Текст книги "Lucky Number Four"
Автор книги: Amanda Jason
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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 16 страниц)
2
My eyes feel like they’re full of sand, and the incessant ringing of my cell is giving my headache a headache. Groaning, I squint, looking at the brightly lit screen, and moan (yes, it’s different from a groan) after seeing who it is.
“Hi, Mom!” I say, trying to sound awake, alert, and happy.
“Dora, sweetie, what’s wrong?” my psychic mother asks. Yes, she really is a psychic, medium, or dead talker … or whatever you want to call her really. Luckily, she can’t read immediate family members, so I’m safe. She’s relying instead on mother’s intuition, which is usually right on target. One of the reasons I want to be a therapist, counselor, or psychologist is because I’m an empath, which means I feel other people’s emotions. It took me a few years to perfect “my gift” to the point I wouldn’t walk around depressed all the time. It hit as I embarked on the wonderful journey they call puberty, and with the crazy hormones and the emotional bombardments, I was an utter mess.
Luckily Henry, my mom’s spirit guide, informed my mother of my condition and she helped me deal. When I was younger, I used to walk up and hug random strangers and end up with wet shoulders on a daily basis from their violent shedding of tears. Try explaining that to your friends. Julie and Kevin were the first to know, but our other friends, well, they took a while to come to terms with the fact that I was different. More different than being redheaded, left-handed, unable to tan, and having the ability to play connect the dots with my freckles.
“Nothing is wrong, Mom. I just woke up,” I reply, hoping that will be the end of her prying.
“Just woke up? People die in bed! It’s after eight. Aren’t you supposed to be at work? You’re sick, that’s it! I will be right over with chicken soup—”
“Mom! Mom, listen I’m not sick. I don’t have to work today. Steven wanted one of his shifts covered, so he took mine today. And I haven’t slept past eight since I was nine,” I say rolling my eyes, then focusing on an ugly brown stain on my ceiling. Where did that come from? What the hell is it?
“So I’ve had this feeling since yesterday that something really rattled you.”
Shoot, I missed the first part of her sentence while I was pondering the ceiling. I hope she believes I’m not sick…at least, not yet. Maybe that stain is some kind of fungus.
Oh hell, I’ve missed more. Concentrate, Dora, concentrate.
“Are you listening, Dora? I’m going to drive into the city and pay you a visit if you don’t answer me,” my mom threatens.
It’s a threat I take seriously, especially since my mom doesn’t drive well in the city. Last time, she flipped off a policeman who cut her off, laid on her horn, and ended up with a ticket. I mean, red lights on a police car mean pull over. I don’t care who you are.
“Yes, Mom, I’m listening. I’m fine, yesterday was fine, and tomorrow I’m sure I’ll be fine. Now give my love to Dad and the grandparents. I have to get up and get ready.”
“Get ready for what? You’re off today. You’re sick, I knew it. I’ll call your dad at work and tell him I need the car—it’s an emergency,” my mom’s worried voice comes through louder.
God, I wish I had listened.
“Mom, I still have school this afternoon, and I’m going to look for…” I say, almost telling her I’m apartment hunting, which until I find one, is not going to be told to anyone, especially her. “A new coffee pot … I kind of broke ours.”
“Are you sure you’re telling me everything?” she demands.
“Yes, Mom. I’ve got to go and beat Kevin for the bathroom. Love you!” I hang up before she can answer, and drag myself out of bed.
I really need to get a good night’s sleep soon. I laid awake for hours last night going over the events at the loft. I’d acted like a complete moron, like I’d never been around such beautiful men before. Most of the night, I pondered what my life would be like living with the three of them. Then the thought of a foursome got into my head, and I stayed awake longer, trying to forget the image I created. I finally went to sleep, only to dream a totally screwed-up dream involving three sex-crazed zombies that looked suspiciously like the three drool-worthy models, but dead looking.
