Page 9 of End Game

“Hey,” Dollar and Nico both say at the same time.

“Okay. Cool.” I shove my hands in my pockets, feeling silly. “I was just checking in case any of you have a girlfriend who wouldn’t approve of you sharing a house with another woman.”

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Dollar asks me.

“She already answered that question. Right, Everleigh?” Nico’s gaze sears straight into me.

“Right,” I say softly. “I don’t have one.”

I think of the ties I cut to my old life. I broke up with my high school boyfriend at the beginning of summer. We’d been together since the end of our junior year, and it was clear our relationship wasn’t going anywhere, but Brad didn’t get it.

When I broke up with him, he actually admitted to me that he believed we would end up getting married. I knew right then I was making the best decision. Didn’t he sense my unhappiness? I didn’t expect him to be a mind reader, but I told him more than once that we needed to work on our relationship.

He never got the hint. Truthfully, Brad didn’t pay much attention to me—not really. Especially over the last year. Oh, he wanted me around and treated me like his possession, but he didn’t care about my wants or needs. Not really. And I’m not surprised he was clueless about my dissatisfaction. It totally tracks.

He didn’t listen to me. Most people in my life don’t. Not my mom, and definitely not Brad.

I needed a fresh start. There was nothing left to save. My grandma died the year after I graduated, and there was no point sticking around any longer.

“Do you guys have parties?” I ask.

“Sometimes,” Nico says, sounding wary. “Why do you ask?”

“I just want to be prepared. I’m not much of a partier.” I wrinkle my nose. All the parties Brad would drag me to consisted of his friends sitting around eating Domino’s pizza, playing video games, and getting high. It was boring.

“Uh-huh.” Nico sounds like he doubts me, which is vaguely irritating, but I decide to ignore his comment and change the subject.

“When can I move in?”

“Venmo us the deposit and you can move in right now,” Coop says.

Once I’ve got everyone added, I send them each their share, then head for the front door. “I’ll go get my car.”

“You have a car?” Dollar asks as he rushes toward the door and holds it open for me.

What a gentleman. Though I catch the other two rolling their eyes.

“Well, that’s how I got to Santa Mira, so yeah.” And all my worldly possessions are currently sitting in my car, so I should probably check on it soon.

“Parking around here is tough,” Cooper says, rubbing his chin again. “Like ... really tough.”

“How bad can it be?” I laugh, but their expressions remain somber, causing the laughter to die on my lips. “That bad?”

“Like drive-around-the-neighborhood-for-an-hour-and-hopefully-find-an-open-spot bad. Nico has the driveway since he’s the only one with an actual vehicle out of the three of us,” Cooper explains.

I’m shocked the others don’t have a car, but I suppose it makes sense considering everything here is in walkable distance. Or you can take the city bus, which is free for college students with proof of student ID. This town is very centered around the university and the students, which is cool.

This was exactly the sort of experience I was seeking. Living in a college town, making new friends, doing new things. Maybe go to a party or two if I feel daring enough. Get a new job and make even more new friends there. I have high hopes.

Big dreams.

“I better go get my car, then, and start looking for a parking spot.” I offer them a wave before I turn toward the door. “I’ll be back.”

“Need help moving your stuff in?” Dollar asks me as I walk through the front door.

“Definitely!” I flash him a smile from over my shoulder and wave before I head down the steps, excitement bubbling in my veins.

This isn’t going to be so bad,I think as I head down the sidewalk and back to the café. Living with three big, burly guys? I mean, they seem nice enough. I’ll definitely feel safe knowing that they’re sleeping in the same house as me.

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