Haven’t seen you in a while,” she said cheerily, looking down curiously at my suitcase.
I moved to put it behind me. It was awkward and bulky, and she definitely noticed, which just made her interest even more keen. I sighed as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. No one was inside.
“Why don’t you go first,” I suggested, gesturing with my free arm.
“No, no,” she said. “That looks heavy, you first.” I sighed again but went in anyway. When the elevator doors slid shut she leaped on the chance to ask me about the suitcase. “So, going on a trip?” she inquired.
I shrugged, remaining silent. If her frown was anything to go by, she didn’t like that answer. After a few moments and several thousand prayers for the elevator to move just a little bit faster, she spoke up again. “You know,” she said, “I heard you and Cody Lawson were hanging out a lot more lately. Caught yourself a football player, huh?”
I shook my head, trying not to smirk. If only she knew. “I guess,” I said. “I hang out with him Darren, Dex, and Taylor a lot.”
Kristen’s dainty hand rose to her petal colored mouth as she gasped. “Donovan Taylor?” she asked.
I nodded. Yea, honey, just let that sink in. I’m not just hanging out with one football player but...multiples...and I’m dating them.
My thoughts were incredibly catty, and I knew it, but I just couldn’t stop myself. Kristen, despite her exterior, was just as shallow and backstabbing as the rest of them. She just went about it in a different way. How did I know? Easy. Instead of breaking up with her last boyfriend, she ignored him until he got the message. I didn’t care how bored she was with him. The poor guy had deserved at least a Dear John letter or something, but nope. Not from sweet, innocent, little Kristen.
I was so grateful when the elevator dinged again, and we finally arrived
at the lobby. When the doors slid open, I left her with another grimace-smile over my shoulder and a small wave. Her pretty, blue eyes followed me as I went through the lobby and out into the parking lot. I felt them on my back still as I threw the suitcase into the trunk of my beat up car and got into the driver’s seat.
* * *
The guys’ apartment had become like home to me. Being all guys, I hadn’t been sure what to think when they had first announced they were moving in together. Were they just doing it for my benefit? Did it serve a greater purpose? What would four guys living together look like? Would they be complete slobs?
One thing I had learned since, they all had their own personalities. Dex was definitely not a slob. He liked to keep things neat and organized. As such, the kitchen and living room were spotless as I lugged my suitcase in with my spare key. Taylor, on the other hand, was a bit of a slob. He constantly forgot to pick up his dirty towels from the bathroom floor and since Cody was in the room next to his and shared his bathroom, it was doubly worse. Cody, despite his jockiness, was an utter nerd when it came to his own room. Video games and snacks from decades past galore. Okay, so the snacks weren’t that old. But there was mold growing on a sandwich on his nightstand. I grimaced at it when I opened his door and stood there with my hands on my hips.
Here was the downside to dating four guys. Cleaning up after them. I went ahead and rummaged through Cody’s room as I’d done every so often since they moved in. I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to suffocate overnight from the mysterious fumes emanating from the open container of… I’m sure it was food at some point – on his desk. I cleaned away the debris of leftover food dispersed throughout the room, cleaned up the towels off of the bathroom floor, and then peeked into Taylor’s room. Not nearly as bad as Cody’s. I quietly closed both of their doors and headed for Dex and Darren’s rooms.
The guys had the misfortune of Friday morning classes this semester while my weekend began on Fridays. Hopefully, the following semester we would be able to spend the time together. Right now, I didn’t mind that I was here in their apartment alone though. It meant I could clean up for them and make them a nice lunch for when they got back after classes. I had never envisioned myself as a housewife, and I still didn’t, but I found myself imagining what things would be like in five or ten years when we were older and no longer in college. Would we still be together? Would we have our own house? Would Darren, Cody, or Taylor still be playing football?
There were a lot of variables to consider but lately, I found it harder and harder to not think about the future. When would I meet their parents? When would the guys’ meet mine? How would that work? Did the guys want to be open about our relationship with our families? Did I?
Suddenly, I stumbled and nearly slipped on something flat and crinkling as I finished throwing laundry into the laundry room next to the kitchen. When I bent over to retrieve what I had nearly busted my ass for slipping on, I realized it was a piece of mail stuck in the metal track of the sliding doors into the laundry room. I flipped it over and realized it was open. Without chancing a look at the front, I figured it was just a bill, and slid the contents out to read them. My eyes widened.
I shoved the contents back into the envelope and turned it over. Sure enough, Darren’s name was scrawled across the front. Why hadn’t he told us? This was major. I took a breath and tried to calm myself. Maybe he had just gotten it and he wanted to tell us all together. We hadn’t all been together in a while. He was always working - there were classes and internship applications and studying.
Deciding to let it go and ask him about it later, I checked the time and realized that I had spent a good few hours cleaning. The guys would be back any minute now for lunch. I quickly threw some pre-cooked chicken in a pan and took out the tortillas and lettuce and other fixings for some healthy chicken wraps. Not fifteen minutes later, the front door opened and the guys filed in – or at least Darren, Taylor, and Cody did. I sighed as they all came towards me, kissing me firmly on the mouth as I finished up lunch.
