“It’s just…”
“You’re a teacher?” Brandon offered. “And you can’t live with your students?”
“It’s not that either!” I said quickly. “I’m an adjunct professor, contracted privately. I can live with whoever I want. Not that any of you are in my classes anyway. Hell I could date all three of you and they couldn’t say sh—”
I stopped mid-sentence, realizing what I’d just said. All three guys were smiling at me. Grinning like Cheshire cats.
“Oh please,” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “The three of you couldn’t even handle me.”
“Yeah right,” Hunter smirked. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms confidently. It was a sexy
confidence too. “But please. Go on. You were about to tell us why you can’t live here with us.”
Yes Claudia, the little voice chuckled. Why exactly can’t you live with these three handsome young gentlemen?
I drew in a long, deep breath. “You wouldn’t want to live with me,” I said. “I’d only cramp your style.”
All three of them looked at each other quizzically. “Did she just say ‘cramp our style’?” Colin laughed.
“I think so,” said Brandon. “I haven’t heard that phrase since—”
“You know what I mean,” I told them. “I’m a girl. You’re three fraternity guys. Do the math.”
“Ex-fraternity guys,” Brandon pointed out.
“Fine, ex-fraternity. It’s still the same. You wouldn’t want me here. I’d clutter up your bathroom with skin-care products. Clog your drain with hair, and then I’d—”
“Oh stop it,” Hunter said, letting his chair crash forward again. “No more bullshit. You want to keep looking for another place while you stay here? That’s fine. But for now you’re taking the master bedroom, and that’s that.” He uncrossed his arms and pointed at me, one corner of his mouth curled into a grin. “Like it or not, you’re one of us now.”
His assertiveness knocked me back a little. I found myself suddenly eager to obey.
“The displacements?” I joked.
All three of them laughed. “The displacements!” They looked at each other merrily. “Holy fuck, that’s good.”
“Thanks,” I blushed.
“The displacements it is,” Hunter said decisively. “Besides, living here keeps you right on your project. You’ll finish the house even faster this way. And we’ll help.”
A warm, contented feeling surged through me. Part of it was relief at actually having a place to stay. A place to recover.
The other part was the sheer, unadulterated joy of being wanted again.
“Y—You really got me a bed?” I asked, the lump back in my throat again. Suddenly I was all choked up.
“Pillows and everything,” Brandon winked.
“Wait ‘till you see it,” Colin smiled.
I swallowed hard. Looking out over the food, feeling the warmth and camaraderie between the three of them, I could suddenly see the appeal of being in a fraternity. Of having brothers. Family. People who look out for you.
“I’m in,” I said, my grin as wide as it’s ever been. A single tear streamed down my cheek. I didn’t even try to stop it.
“Good!” Hunter said, rising from his chair.
“Finally!” Brandon added, picking up his fork again and sticking it into a meatball.
I glanced at Colin, who balled up his napkin and threw it at me playfully.