I kept yelling at myself in the dream—okay, someone who looked like me being chased by these creatures—to run, run for the hills. But would she listen? No, she slowed down so much that they grabbed her. Then my phone woke me up. Damn, it was right at the good, or bad, spot, I haven’t quite decided which. Maybe something to ponder in the shower while naked—no, not there. Maybe on the subway to school.
I hear Kevin whistling, and I beat his ass to the bathroom by seconds, shutting the door in his shocked face.
Calculus—a total waste of mine and my professor’s time. When will I ever use this in the field of psychology? I want to be a counselor or a therapist, someone who helps others figure out their problems. Not work with math. Okay, so I may use basic math for doing my checking account, the percent-off sales on my favorite shoes, and other mundane things, but Calculus? When the hell would I ever use this?
I feel a nudge on my shoulder. “Are you as lost as I am?” Karen, a fellow student, whispers.
I nod my head in response. The door to the room is suddenly flung open and a girl who looks to be a freshman runs in with a note in hand. She delivers it to Dr. Parker, the professor.
“Pandora Phillips, you need to report to the office immediately,” booms Dr. Parker, his eyes picking me out of the crowd.
My stomach churns. What’s happened? An accident? A death? Has my mom come to the city to check up on me?
I look down at my cell, and though it’s on silent, it has a signal and there are no new calls. Surely someone would have tried my cell … unless it’s really bad news.
“Pandora, did you hear me?” Mr. Parker’s voice seems louder.
I pick up my backpack and walk in a daze to the exit, following the energetic freshman down the hall. By the time I reach the office, many horrible scenarios have flashed into my mind, and I feel like I’m going to hurl any second.
The first thing I spy in the office is the staff standing in one corner staring at a space that’s blocked from my view by an empty bookcase. They look my way when the perky freshman, who is holding the door open for me, announces my arrival. The four middle-aged women look at me in shock, dazed, in fact, as if in a trance, but with tiny smiles on their faces. They turn their attention back to the space I can’t see, and I walk around the sight-blocking item, seeing immediately what is causing their zombie stares.
There I go with zombie references again.
They look like three mouthwatering trees—yes, trees, as they all tower over my five-foot-four self like trees. Drew, Liam, and the third hottie stand before me. Drew and the third one are wearing huge grins, while Liam looks bored.
“Dora, sorry we interrupted your class, but we had to see you. We want you! Don’t we, boys? Oh, and this is Colin. I don’t think you were properly introduced yesterday,” Drew says with a heart-stopping, mischievous grin.
I hear sighs from my right and turn to see all four women and the freshman smiling like fools while fanning themselves. “They want her,” I hear one of them whisper.
“For Christ’s sake. They mean they want me for their roommate,” I practically yell, and still the five act like they don’t hear me. “Outside, now.” I point to the door and watch in awe as they obey. I turn back and see the eyes of the silly women and girl following their retreat. “I swear, you’d think you’ve never seen male models before,” I say before following the cutest denim-clad butts I’ve ever seen.
A slight autumn breeze swirls leaves around my feet as I stand before the gorgeous trees. “What the hell are you three doing here? How did you find me?” I demand, and then feel smug as I watch Colin’s and Drew’s smiles slip a little. Liam, his arms crossed, still looks bored.
“It wasn’t easy,” Drew says. “You told us your name, and my dad knows some people, and we … well, we tracked you down to your apartment. Your friend was very friendly, but I think she went through a shocked and then angry phase for a few moments when she found out you were looking for another place to stay. Kevin calmed her down. He’s a pretty cool guy.”
“And you bigmouthed behemoths forced my whereabouts from them after telling my secret. What the hell? I didn’t ask for this,” I exclaim. I watch two sets of faces have the grace to look embarrassed, but Liam…you guessed it. Bored. What possessed these three mega famous models to track me down? I know most women would jump at the chance of sharing a space with them, but not me. Look at those silly women drooling over them with their faces plastered to the window. I don’t want my life scrutinized under a microscope by reporters and ending up as some new tabloid fodder. No, I want low-key. I want to finish my degree and find a nice sensible man to settle down with—normal, that’s what I want. I take a deep breath before continuing. “Okay, so the secret is out and I’ll have to make amends, but what is your deal? Why me? There must be a million people you could line up to move in with you guys.”
