Indian Summer

by Eve L Mitchell

  “You don’t need to make me lunch, I can make my own.” She looked instantly horrified. Good lord another one. Her eyes flicked in panic to Matt and he smiled reassuringly.

  “Bit’s just being kind. Of course you can make her lunch, can’t she Bit?” Three pairs of eyes stared at me.

  You have to be kidding me. “Sure, sorry I just didn’t want to impose,” I mumbled. She beamed at me and with a happy nod retreated out of the kitchen.

  I jammed my lunch into my tote which Theo helpfully held open for me. I didn’t meet either one of their looks. They had been so unbelievable the last few days – in the best possible way – I couldn’t snap at them without feeling like a complete harpy.

  I’d be a harpy later. When I didn’t feel so guilty and could throw things at them again with a clear conscience. I nodded firmly and with determination I left the house.

  It wasn’t until we were driving to school that I realised I hadn’t checked my phone since…Saturday? Matt called my name from the front seat to get my attention. I looked up and he handed me my phone.

  “Needed charging,” he explained. I mumbled a thanks as I waited for it to turn on. “Colton spoke to your Papa on Sunday night,” he continued. My head came up so fast I may have given myself whiplash. I felt my mouth drop open.

  Theo turned around in the seat to look at me. “We told them you had food poisoning, didn’t want them to worry. You’re to call your grandmother when you feel better.”

  I just stared at them. Had they always been this controlling? Or had I always been that absent that I just hadn’t noticed? Maybe that’s why they were so controlling, they were used to just doing the stuff for me without me noticing.

  What kind of person did that make me? I wondered as we parked at school. I still didn’t understand how they always found parking. I was beyond the point of caring now. I had enough to think about.

  My phone had five text messages from Jay wondering if I was ok and not getting an answer from anyone. They could call my grandparents but couldn’t tell my friend I was ok?

  I muttered as such to Theo as we walked across campus. Matt had trotted off to meet Colton who had headed in early to sit the test he had missed yesterday.

  Theo slowed down to look at me in confusion. “What you thought we would go through your phone?” Well when you put it like that…

  “Well Colton phoned my grandparents,” I protested weakly.

  “He got the number from the front of your fridge.”

  Oh.

  He continued to stare at me. I felt kind of crappy. I thought they had been trying to control me again. Was it an honest mistake? Probably. Would they see it that way? Probably not.

  I sighed. Theo handed me my tote. “I’ve got to run past the library before my first class.”

  “Ok,” I didn’t meet his gaze. Only I could upset loveable Theo, out of all of them Theo was the most-easy going. He always had an easy smile and was the most relaxed out of all of them.

  As he turned away, I reached out and grabbed his arm. He stalled and looked at me. “I’m sorry. It’s just all of this, it’s too much,” I tried to explain.

  His frown didn’t make me feel better. “This is how it’s always been Ari. Nothing has changed for us,” I nodded. He was right, they had picked up exactly where our friendship had left off in Big Sky.

  “Maybe I have?” I countered, he shrugged. “Maybe I changed too much,” I whispered as I fidgeted.

  “Maybe you have but we’re your family, you can talk to us. Tell us what you need, and we’ll do it or at least try. Life dealt you a shitty hand Arielle, but I told you weeks ago. You won’t be alone again, family doesn’t give up on each other,” he smiled at me, kissed me swiftly on the cheek and then was off.

  I sighed and tilted my head back as I groaned. Why couldn’t I be normal? I had fantastic friends who had done everything to make my life easier, who were willing to provide a home and clothes for me and wanted nothing but the best for me.

  Why was I being so awkward about this? Was I really losing my independence if I moved in with them? Colton had been gone this morning, Connor never seemed to be there. Matt and Theo came and went as they pleased, I could do with the income from renting out the apartment. It would save me having to get a job but in reality, was that what was best for me?

  I needed to speak to my grandparents. I didn’t trust myself to make the right decisions anymore. Saturday had pretty much confirmed I was reckless when it came to good choices. My initial lip locking session with Colton at my mother’s funeral – not one of my best moments either, and what was I actually doing with Jay? Did I want a relationship with him? Was it fair to either of us, when at the drop of a hat I wrapped myself round Colton whenever I could?

