Chapter 7: The Senior Crowd

Delaney

I was beginning to think Harper Ellis had a problem with boundaries.

Not in a creepy, serial killer kind of way. More like an overly excited golden retriever that had just discovered friendship.

My phone started buzzing at exactly seven thirty Thursday morning.

GOOD MORNING BEAUTIFUL!

Are you awake?

Don't forget coffee!

Also, do you like breakfast sandwiches?

I squinted at the screen through half closed eyes. Jesus Christ. What kind of psychopath had this much energy before eight?

I rolled onto my back and typed. Are you always this loud?

Her reply landed instantly. Yes. ❤️

I snorted. At least she was honest.

Across the room, Sloane groaned and shoved a pillow over her head. "Can you stop making noise?"

"I'm literally lying in bed."

"Your phone keeps vibrating."

"Then stop listening to it."

She lifted the pillow just enough to glare at me. "God, you're annoying."

"Good morning to you too, sunshine."

I rolled out of bed before she could answer. Five minutes later, my phone buzzed again.

We're downstairs!

I stopped brushing my hair. We're? Who the hell was we? The clock read seven forty eight, and my first class wasn't until nine.

Me: Who is we?

Friends! Hurry up!

Well. That was ominous.

When I stepped out of the residence hall twenty minutes later, I nearly turned around and went right back upstairs.

Seven people stood near the entrance. Seven.

Harper waved with her whole body. "LANEY!"

I stopped. Laney? We were doing nicknames already? Apparently so. She hurried over and threw her arms around my shoulders, and I returned the hug a little awkwardly.

"You look adorable!"

I glanced down at my oversized burgundy sweatshirt, leggings, and sneakers. "I look homeless."

"Fashionably homeless."

"That's reassuring."

She laughed and grabbed my hand. "Come on. I want you to officially meet everyone."

Oh, God. Everyone. As in the suspicious group of seniors who'd spent days staring at me like I was a particularly confusing science experiment.

Harper towed me toward them like a tugboat. "Guys, this is Delaney Mercer. Delaney, these are my idiots."

A blond guy grinned. "That's hurtful."

"You're hurtful," Harper shot back.

He pressed a hand to his heart. "I give you nothing but love."

"You ate my leftovers yesterday."

"They were lonely."

I blinked. Okay. That was actually funny.

"That's Jett Maddox," Harper said. "Ignore ninety percent of what comes out of his mouth."

Jett offered his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, beautiful."

I shook it. "Does that line usually work?"

His grin stretched wider. "Oh, I like her."

"Back off," Harper said, smacking his arm.

"I was being friendly!"

"You're always being friendly."

"Exactly. It's a gift."

The girl with the long black braids sighed. "I'm Naomi Vossler. Please don't let him frighten you."

"Honestly, I've met worse."

"Give him time."

"Wow," Jett muttered. "Everyone's so aggressive this morning."

Naomi ignored him. She had warm hazel eyes, beautiful dark skin, and the kind of calm confidence I'd have traded my left shoe for. Beside her stood the tall, muscular guy I'd spotted around campus more than once.

"Darian Crossfield," he said, in a voice deep and unhurried. We shook hands. "Nice to meet you, Delaney."

He studied me for a moment, not rudely, just carefully, like someone reading a map. Then he stepped aside.

The next guy didn't offer his hand. He stood with his arms crossed, straight dark brown hair falling over slate gray eyes.

"Rhys."

I waited. He said nothing else.

"Well, Rhys," I said, "you're an absolute delight."

Jett burst out laughing. Harper covered her mouth. Rhys raised one eyebrow, and I smiled sweetly. He didn't smile back. Tough crowd.

Then someone stepped forward holding two coffees, and I recognized him at once. The guy from outside my English lecture. Light brown hair, warm eyes, that unfairly attractive smile.

"Callan Reid," he said. "Though I think we've already met."

I folded my arms. "Ah, yes. Professor Aldridge."

Jett made a strangled noise. Callan closed his eyes. Harper started cackling.

"Don't," he warned her.

"Oh, I'm absolutely telling everyone about that later."

I looked between them. "Am I missing something?"

"Nope," Callan said quickly. He handed me one of the cups. "I brought you coffee."

"Why?"

"Because Harper said you looked exhausted yesterday."

I turned on her. "Traitor."

"You're welcome," she sang.

