Lunch came and went. So did dinner with the boys, who I was guessing had decided not to go to class that day. They spent the entire day escorting me around and putting so much food in my stomach I was sure they were going to have to roll me back to my room.
Although I had thought I’d start training today, and the raw loss of my family lingered on the fringes of my thoughts, I enjoyed hanging with them. They were funny and lively and just great. Even Luke, who hadn’t seemed too keen on me this morning, spent half of his time with his arm around Deacon’s and the other around mine.
The sun had started to go bye-bye when we made our way back to the dorm, and as we entered the lobby, I saw Seth immediately. It was like my eyes were drawn past all the pretty faces right to the ultimate pretty face.
Wearing a black thermal, like Luke, and faded jeans, he stood between two bright red couches, muscular arms folded over his chest, hair pulled back.
My belly did a little jig upon seeing him, and then dropped when I realized every butt in those seats was female, all stunningly perfect and in every flavor, it seemed.
Seth turned, his amber gaze flickering over to us. He said something to a brunette, who glanced over her shoulder, and then laughed. It wasn’t a mean laugh. More like a response to whatever he said, but I sort of wanted to stab something.
He walked over to us. “Have a moment?”
“I’ve had several moments all day?”
Seth arched a brow.
Deacon whistled under his breath.
I’d said that out loud.
Flushing, I looked away and found myself staring at the back of the brunette’s head. Great.
We walked over to an empty nook, and I got busy staring at my sneakers, feeling like an idiot. There was a slight touch on my arm, and I looked up at Seth.
“Sorry about today,” he said, dropping his hand. “I got tied up doing some things.”
Words like “okay” and “all right” rolled to the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t respond, because was it okay and all right? Was I just being a bitch?
He stared at me a moment, and then turned to Luke. “I was hoping you could help us with the training, if you got the time.”
Surprise filled his expression, but he quickly masked it. “Yeah. I can do it in the afternoon. Got classes in the morning.”
“Classes? What the hell are you studying?” he asked.
Deacon beamed. “Horticulture.”
Seth frowned, opened his mouth, and then snapped it shut. “Never mind.” Glancing back down at me, I felt my breath catch. “I’m going to get you some training clothes. Okay?”
I nodded.
And that was it. Seth was out the door before I knew it, and I was in my room alone for the first time since…holy hedgehogs, since this all began. What was today? I scrubbed my fingers across my face as I sat in the middle of the bed. Monday? Tuesday? Less than a week had passed since I’d met Seth.
Less than a week.
It felt like months.
Wow. I lowered my hands and stared down at them. Everything in the whole entire world had shifted in less than a week.
That screwed with my head in a way that made it hard to breathe evenly. My trembling fingers blurred. Twisting at the waist, I stretched and snatched the remote off the nightstand, flipping on the TV and settling on the first channel I saw, because I really wasn’t seeing anything.
An hour passed and there was a knock. My heart doubled its beat as I all but dive-bombed off the bed and ran to the door, throwing it open.
It was Luke. He smiled. “I brought you some workout clothes. Seth put the order in and guessed the size.”
Trying not to let any disappointment show, I took the clothes and saw that they really were my size. Um. Okay. I didn’t know if I should be awed by that or kind of wigged out that Seth was that good at guessing women’s sizes.
And that he knew my size.
Well, no point sucking in my belly around him now.
“Thanks,” I said, glancing up at him, and then over his shoulder to the closed door that belonged to the guy who should’ve brought the clothes to me.
“I gotta run.”
I kept that stupid smile plastered on my face. “Okay. Goodnight.”
Luke started to turn, and then swiveled back to me. “Are you okay?”
I guessed the smile looked bad, so I wiped it from my face. “Yeah. Just tired.” I took a step back. “Oh. Thank you for today. It was nice. I had fun.”
“No problem.” He tilted his head to the side as he scratched at the scruff that had appeared on his jaw. “You sure you’re doing all right? If you want, I can hang out—”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Really, but thank you.” Holding the clothing close, I nodded at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I guess.”
“Yeah. In the afternoon.” He paused again. “Have a good night.”
Kneeing the door closed, I took my clothes into the bedroom and spilled them across the bed. Black pants that reminded me of yoga bottoms. Gray T-shirts, long and short-sleeved. Sighing, I glanced at my bags, and then the empty closet.
I made the next hour or so productive. Hanging up my clothes and putting them away since I figured I was going to be here… for a while. Then I got ready for bed, donning Seth’s shirt again. I really needed to find some sleep clothes and a washer and dryer.
Another hour was wasted staring at the TV screen, and by then, it was close to ten. No sign of Seth. Fidgeting until I couldn’t take it any longer, I sprang from the bed and went to the door, opening it. I stepped out, digging my toes into the carpet as I froze, my eyes fastened to the door across from me.
What was I doing?
Seth wasn’t coming over. I’d slept every night by myself since forever. I didn’t need him or anyone to go to sleep.
I hesitated, and then I turned, quietly pushing my door shut. Closing my eyes, I leaned forward and pressed my forehead against the door. The knot from earlier was back, lodging at the base of my throat, and my arms felt tired, so did my legs, even though I hadn’t done anything all day but walk around and eat. But I missed—
I cut the thought off as I pushed from the door. A weight settled over me as I tugged the covers back and slipped into bed, pulling the blankets up to my chin, and as I lay there, the image of my grandparents formed in my thoughts—them at the kitchen table, sweet tea in hand and pie on plates between them. A sharp pain whipped through me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing thoughts of them away and focusing on taking deep and even breaths until my eyelids became heavy.
And Seth never showed.