Page 11 of Room for Three

“As soon as he gets out of the shower, I’m hopping in,” Travis says with a wink. “Apparently I need to get my body in check too.”

He leaves before I can respond to that statement.

My blood hums in my veins and my heart races. This is the most alive I’ve felt in a long time.

Driving those two men crazy with my outfit choices, in an effort to remind them I’m my own person and not some kid they have to watch, sounds like my new mission in life.

Game on, guys, game on.

I miss Addison.

She was the only person who could make me laugh when I wanted to do anything but do that. I’ve been in a constant state of pain since Mom and Dad died, and she was the only relief.

Now I’m living in anewhome, driving to anewschool, with mynewfriend. Brayden Foss, Moonlit Gable’s owner’s son, doesn’t seem to be at all bothered by this development where a random girl is now his daily passenger. He’s comfortable and chats amicably while I worry over my classes. When I see a cell phone store, I stare longingly at it while we wait at a stoplight.

“Did you need to stop there?” he asks, glancing my way.

Brayden isn’t really my type. He’s tall and probably lean based on the way his hoodie swallows him. Bones in his hands protrude and his cheekbones are prominent. While he doesn’t have the best complexion, his smile and eyes make him sort of cute.

My type is older, muscular, tattooed.

Like your roommates?

Rather than admit that to myself, I nod quickly. “I just want to see how much it would cost me to get a new phone. When I left the foster home I was at, they took it back.”

He turns at the light and pulls into the parking lot. I run in to browse the store and end up coming out with a new iPhone, a monthly bill, and a sense of freedom. Thankfully they were able to put the phone on a payment plan so I could walk out of there not spending a whole lot which is great considering I don’t have much.

With my new phone in hand, I program Brayden’s number while he drives us to school. I’ll have to message Addison on social media to get her number again and I know I have my roommates’ numbers written down at home.

Roommates.

Home.

It’s weird to think I have a place now that I feel safe at. I also don’t have to worry about getting kicked out. And now I have a job, too.

“I’m sure you’re used to being all popular and all,” Brayden says as we pull into the parking lot at Brown High, “but I’m just a low-key guy with a handful of friends. You can pretend not to know me if that helps you.”

Brayden is the complete opposite of Addison, her brothers, and all their friends. It’s refreshing to be honest. He shares a Chevy truck with his dad and dresses like a regular guy. If I had to guess, Brayden has less than five pairs of shoes to his name and he’s completely okay with that. Rhett, Addison’s older brother, has over two-hundred pairs.

Thoughts of Rhett make my blood run cold. I quickly shove him and his shoe obsession from my mind.

As we park, no one looks our way. Brayden doesn’t seem like the guy who attracts much attention which is fine with me. I’m good with flying under the radar.

It’s strange to be wearing regular clothes. When I went to the private school with Addison, we were required to wear uniforms. Pleated skirts, button up shirts, knee-high socks, and Mary Janes. You would actually get detention if you deviated from the strict uniform rules. It was a nightmare.

I’m comfortable today in a pair of holey jeans, a black Queens of the Stone Age T-shirt I’d inherited from Dad, and a pair of Hey Dudes Addison gave me. My backpack is light on my shoulders, but I know that’ll change once I’m issued a Chromebook.

Brayden leads me to the front office of the school. He’s nice enough to wait in the lobby so he can walk me to class once I know my schedule. I’m about to tell the receptionist I’m here to see the principal when an older man walks out of a door, eyes searching. When they land on me, he smiles.

“Savannah Collins?”

I give him a small wave. “That’s me. Principal Renner?”

He grins and shakes my hand. “Enzo is a friend of mine. He made sure everything would be a smooth transition for you and already handled the transfer paperwork. All I need from you is a few signatures and then we can get you your computer.”

I follow him into his office. He is exceptionally good looking for an older guy but walks with a slight limp as if he’s injured. Once we’re in his office, I notice some military-type awards on the walls. There’s a picture behind his desk of him with a much-younger wife and their children.

“Sit,” he says before sitting in his seat. “I see Brayden Foss is a friend of yours. Good kid. Stick with him and you’ll do fine.”

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