Page 9 of Forever Yours

“Elijah!” someone shouted.

I looked around and caught sight of Fallon sauntering my way with his signature swag of I-don’t-give-a-shit, looking like he just rolled out of bed. He probably did.

“Give me a sec,” I said to Ash and jogged over to meet Fallon halfway.

Several girls and a couple guys stopped and stared at him in awe. But that was Fallon. He commanded your attention. Dark blond hair and the palest blue eyes on a leanly muscled body. His entire persona screamed power and wealth. But Fallon was far from the typical spoiled, rich kid. He was cocky, sure, but inside him lurked something dark and dangerous. You never wanted to be on his radar, because when you were, things didn’t end well for you. Look at what he did to Marshall.

I would never understand our friendship or why Fallon became my protector at school. But I was grateful for it. Fallon was a ride-or-die friend to the end. It was why he was here at CU and not sailing the world on his family’s yacht like he’d wanted. He hadn’t wanted to go to college at all. He didn’t need to. He had millions in his bank account and could do whatever the hell he wanted. But he came here for me and Ryder. Like Julien, Ryder had been suffering since Liz’s attack and disappearance. And like me, Fallon’s desire to take care of the ones he loved superseded everything else. He and I were more alike than people realized.

“What are you doing here among us lowly plebs?” I asked jokingly after our brief hug in greeting.

“Wanted to check in.”

He unwrapped a stick of gum and popped it in his mouth, then offered me some but I declined. After what happened to Liz, he’d given up smoking. Chewing gum was his go-to whenever the cravings hit.

“How’re you holding up?” he asked.

I looked around the parking lot and across the way to the main campus where historic limestone and red brick buildings sat between more modern ones made of glass and concrete. The huge bell tower stood apart from everything else since it was taller and reached over six stories high. Old oak, maple, and hackberry trees dripped with Spanish moss and shaded the lush, green manicured grass below. CU had a gorgeous campus. It was one of the first universities in the state and held so much history. It might not have been my dream college, but I would try my best to find my place and my slice of happiness. As long as I had Julien, that was all that mattered.

“Doing good,” I answered, even though it was only a partial truth. I gestured over to where Ash and his mom were. “That’s my new roommate, Ash. Seems cool.”

His aqua eyes narrowed in the direction I pointed to. “If that changes, let me know.”

“What about you? How is frat life?” A chuckle escaped when I said it. Fallon living in a frat house was just way too amusing.

He bumped my shoulder, a grin gracing his lips. “It’s fine, asshole,” he replied lightheartedly.

“You going over to the condo later?” I asked.

As soon as I finished helping Ash, I’d grab a quick shower and head on over.

“Just came from there.”

We stood silent for a minute as the wind and the other freshman eddied around us.

“How did Julien seem?”

“Lost. They all were. Being here without her…” He trailed off.

Fallon’s sigh was heavy and filled with sadness. Like the guys, Fallon had a thing for Liz. He never acted on it, but it was there. I saw it. Julien suspected it. Fallon’s interest was probably the catalyst for why he and Jayson hated each other so much. What happened to Liz hit Fallon just as hard as it did Julien, Jayson, and Ryder.

I placed a comforting hand on Fallon’s shoulder. “Hey, you know our friendship goes both ways. You need me for anything, I’m there.”

He shrugged a shoulder, which was his way of saying thanks. “I’ll get out of your way. A head’s up. Party at my frat Monday night, and you can’t say no.”

I groaned. I already knew about the party, but Fallon’s parties and I did not go well together.

“Wouldn’t dream of missing it,” I sarcastically replied.

Another smile slipped free when Fallon gave me a playful shove. I hadn’t had much to smile about lately, but Fallon always had a way of bringing one out of me.

“Whatever,” he said.

We bumped fists goodbye, and I got lost in my thoughts again as he walked away.

I was going to try my best to make a good life here. Meet new people, explore new things, expand my horizons. College was the time to do all that. CU might not have been my first choice, but Julien always would be.

CHAPTER 4

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