Page 51 of Wanting More
Coming closer, Sapphire had to hide a wince at the brightness of the guy's smile. Of course, this bubbly guy would be their tour guide. She had been hoping for a matronly old lady or a jaded professor forced into doing the tour, but this tall, good-looking poster child seemed to make more sense in comparison to what she had seen thus far at The Oakes Stardust University. The colonial red brick buildings trimmed in neat, bright white wood and beautiful white columns. The place screamed old money and their tour guide, with his perfect bright smile, twinkling carefree eyes, rich dark skin, and all-American vibes, made her feel like Oliver Twist in the soup line.
Swallowing her regret for signing up for this stupid tour, Sapphire kept her eyes focused ahead and followed the perky guide as he began leading the group. May as well get this over with, she thought.
Sapphire caught her reflection in the mirror ahead of them and glanced at the crowded restaurant behind her. The place was packed.
Even the tables outside on the glass railing deck were filled with people as if it currently wasn't below forty degrees outside. But judging by the smiles on people's faces, Sapphire was pretty sure they didn't mind—and that the row of six-foot-tall outside heaters lining the deck helped too.
The Sea Shack was a lot fancier than its weather-beaten wood façade appeared on the outside. The jaunty pile of random nautical crap lining the outside of the kitschy-looking restaurant completely belied its true splendor hiding inside. None of the maritime bric-a-brac stapled to the outside walls made its way inside. Instead, it was like walking into the Tardis on Doctor Who. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, supple red leather booths and seats contrasted beautifully with the stark white table linen, while the bar—the only place the three of them had room to sit—was stocked to the ceiling with top-shelf liquor and framed in a beautiful antique gold mirror. Yeah—sea shack, her ass.
Pulling her eyes from the random citizens of Stardust Cove, Sapphire stopped as she caught Hayden's gaze in the mirror.
Swiveling his chair until his knee was only an inch from hers, Hayden looked directly at her. "So? How did you like the campus?"
Sapphire thought about that. What didn't she think about that place was more accurate. It was nothing at all like she expected. The old-world charm of the buildings reminded her of Oxford or something else way above her class. Every staff member they met during the tour was just as warm and inviting as their bubbly guide—it made her want to scream. And the newly renovated student center—a four-million-dollar student center, she mentally corrected—there were no words for that place.
Sapphire shook her head and looked down at the polished bar. "It was...overwhelming but nice."
"Mmm, are you sure? You look doubtful." Hayden asked, putting his elbow onto the bar top, giving her his full attention. On the other side of her, Sapphire could feel Joel turn his stool in her direction, sandwiching her with both of their attention.
They both watched and waited for her to answer. She began to pluck at the tiny little balls of lint at the sleeve of her sweater at the pressure of their gazes.
"Here you are," the bartender blessedly interrupted. "Two medium-rare steaks and mashed potatoes and one sushi trio for the pretty lady." The bartender gave her a wink that actually made her smile.
The genial older man with his salt and pepper hair was purposely teasing Hayden and Joel. When they had first sat at the bar, the three of them exchanged insults in the way only longtime friends could.
"Old pervert," Joel mumbled as he grabbed his knife and fork.
But Hayden didn't grab his silverware. He just continued to wait for her answer.
Sapphire sighed. It was no use. She knew she wasn't going to get any peace with her delectable-looking sushi rolls if she didn't answer the stubborn man.
"This is just my afraid face," she admitted, not looking at either one of them, but she knew they were looking at her. Pushing some of her long curls from her shoulder, she straightened her spine and adjusted herself in the plush leather seat. "Everything looks expensive and really nice. And…well, I grew up in a two-bedroom frame house in a not-so-great neighborhood in Houston.” God, she couldn't help a note of bitterness from her tone when she remembered that crappy little house. She had really missed it. Though the feeling wasn't as strong now, she realized. "Everything was just so," she continued, gesturing around them, "nice—like very nice." And very much so out of her partial scholarship's price range.
Sapphire's stomach churned a bit at the sudden reminder of just how much her little scholarships would actually cover. Maybe if she hustled and made a pentagram on the floorboards back at the café and summoned a few obliging demons, she could possibly, maybe, get a few more partial scholarships. Fingers crossed.
Both Joel and Hayden cut into the steaks. Their eyes were focused on nothing in particular as they both let her words sink in as they cut into the pink meat.
Eventually, Hayden spoke again. "I think Holter has some sort of discount program for residents?"
With a discus of sushi perfectly balanced between her chopsticks, Sapphire paused and looked at him. "Really?"
Hayden took another bite of his steak and nodded.
Sapphire put her food down and thought about that. A discount for residents? "I...wonder if they mean people who live in homes or people whose families actually pay taxes?" she asked, thinking out loud.
This time Joel spoke. "Um, hello, we pay taxes," he informed her, looking a little offended.
"Yes, but you're not myrealfamily, as you always point out, and," she let that last word stretch just as Joel opened his mouth to argue with her, "I can’t live with you forever. One day most likely soon, you two will want your bachelor pad back so you can go back to doing whatever, or should I saywhomever,you wanted without me around."
"You have a very high opinion of our sex lives," Hayden grumbled before taking a sip of his dark beer.
"I know that's right," Joel chimed in around a mouth full of mashed potatoes.
Sapphire gave them both a skeptical look. "Oh, come on, you're telling me you two were just, what, living chaste before I showed up?"
Sapphire nearly laughed out loud at the slight reddening of Hayden's cheeks as he coughed. "Chaste is kind of strong."
She snorted at that. "Yeah, I thought so. I imagine you two could have anyone you want."