  I crossed over to the Denison building feeling out of sorts with myself. Which is why I was perfectly entitled to detour into Starbucks and get myself a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

  I’d think about it later, I needed to concentrate on classes and just getting through today.

  As I exited Starbucks, I spotted Robbie and quite frankly the largest guy I had ever seen in my life. He was massive, everywhere. He was a walking wall of muscle. Robbie wasn’t slight, but he looked like Stan Laurel beside this dude.

  Robbie saw me and for the first time he genuinely looked unhappy to see me. I shrugged it off, wasn’t my fault really. Yes it is. If I could inner glare at myself I would – although I reckon if I started rolling my eyes backwards in my head Robbie would run to the first priest, he could find. I coughed out a giggle.

  “Elle,” Robbie greeted. I smiled at him but my eyes were drawn to the walking tank beside him.

  “Tommy, I guess?” It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this was the sporting roommate, if he didn’t play defence on the Buffs football team, I would eat my shoe.

  He was even more imposing close up. He had to be about 6’5” in both height and width. He had buzzed blonde hair. His features were oddly delicate for the size of him, his bicep was possibly the width of my entire frame.

  He grinned at me. “How you doing? You must be the heartbreaker?”

  Wow. Inappropriate much?

  “Well I wouldn’t say that,” I mumbled. He laughed. Good God. It was like the Hulk was laughing, only difference was Tommy wasn’t green.

  “You’re absolutely huge,” I blurted. He roared with laughter again. “I reckon you must be one of the reasons the Buffs are having an impressive run?” Smooth Elle, real smooth.

  “Everything about me is impressive in size little lady,” he winked. Ugh. Not necessary.

  Robbie jumped in. “How are you, your blonde friend Todd said you had food poisoning?”

  I nodded. “Yeah all better thanks and it’s Theo, not Todd.”

  Tommy was eyeing me in a very predatory way.

  “Sure.”

  Was it a male thing? Did they both know exactly what the other one was called and just conveniently forgot…to what? Win points? But how would that work if the other wasn’t there to witness it?

  Men were weird.

  “So, you had the shits. What did you eat?” Wow.

  “I…” I stumbled. “I don’t even know how to respond to that.” Robbie was holding in laughter and Tommy looked like he wasn’t sure why that just wasn’t polite conversation.

  “Elle?” I turned and smiled hugely at Corey, she was all in white and glowing again like an angel.

  “Well hello sweet thang,” said Tommy. Thang? Was this guy real?

  Corey took in both of the guys and didn’t greet them.

  “Hi Corey,” I reached over to hug her – I was so pleased to see her, I could have hung on all day.

  “Corey?” Hulk looked at Robbie. “This the one that cock blocked you?” He grunted.

  Ok I’m done with the walking tank.

  “Well we have to go,” I declared as I grabbed Corey’s hand and pulled her away from them. I walked quickly away cringing when Tommy shouted something inane after us.
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  Corey was laughing by the time I slowed down. “Oh Elle, you sure know how to find them,” she giggled.

  I shook my head at her ruefully. “What worries me the most is that he thinks it’s perfectly ok to talk to people that way?”

  Corey flung her arm over my shoulder. “So, are you feeling better?” I didn’t like to lie to Corey, but I couldn’t risk her telling Connor.

  “Much better. Thank you,” she nodded.

  “Corey?” I took a deep breath. “What do you think of the fact that the guys have a room for me in the house?” I quickly ran through their plan.

  She smiled at me when I finished. “I think it’s adorable.” My raised eyebrows must have shown my surprise. She laughed. “I have three older brothers Elle, so do you, it’s just your older brothers aren’t biological,” she shrugged. “That doesn’t mean they are any less overbearing,” she winked.

  “I didn’t know you had older brothers,” I commented.

  “Yep. Three cavemen just like yours,” she ran her hand over her ponytail. “They’re all married which means I now have three overbearing sisters too!” Her laughter was light.