Darren was the last and when he pulled back from our kiss, he slid his arms around my middle and hugged my back to his front while I flipped some of the chicken onto the warm tortillas and then sprinkled in lettuce and other fixings. He groaned in bliss when he reached around and snagged the first finished one and stuffed it in his mouth.
“You make the best wraps, Sweetheart,” he said by way of thanks. I beamed as he ambled away toward the living room. Once the rest were finished, I called Cody and Taylor back in.
“Where’s Dex?” I asked as Cody bit into his wrap and Taylor added sour cream to his. I grimaced. Sour cream did not belong on a chicken wrap.
Taylor paused. “He should be on his way back from class,” he said. “I think he might have had to stop by Crawford for a checkup.”
“The health center?” I asked. “Is it about his injury?”
Taylor shrugged. “I don’t know, pretty girl. You’ll have to ask him when he gets home.” He moved forward and dropped a kiss on the corner of my mouth while I frowned and nodded. “Thanks again for the food, I gotta go study for a test next week. Are you coming to the game tonight?”
I glanced up at him. “Yea, sure. Anytime you want me to go, I’ll be there.” I smiled, but it didn’t feel complete. My eyes strayed to Darren. First the letter of the century and now I was worrying about Dex’s old football injury. I had a feeling I would always worry about my guys.
Chapter 3
Darren still hadn’t mentioned the letter by the time Dex had returned and lunch was over. I wanted to ask him about it but since he was playing in tonight’s game, I also didn’t want to throw him off. I decided to wait until after the game. Whether they won or lost tonight, they would still have a little over a week off aside from their regular work out and practice routines. Taylor, Cody, and Darren had to head over to the stadium early to get ready. Dex and I were left to head there together as the sun began to set over the horizon.
I sighed against the seat as Dex started up his sleek Audi and glanced over at me as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Are you okay?” he asked.
I bit my lip, wondering if I should reveal what I had found. With another sigh, I decided that Dex, of all of my guys, would definitely keep quiet if I asked him to. “What if…” I began, “someone we knew got an offer to play for a professional football team, but they hadn’t told anyone about it?”
Dex hummed quietly as he navigated around the streets of the campus towards the football stadium. I held my breath. “Well,” he said, “there would probably be a reason for that, Baby. For that person not wanting to just shout it to the world.”
“Why not?” I asked. “I told you guys about Washington. I don’t understand why he can’t just tell us–” I stopped, realizing what I had just said. I slapped a hand to my face and groaned. Dex chuckled and my cheeks flushed pink.
“I assume you’re talking about Darren being informed of the interest in him?”
“You knew?” I turned to look at him. Despite the fact that I had found out by accident and Darren still hadn’t told me, I was glad to know that he had at least told one of the guys.
“We’ve talked about it.” He nodded. “Dare is a little skittish. He knows that interest doesn’t necessarily guarantee a contract.”
“But the team that contacted him – they actually contacted him,” I said, “they’re in Washington DC Why doesn’t he tell them he’d be happy to meet with them since he’s going to be in the area?”
“We don’t know if he’s going yet, Baby,” Dex reminded me.
I frowned. “Well, he should. This isn’t an opportunity he can pass up easily.”
“If he does pass it up, it won’t be easy,” Dex replied.
I growled and sat back, crossing my arms as we pulled up behind the line of cars waiting to get into the stadium parking lot. Slowly, the front of the Audi inched forward.
“I hate it when you’re the voice of reason,�
�� I snapped.
He laughed, turning and grabbing me by the back of my head. Dex turned me towards him and took my mouth in a fiery burst of passion. I moaned and melted under the onslaught of his tongue. My hands shook as I reached up and clasped his shoulders. It seemed an eternity later, though I was sure it was only moments, when he released me and faced forward again.
“Don’t worry about it, Baby,” he said. “Dare will tell the group when he’s ready.” I sighed and nodded. I knew when to admit defeat around Dex. Besides, he was right.
Dex parked the car and took my hand as we walked towards the stadium. Already, there were drunken frat boys in body paint and sorority girls in skimpy clothes. A startlingly white blonde head appeared in the crowd and I stopped, nearly groaning, wanting to turn around. My hand tugged Dex’s, and he stopped too, looking back with his brows drawn down.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
I didn’t get a chance to answer because Kristen appeared before us as more than just a head of bleached hair. She was decked out in all of her glory - rhinestone encrusted jeans slung low on her hips, so low that it looked like her hip bones were jutting out above them. I glared outright at her as she flashed a brilliant smile. I couldn’t just have a nice date night with Dex to watch my other guys kick some ass, could I? No, I had to have Victoria’s lackey following me around.
“Hi, Dex!” Kristen called. “Hi, Jamie.”
“Hi, Kristen,” Dex said politely. Kristen was smart. Unlike the majority of girls looking to get a guy’s attention, she didn’t thrust out her boobs and flutter her eyelashes. No, she rocked back and forth on her heels, all innocent like.
“Well, it was nice seeing you again,” I said sharply, “but we must really be getting to our seats.” I tugged on Dex’s hand and her eyes moved downward.
“I thought you were dating Cody Lawson?” she said. There was a sharpness in her eyes. It wasn’t polite to mention that now, but she did it because she thought it would cause drama. She thought I was playing Dex and Cody. Maybe she thought I was playing all four of my guys because I had told her I was hanging out with them. What she didn’t know was that it had been their idea.