I looked down at the cup. Large iced caramel latte. Exactly what I'd ordered the other morning. A weird coincidence.

"Thanks," I said carefully.

"Anytime."

Then I noticed the last one. Of course. How could I possibly forget him?

Kellan Hayes leaned against a dark motorcycle parked at the curb, in black jeans and a fitted charcoal shirt beneath an open leather jacket. His thick black hair was as messy as ever. And those green eyes were on me again.

I sighed. "Oh good. My stalker."

Jett practically folded in half. Callan coughed into his fist. Even Naomi smiled.

Kellan pushed off the motorcycle. "I'm not stalking you."

"Right. You're just aggressively observing my general existence."

His mouth twitched. Barely. But I saw it.

Harper looked delighted. "Oh, I love her."

Kellan walked over, and up close he was even taller than I'd realized, which was annoying. I didn't like tilting my head back to argue with people.

"How are you feeling?"

"Are you seriously asking me that again?"

"Yes."

"Fine."

"Sleeping okay?"

"Are you a doctor?"

"No."

"Then stop asking medical questions."

Callan laughed. Kellan gave him a look. I took a sip of my coffee, and good Lord, it was perfect. Sweet, cold, exactly what I needed.

Maybe these people weren't completely terrible.

By eight fifteen, I had somehow acquired an entire escort service.

Darian and Naomi headed for the science building together. Harper insisted on coming with me to psychology, and then Callan volunteered. Kellan announced he was going the same direction. Jett claimed he had nothing better to do. Rhys looked personally offended by everyone's existence but followed anyway.

I glanced around as we crossed the courtyard. "Does nobody here have class?"

"Not until ten," Jett said.

"Eleven," Callan corrected.

"Free morning," Harper added.

I looked at Kellan. He shrugged. "Later."

"How convenient."

"Very."

I narrowed my eyes. He looked completely unbothered. This was going to get exhausting.

Harper chattered the whole way about professors, campus events, and a disastrous party Jett had hosted last semester, which Jett hotly denied was a disaster. Callan cracked jokes. Rhys contributed the occasional sarcastic remark. Kellan stayed mostly quiet.

But I noticed something. Whenever someone drifted too close to our group, one of the guys quietly shifted.

Jett stepped between Harper and an approaching cyclist. Before leaving us, Darian had guided Naomi away from a crowded doorway with one hand at her back. And when a guy buried in his phone almost walked into me, Kellan caught my elbow and moved me aside.

His hand was warm. Really warm.

I looked up. "I can walk."

"I noticed."

"Then stop steering me."

He let go at once. "Sorry."

That surprised me. I'd expected an argument. Instead he simply gave me space.

Interesting.

By lunchtime, I was starving. Again. Honestly, something was medically wrong with me. My stomach sounded like it held an angry bear.

Harper heard it as we left the library. "Oh, sweetheart."

"Don't."

"When did you last eat?"

"Breakfast."

"That was four hours ago."

"Exactly."

She laughed. "Come on. We're meeting everyone for lunch."

Apparently everyone had already decided I was joining them. Nobody had consulted me. Not that I was complaining. Well, not much.

At the cafeteria, Callan waited by the entrance with Jett. "Hey, Laney."

"Not you too."

"What?"

"Everyone keeps calling me Laney."

"Don't like it?"

I thought about it. Honestly, I didn't mind. It was strange hearing a nickname said kindly. Back home, nicknames usually came with a knife in them.

"It's fine," I admitted.

"Good." Then he handed me a meal voucher.

I blinked. "What's this?"

"Lunch."

"I know what a voucher is."

"Then why'd you ask?"

I stared at him. He grinned. I hated attractive men, especially the ones who knew it.

"I can buy my own lunch."

"I know."

"Then why are you giving me this?"

He shrugged. "I had an extra."

Jett suddenly became fascinated by the ceiling. Suspicious. Extremely suspicious.

I opened my mouth to argue, and my stomach growled so loudly it echoed.

Callan's smile gentled. "Just take it, Delaney."

I hesitated, then took it. "Fine. But I'm paying you back."

"Whatever makes you happy."

I couldn't decide whether to thank him or punch him. Possibly both.

When I returned to the table with two cheeseburgers, fries, and grilled chicken, Rhys stared at my tray. "Seriously?"

I stopped. "What?"

"You're eating all that?"

"Unless you want some?"