  “Big family,” I murmured feeling a tiny bit jealous.

  “Then I have my cousins, I think my cousins may be worse than my brothers,” she acknowledged. “One of my cousins goes here too. She was going to get notched onto your friend Robbie’s bed post and I intervened. Hence the terminology from his giant friend.” Corey turned to me fully. “But you have to look out for family don’t you?” It was very close to what the guys had been saying to me. Corey hooked her arm through mine. “They want to protect you. I don’t think you need it to be honest, but they do. So, for them, I think you should consider it.” We stopped outside my building.

  “Would it freak me out that Connor and his ex-girlfriend were living together?” she added. I went to protest but she shook her head. “Probably, had I not met you. But I have met you and I know there is absolutely no desire in you to reconnect that way with him.” Her smile dimmed a little.

  “What is it?” I asked concern for her rushing to the surface.

  “I just wish I had that confidence in him,” she admitted. “The way he acted at dinner the other night was awful.”

  “Connor is crazy about you,” I defended him, because as far as I could see, he really was. “He’s still mad at me Corey, that doesn’t mean he wants to get back together with me. It just means he’s ok with me feeling uncomfortable around him.”

  Her smile blinded me and I was crushed into a hug. “I’m happy for you to move in, would help me balance out the testosterone,” she admitted a little guiltily.

  I laughed. We said our goodbyes and I headed into class. I put my phone on silent and sent Jay a text, saying I was fine and would call him later.

  A message came back almost instantly with an ‘ok’ emoji. I smiled and I thought again how it wasn’t complicated with Jay. However, was that a good enough reason to keep doing whatever it was we were doing?

  I had a blissfully uneventful day in class and like a good friend, I met up with Matt at the end of the day and he drove me back to their house. Connor was in the kitchen when we walked in. Matt tensed minutely but plastered a smile on his face anyway. Connor was munching his way through a fat slice of watermelon. He grinned when he saw us.

  “Ari, you feeling better?” He asked as he wiped his hands on the front of his trousers.

  “Jesus Con what are you, two?” Matt muttered throwing a dish cloth at him. Connor caught it deftly and gave Matt the finger as he wiped his hands.

  “You’re such a woman Matt,” he chided. “Ari, so are you feeling better? Cole said you had it bad?”

  I nodded at him. I was choking on the level of anger that had risen at the sight of him. I thought I would be able to control my temper but having him standing in front of me, with that same lazy Connor Dawson grin and attitude. I was in danger of throttling him. Matt looked over at me and must have realised pretty quickly that I was struggling.

  “Yeah she’s much better aren’t you Bit?” His look was pointed. I took a page out of his book and plastered a smile on my face. I felt like a fraud.

  “Your boy was looking for you today,” Connor said as he picked up another slice of watermelon.

  “What?” What boy?

  “Jay,” he took a huge bite of fruit. I glanced quickly at Matt who was frowning at Connor.

  “When did you see Jay?” I asked, hoping my voice wasn’t as shaky as I thought it was. Had Connor been to the garage? Was he doing something stupid again?

  “He came to the house,” Connor shrugged and took his bowl to the sink. “Don’t know why he thought you were here to be honest, but you’re here now, so what’s going on?” He leaned casually against the sink. I knew him well though, I noticed the tension in his hands as he gripped the edge of the basin.

  “Ari stayed here last night,” Matt explained.

  “In whose room?”

  “Mine,” I answered quickly, I had seen the deep breath that Matt took. We didn’t need this on top of everything else. “I have a room here you know,” I smiled to soften the sharpness of my words.

  Connor’s eyes narrowed. “I know that. It’s across from mine.”

  Just then Corey came into the kitchen from the pool, she was wrapped in a towel, but her hair was wet, she had obviously been swimming. Her face broke out in a radiant smile.

  “Elle!” She hurried over and hugged me. She turned to Connor and then to the counter where she seemed to be looking for something. He looked immediately guilty.