I watch as Colin takes a step forward. “Pandora, I humbly apologize for our intruding. Drew is stubborn, and when he makes up his mind and then ultimately makes us make up our minds, well…” he says, spreading his arms out and shaking his head. His English accent has me mesmerized, and all anger flees my body. A warmth starts to build inside me. “We would really love for you to consider moving in with us. But it will have to be your decision,” he finishes and steps back as Drew opens his mouth.
“Yeah, what he said. Besides, we really like Julie and Kevin, and we asked them to move in too. Oh, not in our apartment,” Drew hurries, seeing my confusion. “No. Remember I own the building? We have several lofts empty, so we offered them one.”
Colin rolls his eyes and Liam shakes his head. What the hell? I feel my anger returning.
“Okay, so you bribed my friends with a dream loft just to force me to move in with you. What kind of freaks are you? I’m sure they turned you down. They did, didn’t they?”
From the looks on their faces, even Liam’s, I realize I don’t need an answer. Of course they didn’t! The silence is deafening. We stand there awkwardly with Drew being the only one looking me in the eye.
“Pandora, I’m sorry. I can be a little pushy.” The two beside him make sounds in agreement. “But I felt we had a connection yesterday, and we will make things as easy as we can for you to say yes. Please say yes.” He gives me puppy-dog eyes and Colin smiles, which makes my legs a little weak, and even Liam is now wearing a ghost of a smile.
“I guess I’m stuck. If I don’t give in, I’ll be homeless.” My voice is weary.
“Fantastic!” Drew moves forward, but stops as I put my hand out. I have no idea what his intentions are, but I’m not in the mood to find out. “Here’s your key! Let’s go, guys,” he says, handing me an antique-looking silver key. “Oh,” he says over his shoulder as he hustles the others across the fallen leaves covering the dying grass, “the movers are at your apartment right now, so just meet up with us at our apartment.” His last words float on the breeze as they quickly round the corner.
Sons of bitches. How dare those conniving behemoths assume I would consent to move in? I’ve been played. I’m perfectly happy with my life the way it is, now it’s going to have so much drama. I don’t like drama. Why me?
Turning around, I see the five female faces still pressed against the windows with those silly dreamy looks still present and accounted for. I huff as I storm off back toward my class. I’m pretty sure my blood pressure is sky-high at the moment.
I don’t pay attention in the remaining few minutes of class. I can’t wait until I can leave. By tomorrow, the whole campus will find out what happened to the short, plain, little redheaded Dora. I know most women would love to be in my position, but all I want to do is finish school, get a job, and find a sensible man to settle down with. Is that too much to ask? No
3
I take a deep breath as I prepare to enter the building. A young, fresh-faced guy behind a desk quickly stands up and smiles. “Ahh, Ms. Phillips, so happy you’re joining us. I live here too. Drew—I mean, Mr. Johnson—rents me the apartment here on the first floor,” he rushes. “I man the desk when I’m not in school. I believe we both go to the same one.”
He finally takes a breath and I return his smile. It’s not his fault I’ve been ambushed.
“Call me Dora. And you are…?”
“Brad. Bradley Mason,” he replies.
“Nice to meet you, Brad. Well…” I hesitate.
“Your stuff has arrived and your friends are in their apartment. If you need anything, just ask.”
“Thanks, Brad. I better go up and unpack. Later, okay?” I say, my teeth clenched as anger flows through me again. Brad presses the elevator button and it dings, the doors open and I step inside.
“See you around, Dora.” Brad grins as the doors shut.