"No."

"Then mind your business."

Jett choked on his drink. Harper laughed so hard she nearly dropped her fork. Rhys looked away, but I caught his expression, and it wasn't disgust. It looked a lot like worry.

Kellan noticed too. "Rhys," he said quietly. Just that. Rhys stopped staring immediately.

I sat beside Harper. "Does he always look like someone pissed in his cereal?"

"Pretty much," Jett said.

"I can hear you," Rhys muttered.

"Good. Saves me repeating myself."

I laughed. For the next half hour, I almost forgot how strange my life had become.

We talked about classes, terrible professors, dorm horror stories, and Jett's unfortunate attempt at a backflip at a party, which had cost the host a table, a lamp, and possibly Jett's dignity.

It was nice. Really nice. For the first time since arriving at Greyhaven, I didn't feel like I was pressing my nose against the glass of everyone else's life. I felt included. Wanted. Like someone would notice if I wasn't there.

And that was dangerous, because I wasn't used to keeping good things.

After lunch, Callan walked me to my afternoon lecture. Harper had gone shopping with Naomi and the others had scattered, so for once it was just the two of us.

"So," he said, "what do you think of everyone?"

I considered. "Jett needs professional help."

"Probably."

"Harper's insane."

"Definitely."

"Naomi seems normal."

"She's not."

"Rhys hates me."

Callan glanced down at me. "He doesn't hate you."

"He looked offended when I introduced myself."

"That's just his face."

I laughed. "And Kellan..."

Callan waited.

I frowned. "I haven't decided."

Something flickered across his expression. "He's not as bad as he seems. He's just careful."

"About what?"

Callan looked straight ahead. For a moment I thought he wouldn't answer.

"People."

There was something odd in the way he said it, but before I could dig, we reached my building. He stopped beside the doors.

"Hey, Delaney? If you ever need anything, you can call me."

"Even at three in the morning?"

"Especially then."

I laughed. "Careful. I might actually take you up on that."

His smile changed, softer and almost serious. "I hope you do."

For a second, neither of us spoke. Then I looked away. "Thanks for lunch, Callan."

"Anytime, Laney."

I went inside, and for some ridiculous reason I was smiling.

By six that evening, I was back in my dorm working on an English assignment when someone knocked.

Sloane wasn't home. Thank God.

"Coming!"

I opened the door, and Kellan stood in the hallway. Personal space was apparently a foreign concept to these people. He held a large paper bag.

"What?" I said.

He lifted it. "Dinner."

"Excuse me?"

"Harper said you were studying. And that you probably forgot to eat."

I glanced at the clock. Six fifteen. My stomach growled, the traitor.

Kellan's mouth twitched. "Apparently she was right."

I folded my arms. "Do you people have a feeding schedule for me? It's starting to feel like I'm a stray cat everyone decided to adopt."

This time he actually smiled. Not much, just enough to show a dimple I hadn't noticed before. Unfortunately, it made him even more attractive. Rude.

"Are you going to take the food?"

I sighed. "What's in it?"

"Steak. Potatoes. Vegetables."

Steak? Oh, God. That sounded amazing. I took the bag. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

His gaze slid past me into the room, to Sloane's empty bed. "Your roommate around?"

"No."

"Good."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why good?"

He looked back at me. "Nothing."

"You say that a lot. It's annoying."

Another small smile. Then he stepped back. "Lock your door tonight, Delaney."

My smile died. "What?"

"Just being careful."

Before I could demand an explanation, he turned and walked off down the hall. I stood there for several seconds. Then I slowly closed the door.

What the hell was wrong with these guys?

I set the bag on my desk. Steak. Actual steak, cooked medium rare, with roasted potatoes and vegetables. My mouth watered. I took a bite, and holy shit, it was incredible. I inhaled half the meal before remembering I had homework.

As I reached for my laptop, my phone buzzed.

Did Kellan drop off your dinner?

I rolled my eyes. Yes, Mom.

GOOD! Eat all of it! ❤️

I snorted. Do you guys have a secret club dedicated to making sure I eat?

Three dots appeared, then vanished. A moment later, Harper answered.

Something like that 😂

I laughed. But as I went back to my dinner, one thought lingered. It was probably nothing. An innocent coincidence.

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that my seven new friends were looking after me for a reason.

And whatever that reason was, none of them seemed the least bit interested in telling me.