Chapter 3

"Good morning," the sleep filled voice says, startling me.

I look behind me quickly, the guy, smirks; all evidence of last night on display.

My eyes fall on the surprisingly dark hickey on his collar bone.

Blushing fiercely, my wide eyes meet his amused, dark amber gaze. Jumping up, I rush around the room, wrapped in the sheet.

He’s silent, watching me struggle to try and dress without dropping the sheet. After almost falling for the second time, I had enough.

"Screw this," I said to myself, turning, I dropped the sheet.

Snatching my underwear from the chocolate brown couch, I shimmied them on.

Movement from the bed has me looking over my shoulder.

He’s still watching me, his arm behind his head now, his hand playing with his necklace. The one I used to pull him into a fierce kiss last night.

My face pinkens, his smirk widening, knowingly.

Whipping my head back around, I scramble to finish dressing.

"So, obviously,I drank too much last night," I start, pulling my jeans on.

Hooking my bra, I pulled on my crop top.

“ I’m sorry about last night,” I said, grabbing my boots.

I search for Cathy's weird mesh top.

“Let's just forget what happened last night," I said, giving up.

"Why would I wanna forget," The guy asked, bringing me out of my thoughts. "I thought it was amazing.”

Throwing my hair up, I grabbed my phone, and threw on my jacket, I turned to him. He climbs out of the bed, not bothering to hide anything.

"I would very much," he said, pulling me against him, "like to do it again."

Pushing him away, I put as much distance as I could between us.

“Last night was a mistake," I emphasized, looking for the door, “one and done.”

He goes to speak, but I cut him off, raising my hand.

“ If you pester me again," I say, moving toward the bed, “ I'll call the cops."

Before he can say a word, I'm running across his bed, and out the door. Taking the stairs two at a time, I call my mom.

She's getting re-married? Again?

It's just been my mom and I, even ever since dad died when I was five.

We didn't come from money, living paycheck to paycheck, but we were happy.

Sure we had hard times, mom having to go from job to job, nothing ever lasting long.

I know she always wanted to find something stable, to support me.

But I only wanted her to be happy, nothing else mattered to me.

So, I worked my butt off, studying hard so I could get into Augustus Lupine Academy.

Majoring in the best business administration program in the country, could open so many doors for mom and I.

Regardless of what the A Class said, I had the grades to get into Lupine.

I was the first person to ever get a scholarship here, and that's pretty impressive. B class is the top class for the students who aren’t of elite status but rich.

Which again, for someone of my social class to be in, is huge.

All the work I put into my studies was to give mom a good life.

Which is why I don't get why she keeps remarrying.

Since dad passed, she's married and divorced five men.

I love her so much, but she can not maintain a stable, healthy relationship. And the men she finds are so unreliable.

So, when the call connects I'm not holding out hope that this one will be different.

"What's this one's name," I asked, trying to be calm about everything.

"His name is William..." She starts and then she's off.

Telling me that he has two sons around my age.

How this time was different then before.

That she was serious and they had true love.

I don't know If she remembers that she said all this before with the others.

But here we are again, number six.

"Kat, I really want you to accept him," Mom said, pleading, "He's really different, just give him a chance please.”

Sighing, I yield, "Fine, I'll give him a chance."

"A real one," She persists.

"Yes," I agree, my headache, worsening.

"Muah," mom kisses through the phone, “thank you, sweety, I love you."

"I love you too mom,” I said, smiling at how happy she sounds.

"Hurry home okay," She said, excited, "I want you to meet right away."

"Okay, I'll head over after I change," I agreed.

“Just change here," Mom insists, "You'll have plenty of time before he arrives."

“Fine, can you please make sure there's coffee," I give in, walking to the parking lot. "Sure thing sweetie, "Mom agrees, excited, “See you soon."

The call ends just as I reach my car.

I sure picked a great day to have a hangover.

Pulling into our small driveway, a shiny black Benz parks out front.

"So much for having time to change," I mutter to myself.

Checking in the mirror I wince, quickly zipping up my jacket.

Cursing Cathy for dressing me in a crop top.

Running my fingers through my hair, I try to look somewhat presentable.

Finally, I try to fix my ruined makeup.

I don’t think the “walk of shame” look is the best way to meet my new stepdad. “Better, I guess,” I sighed, climbing out of my car

Standing on the porch is a handsome man with hair, a mix of black and brown, light grey at the temples.

He’s dressed in a custom tailored suit in navy blue.

His whole ensemble costs the same as my tuition, maybe more.

“Crap,” I mutter under my breath, walking over to where he and mom stand talking quietly. "Hi mom," I said, hugging her.

Turning to William, I offer him my hand.

"It’s nice to meet you, Mr … ," I hesitated, as he grabbed my hand, not knowing his last name. "Please, call me William," he replies, smiling nervously.

I mean he looks like what the elite, A Class jerks will become.

What Draven will become.

I stop myself before I start to spiral.

"It's nice to meet you, William" I said, giving him a small smile, shaking his hand.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you too, " William said, smiling widely.

"Awe, I’m so happy you two are finally meeting," Mom beams, pulling us inside, "let's sit down and talk. "

“You can go first," I said following inside, “ I’m going to grab a coffee real quick."

"I'll get it Katie," mom said pushing William and I in the living room, "You both sit and chat.”

I take a seat on my favorite velvet royal blue loveseat.

William unbuttons his jacket, sitting in the chair closest to me. Everything about William screamed A class, Elite.

Not a typical ordinary person, like mom and myself.

"How are you settling in, "William asked awkwardly, "at Lupine, I mean."

"Oh," I respond fidgeting, “ It's been an adjustment but it's going fine.”

"Your major is business administration, right?" he asks, leaning back on the couch, trying to act normal.

"Ah, yeah,” I answer, smiling proudly, "I’m in B class and I'm making sure I stay there." William smiles at me, something like pride shown in his cinnamon colored eyes.

"Your mom told me how serious you are about school," William said,"I know how tough the curriculum is at Lupine."

“You went to Lupine?” I asked.

"I graduated from there,” He continues, smiling at me,” majoring in business administration in A Class."

Called it.

As my worry eased, I could see how different he was from the others. By the time mom came in with my coffee an hour had passed.

“Yes, coffee finally,”" I teased, chuckling when she handed over my mug, sticking her tongue out at me.”

"I just wanted to give you guys some time," she said, sitting down next to William, taking his hand.

"I know mom," I said smiling, when William's phone went off.

"Excuse me," William says, glancing at his phone, "It appears, my sons have finally arrived." A moment later, the door bell rings.

"Katie, can you please let them in," mom asks sweetly.

"Fine," I reply, putting down my untouched coffee, I head to the front door.

Pulling the door open, I froze.

Sanding on my front porch was Draven, next to the guy had just slept with.

I have no idea how I managed to get from the front door, back to my seat but I did.

Clutching my coffee, I watched as Draven and his brother, apparently, sat down across from me. Draven's eyes pierced into me, as I focused on my coffee.

My sweet, sweet coffee, you will never betray me.

Mom smiles, welcoming our new arrivals.

I wish I could drown in my coffee cup.

"Katie's always wanted a brother, "mom said happily, snuggling up against William, "Now she'll have two, isn't that great?”