It seems like forever until the door opens again. I feel my hands tingling and look down to realize I’ve fisted them and they are stark white from the pressure. I relax them and step into the hallway. It’s quiet and kind of spooky. I walk to the huge front double doors and go to knock, only to remember the key in my pocket. I quickly insert it and am slightly surprised when it clicks and I push the door open.
The huge living/dining room is morgue quiet. All the doors off the room are closed except for one, and I move forward to peek inside. The room is as big as my mom and dad’s living room, and that’s pretty big. A familiar queen-size pedestal bed is centered on one bright white wall, with the other three walls a light tan color. My feet sink into the rug that matches the walls as I walk across the room. The rest of my bedroom furniture, which isn’t much, is dwarfed by the room. I look around, but spy no boxes.
Off to the side of the bedroom is a sitting area with a couch, a couple of chairs and a large, closed armoire that probably hosts a TV. There are two doors in front of me, and I open the first and inhale deeply at the sight. It’s a bathroom, but not like any bathroom I’ve ever used. It’s massive and looks like something out of a high-end magazine. The tub is so huge it could hold at least four people, maybe more, and the walk-in shower is amazing.
There’s even a bidet. Yes, I know what that is. My grandmother has one in each of her bathrooms. But that’s a story best left for later.
Exiting the luxury bath, I open the other door and my jaw almost hits the floor. It’s a closet. At least, I think it is since my clothes are hung up inside of it on two long metal rods. Built-in drawers and a massive, oval-shaped mirror hang opposite the door. My shoes are placed in little cubby holes built into the wall.
“What the hell?” I say to myself while plopping down on the bed, overwhelmed by it all.
I know the story of Pandora from Greek mythology very well. She was so curious she opened a box (it was really a jar) which she was told never to open. Of course she opened it and allowed evil to fill the world. At the bottom of this jar was hope. So that’s how we have hope. I’m not saying I’ve opened Pandora’s box and now have evil in my life, or anything. It’s more like I’ve opened a freaking can of worms…and I hate worms, like, really hate them.
I jump as my phone buzzes from my backpack. Pulling it out, I see it’s Julie.
“Hey,” I say, testing the waters.
“Hey, yourself. So, first, I almost fucking dropped dead when I opened the door and saw not one, but three of the hottest guys I’ve ever seen. I swear, Dora, my heart actually leaped out of my throat,” Julie whispers before her voice picks back up. “Okay, honey, see you in a few.” She must be talking to Kevin. “He’s gone. Dora, what the hell? I’m so pissed you didn’t tell me you were looking to move. We’ve been friends since diapers, and I had to find out from…three totally fuck-worthy, gorgeous male specimens,” she blurts. “I swear, I almost wet my pants. And then they asked about you and told me your little secret, and next thing I knew, Drew is offering Kevin and me an apartment at a fucking unbelievable amount a month. I thought I was hearing things. Then the movers came in and moved all of our shit—I mean, stuff. Kevin said we moved uptown so I have to watch my fucking cussing, but hel-lo, I feel like we won the lottery! But you are not off the hook about this secret, and we will most definitely be having a little chat about that soon. Now, go take a bath in that ginormous fucking tub, and I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Dinner?” I say.
“Yes, dinner! Drew invited us to come over at seven. I’ll have to have a snack before then, or I’ll pass out from hunger. Did I tell you how the movers did everything? There must have been ten of them, and they were finished in no time at all.”
Moving to lay on the bed, I prop up the phone so I can listen to her ramblings. After a lengthy description of where she had the movers put everything in my room, and then how they went down to hers and did the same thing, she finally comes to an end with a “see you later” and hangs up.
I feel like a hamster on a wheel and I can’t get off! My eyes feel gritty, so I rub them and attempt to get some shut-eye.
“She looks like a sleeping princess,” I hear a familiar voice say.
“What princess have you seen wearing jeans and an old sweatshirt? I admit, the hair could pass,” a dry Australian accent replies.
