Because of this, I take my time, soaking under the hot water, easing my aching muscles for just a moment.
Until Riley starts hammering on the door and shouting, “Are you nearly done?”
“I’m coming!” I reluctantly call back.
“So’s Christmas!”
I snicker at Riley’s indignant tone and turn the water off. I quickly dry and re-strap my breasts. Because of the ground staff and my kitchen duties, I still have to pretend I’m a guy. I’m getting better and quicker at the whole strapping deal but I’ve gotta admit, I’m looking forward to walking around free and easy again. Man, when I first get out of this nightmare, I’m going bra-less for like a week.
I pause, resting my hand on the steamy tiles.
“When I get out,” I murmur, suddenly realizing what that means.
No more brotherhood.
No more Trey.
I close my eyes against the thought and hurry out the bathroom door.
“Finally,” Riley mutters, shaking his head and stalking back to his room. I follow him in, dumping my wet towel by the door and taking a seat next to Trey.
He gives me a sweet smile, then turns back to the computer screen.
He’s lounging on his bed watching football. Mr. Adler has checked on us like one time the entire break, which has meant Riley can set up all his contraband technology without having to worry. Because their room is bigger than mine, we’ve been spending most of it in here.
Kade tosses me a packet of Doritos. I pop the bag and start sharing them with Trey. His crunching is loud in my ear but I don’t care. There’s something so comforting about sitting on his bed, our legs stretched out while we watch the game. Our bare feet are resting against each other and I could lean my head against his shoulder if I wanted.
This is the closest to normal I’ve felt since…
I don’t even know.
Is it weird to think that I feel more at home right now than I ever have? I’ve only known these guys a short time in the scheme of things but it feels like they’ve been my friends forever.
“Why are you frowning?” Riley grabs my attention and makes Trey swivel to look at me.
His face is etched with concern as he touches my cheek. “Are you okay?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m just…” I sigh and decide, what the hell. “I’m trying to figure out why I feel more at home right now than I ever have. My life is completely bizarre at the moment. I’m hiding in a boys school, pretending to be something I’m not. You’ve been torturing me for the last four days and I…” I shake my head, a fleeting smile zipping across my face. “I feel happy. I don’t get it.”
“I do.” Trey wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. “It’s because we’re awesome and spending time with us just brings out the happy in people.”
I groan and slap his stomach. Kade snickers. Riley rolls his eyes.
And then everyone goes quiet for a thoughtful beat.
The only sound is the murmuring of football commentary in the background until Kade clears his throat. “Truth is, I feel more at home here too.” He shrugs. “These two idiots feel more like family than my own ever will.”
“Same.” Riley nods, his forehead wrinkling with pain.
I wonder what that look means. I’m tempted to ask but Trey speaks up before I can. “We, uh, we kind of decided last year to become a family. Damn, that sounds cheesy.” He scratches the back of his head. “But we’re the only people in our lives we can trust.”
“True dat.” Kade raises his beer, then takes a swig.
I narrow my eyes at Trey. It’s time to find out more. “Why?”
“Well…” He swallows, his voice growing thick with emotion. “My mom died and my dad found himself a new family. I don’t belong in it.”
He shrugs like it doesn’t hurt him but his eyes tell a different story. I reach for his hand and give it a squeeze.
He glances away from my scrutiny and points at Kade. “His parents are divorced and—”
“Neither of them want me,” Kade finishes. “After nanny number twelve quit, they tried sticking my trouble-making ass with my mom’s parents for a while but they gave up pretty quick and I’ve been in boarding schools ever since. Bouncing from one to the next.”
“Kicked out from one to the next.” Riley snickers.
Kade raises his eyebrows, his grin lopsided and maybe a little bashful. He goes quiet, staring down at his beer and rubbing the label. His smile disappears, his jaw working to the side as if he’s fighting some emotion. After a brief second he sniffs and looks up, catching my eyes on him, and says, “What?”
“Nothing.” I give him a closed-mouth smile but he knows I’ve seen it.
Swallowing, he looks away from me and takes another swig of beer. Then in typical Kade style he makes a smartass comment to take the heat off. The guy’s obviously allergic to the feels.
“You know it’s lucky I did get kicked out of all those schools, Ry, or I wouldn’t have ended up rooming with a jerk like you.”