CLAYTON (Single Dads Club Book 3)
Page 9
"This is going to be so much fun," I said.
"Well, it looks like orientation week is off to a great start for you guys," the male volunteer said, putting my duffel bag down on the bed.
"Thank you, guys, for your help," I said.
"No problem," the female volunteer said, handing me a booklet. "This is your orientation itinerary as well as a campus map. There'll be a lot of activities this week and chances to meet other freshmen. So, make sure you read it over. You can ask any of the volunteers wearing pink shirts if you have any questions.
"Thanks," I said. "I will."
The two volunteers left and it was just Frankie and me in the room.
"I might need a coffee to match the energy of the volunteers," I said.
Frankie laughed and lay down on his bed. "Tell me about it, I might need one too. We can go grab one at a cafe once you get settled in."
"Did you sleep well last night?" I asked.
"Not the best. I was too anxious about today."
"Same, dude," I said.
"Who'd you come with?"
"My dad and his boyfriend. I still have a lot of things in the car, but they're trying to find a place to park."
"I'm glad I came early," Frankie said, sitting up to look out the window. "It's crazy out there right now."
"I wouldn't even be opposed to taking a nap... so I'm well rested for tonight."
"What's tonight?" Frankie asked.
"Well, we're definitely going to be partying," I said with a slight smile.
There was a knock on the door, and I turned to see Westley and my dad, holding a couple boxes.
"I hope you meant studying," my dad said.
"Dad, it's orientation week," I said. "Classes don't start 'til next week."
Dad and Westley put the boxes down next to the closet.
"It's nice to see you, Mr. Jameson," Frankie said to my dad, getting off the couch to give him a hug.
Frankie and Dad knew each other very well. Frankie was always over at our place, and my dad often drove us to and from hockey practice. Frankie had even met Westley a few times since he and Dad started dating.
"They really put you two in a room together?" Dad asked. "That's going to be a recipe for chaos."
Westley chuckled. "I think it's nice that you two are going to be roommates. You'll have each other's back."
"I thought I heard familiar voices," a man with a deep voice said.
I turned to see Austin, Frankie's dad walk into the room. Austin was wearing a crisp white button-down, with the top couple of buttons undone. He looked good, with his dark chestnut-brown hair slicked back. The older Frankie got, the more he looked like his dad.
Dad and Austin were best friends, and my dad gave him a hug.
"This feels a bit more like a reunion than the first day of college," Dad said with a smile.
I went over to give Austin a hug, noticing his distinct smell of musk and citrus. Austin had smelled like that for as long as I could remember.
"How do you feel?" Austin asked, putting his hand on my shoulder and squeezing it.
"I feel good now that I know I'm going to be roommates with Frankie."
"Well, I hope you guys don't get into too much trouble," Austin said.
"You're going to be keeping an eye on these boys, I hope, seeing as how you're a professor here," Dad said.
"Oh, I'll be watching them like a hawk," Austin said jokingly.
"Dad, I hope you know you're not allowed to drop in here any time you want just because you're a prof here," Frankie said, furrowing his brows.
"Don't worry, I'll just be in my office across the quad with binoculars to peer into your room," Austin said.
Everyone except Frankie and I laughed.
"Don't worry," Austin said. "I know to give you guys some privacy. I trust that you boys will take care of each other."
I looked over at Frankie and smiled. "We're going to be alright."
"I can't believe our boys are all grown up," Dad said.
"It just felt like yesterday when I drove Frankie to his first day of high school, now it's their first day of college. Where did all the time go?"
"Believe me, I feel the exact same way," Dad said.
My dad and Austin had bonded over both being single fathers but they also became closer because Frankie and I became best friends. Though I hadn't seen Austin and Dad hang out as much now that my dad and Westley were together. To my knowledge, Austin was still single, which was surprising to me because of how good-looking he was. He was also quite the ladies' man. I knew that from watching him interact with women during hockey games and practices. Frankie seemed to have picked up his charm from his father as well.
"Let's get a photo before we go," Dad said.
Dad went into the hallway to ask one of the volunteers to take a photo of us in the room.
The five of us stood next to each other in the cramped dorm room, our arms slung over one another, as the volunteer took the photo with my dad's phone.
"Thanks," Dad said, taking his phone back from the volunteer.
"Send it to me," Austin said.
"I'll send it to all of you," Dad said. "We have some more boxes in the car, we'll go grab them and let you guys enjoy your first day of orientation."
"Thanks, Dad," I said.
Westley and my dad left the room.
"Alright, boys," Austin said. "I should probably go too. I still have a lot to do before classes start next week."
"Good to know professors leave things to the last minute too," I said, giving Austin a wink.
Austin put his index finger on his lips and smiled.
Frankie gave his dad a hug before he left the room.
"I'll see you two around" Austin said. "Don't forget hockey tryouts are in two weeks."
"You bet, coach," Frankie said.
Austin wasn't just a professor at the school, he was the head coach of the hockey team.
Frankie and I waited for my dad and Westley to return with the last of the boxes. I gave Dad a hug and could feel him suppressing his sadness as we said goodbye. I was trying not to be emotional about it too because I didn't want to look weak in front of Frankie.
"Message me later," Dad said.
"I will, Dad," I said.
I gave Westley a hug too.
"These are going to be the best years of your life," Westley said. "Make the best of it."
Austin
Single Dads Club Book 4
Amazon Link:
Coming Soon
Also by Candice Blake
Single Dads Club
DAMON (Book 1)
LIAM (Book 2)
CLAYTON (Book 3)
AUSTIN (Book 4)
Beckford Brothers Quartet
LEO (Book 1)
KINGSTON (Book 2)
CHRISTIAN (Book 3)
SAINT (Book 4)
The Everett Bros Trilogy
Blue's Boss (Book 1)
Harry's Baby (Book 2)
Gray's Playroom (Book 3)
Billionaires of Forest Hill (Mpreg)
The Omega's Bodyguard (Book 1)
The Omega's Protector (Book 2)
The Omega's Savior (Book 3)
The Omega's Doctor (Book 4)
Standalones
A Road Trip with Conrad
Kings of Hearts
Encore
Chase
Lost in Nomad's Land
Men of the Atlantic
Jay to December (Book 1)
Remy by the Sea (Book 2)
About the Author
Candice Blake is an author of gay romance.
For more information, visit
candiceblake.com
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ingle Dads Club Book 3)