“Should we be in here? We might scare her, standing at the end of her bed staring at her like this,” a proper English accent whispers.
“What part of privacy do guys not understand?” I blurt out, opening one eye, and I’m so satisfied when I see them jump a little.
“Ah, well, we just wanted to let you know it’s almost seven and dinner is ready,” Drew says loudly, as if I’m deaf.
“Sorry, Dora, I tried to stop them, but—” Colin shrugs his shoulders, looking apologetic. Liam just stands there with his arms crossed, rolling his eyes. Without a word, he walks out of the room. I close my eye again, wishing the others currently in the room would take the hint.
“Okay, I’m getting up, so you two can leave now,” I say when I realize they’re not budging.
“Great,” Drew says. “You can come as you are, no need to change.”
“Good, because I’m not planning on it,” I snap, opening my eyes again and watching as Colin pushes Drew out the door.
I punch my pillow. I hate feeling angry. The last time before today I was truly angry was when I found my so-called madly-in-love boyfriend in bed with a bleached blonde.
Now is not the time to relive that. I need to calm down and go eat, but arrive fashionably late. Yes, I’ll be late, as it’s ten minutes past seven.
I open my door to find the dining room table full of people who all, as if on cue, turn to look at me. I wish I had changed. At least my hair is decent, I guess. It’s still a mass of curls, but these curls are as tame as I can make them. I spy an empty chair and slide into it, not meeting anyone’s eyes. Everyone starts chatting again, and I take a peek at Julie, who is sitting opposite me. She grins and takes a bite out of a chicken leg. To my right is Colin, and I meet his eyes to find them smiling back at me. My heart does a little flip as I quickly grab the dish he’s holding, thanking him and plopping a spoonful of heavenly-looking mashed potatoes on my plate.
Throughout the meal, I look around the table and notice that beside the three models, everyone looks average(ish). I thought models only hung out with other model types, but it seems that might not always be the case. I’m enjoying the convos around me. Every time Colin’s dreamy British accent hits my ears, my heart skips a beat.
Drew sits at the head of the table, and when I look his way, he winks at me. My heart only does a half-flip, thank goodness, as I know he’s a party boy from all the stuff I found out about him, and the others, when I Googled them this afternoon.
My eyes finally land on Liam. He nods, sans smile, and no heart skip/flip happens. So why only Colin and Drew? What the hell am I thinking? These guys are my roommates. Also, they are way out of my league. Most importantly, I’m not looking for a relationship right now anyway. My focus is on finishing school and working. That’s ALL.
Nothing else.
So, heart, I’m warning you, stop it now.
Dammit, cheeks, don’t blush.
Geez, for the love of cauliflower.
“So, Dora, what do you think of your room?” Julie’s voice interrupts my inner thoughts and I look up.
“It’s okay,” I say before putting a forkful of mashed potatoes in my mouth. Hopefully she’ll get the hint that I don’t want to talk. She raises her eyebrow at me and goes back to eating. Thank you, gods, I can eat in silence.
I have to admit, I’m enjoying this evening. The girl sitting to the left of me is in college and works too. She tells me her name is Tess and she’s known Drew since they were in elementary school. I keep talking to Tess, partly because Colin is causing my blood pressure to rise. His leg is so close to mine, I can feel the heat radiating from it. What is up with my internal thermostat? I think it’s broken.
“Tess, is it hot in here to you?” She shakes her head, so it’s just me.
How will I survive?
I wish she would look my way more. There’s something about her. I just can’t put my finger on, but she has me intrigued. I need to get to know her, and the other two better keep their distance. I have to think this one through. I don’t want to screw it up. I’m tired of all the phony women I’ve met and continue to meet on a daily basis. They’re so shallow, only wanting me for what I can give them—more exposure. Dora is like a breath of fresh air in a stale world. Will she ever think of me as something other than an annoying roommate? Time....I just have to take it really slow, even though it’s hard.