  “He ate it.” Matt supplied. Connor glared at him and Corey went over to the sink and forcibly shoved him aside.

  “You ate my fruit?” She demanded. Then to my surprise she flicked his forehead. “You better make me another bowl!” Turning, she grabbed my hand and led me out of the kitchen. I looked over my shoulder and saw Matt and Connor in some silent stare off and then Matt turned and walked out too. Connor’s head went down, I felt a pang of sympathy and then I remembered what he had done, and I too turned away.

  When we got to the rooms. Corey asked if she could come into mine. I agreed, and she dashed into her own with the promise she would be five minutes. Shrugging I went into my room and dumped my tote down as I kicked off my sneakers.

  My bed had been remade. I had made it this morning, but it seemed Mrs Green took her duties seriously and had remade it. I can make a bed, but I wouldn’t be able to get those sharp hospital corners if my life depended on it. Shaking my head, I went into the adjoining bathroom. I heard the door close and popped my head out, Corey had pulled a light summer dress on over her bathing suit and wrapped her hair in a towel.

  She walked over to my window and looked out over the gardens. “Beautiful isn’t it?” She asked. I nodded she turned and then looked at me.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “Ok, so. I’m not weird,” she began.

  “You’re being weird,” I cut in.

  “I need to look into the wardrobe,” she blurted out. I looked at her and her barely supressed excitement.

  “Pardon?”

  She came rushing over and grabbed my hands. “I need to look at the clothes. It’s been killing me, I was here the day all the deliveries came, it was like Christmas as designer bag after designer bag was taken in and I couldn’t look!”

  I started giggling and couldn’t stop. I waved her to the wardrobe and with a squeal she was off. I watched her ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over clothes. When she found the shoes and boots, I asked her if she needed me to leave the room. The fact that Corey didn’t reply made me laugh harder.

  I had never seen someone so happy over clothes. Then I thought about it, I used to be like that for purses. I guess we all had our little things.

  When Corey had exhausted herself and told me for the millionth time that Theo’s mum had amazing taste in clothes, she flopped down on the bed with me.

  “You happy?” I asked.

&nb
sp; She nodded and smiled at me happily.

  “I miss this,” she admitted. I frowned in confusion. “I don’t have many girlfriends here,” she confessed. “The sorority house is fun but kinda lonely. That’s why I spend so much time here. It’ll be nice having you across the hall.” Corey smiled at me again.

  I frowned. I sat up and looked at her. “I have an apartment, I don’t know if I am going to move in here,” she started to look sad. “But, I will spend more time here, I mean after all,” I nudged her. “I have all those clothes to wear,” Corey grinned.

  Just then my phone beeped. Corey handed it to me and I lay back to read the message. I smiled and Corey questioned the reaction. I showed her the text from Jay.

  Jay: Waiting outside the Dawson mansion but your blonde bodyguards are going to be hard to get past. Give a boy an assist?

  I laughed and jumped off the bed. I ran to the door with Corey reminding me to put lip gloss on. I hesitated and then swiped some on and ran down the stairs.

  I flung the front door open and laughed out loud when I saw Jay. His hair was tied back, his stubble was trimmed, he had on a black button-down shirt and a pair of dark jeans. He was holding a huge bunch of red roses.

  His smile was slow and easy when he ran his eyes over me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into his embrace. His lips found mine easily and he kissed me softly.

  “Was worried about you darling,” I smiled at him.

  “I’m ok now,” I answered. I took a step back and looked at him, he kept a loose hold on my hand. “Come in?” I offered.

  “Dunno if I’m welcome. Your boy Colton was at the shop this morning and almost ripped my bro’s head off,” Jay admitted.

  Ice washed over me. “What?” Jay shrugged.

  “I mean when we got to the bottom of why, we understood his reaction. However, it took four guys to haul him off Aaron,” he shook his head in grudging respect. “God that guy can move. He seriously should consider going pro, know what I mean?”

  “No. I don’t,” I said sharply. I closed the door behind me as I stepped out. I didn’t want Connor hearing. “What are you saying, he attacked your brother?”