CHAPTER 2
“Seriously, Kavi, how many suitcases are you taking?” Kian grumbled after taking the third box and two suitcases to the car. “There is no room in your SUV for anything else.” Even though Kian used the term ‘SUV,’ he did so loosely because it wasn’t much bigger than a sedan in his opinion.
Kian stared at the space left and the box he held shaking his head. There was no way it was going to fit.
“Don’t you diss my baby,” Kavi told him as he, with his freshly manicured nails and perfectly made up face and hair, ducked into the backseat of the vehicle and rearranged a few things to the floor that only fit because he pushed the front seats so far up their knees would be trapped between the dashboard and their chests to come close to fitting.
Good thing they were both relatively thin or there would have been no way either of them would fit. Hell, at that point, Kian wasn’t entirely certain it would happen anyway. But somehow Kavi had managed to get everything in.
When he stood back up, he waved at his feat as if to say ‘ta da.’
After knowing Kavi for the past three years – since freshman year of college – he had no trouble rolling his eyes at his best friend. Back when they’d first met, he never would dared do something like that. Kian was someone who kept his head down – or better yet, in a textbook – no way would he have said a word or rolled his eyes at someone. Meek had been his middle name. Or it should have been.
A huge part of that had come from being raised in foster care. The less fuss one made the longer that person made it without being kicked to the curb. Not that all his foster homes had been great, but sometimes it was better to stay with the devil he knew than chance something worse.
Kavi grinned at him. “Let’s load up, bitch. Time to hit the road.”
That was Kavi. He had a way of saying whatever came to mind. What was he saying? Most of the time, Kian wasn’t entirely certain Kavi thought about what was about to come out of his mouth. It was as if there was some sort of disconnect between his brain and his mouth.
Yet, since the day they’d become roommates their freshman year, Kavi had his back – always. That was something Kian appreciated more than he could say. If only that protectiveness had encompassed their suitemates, Jace and Lynwood, but it hadn’t. Not that Kavi wouldn’t throw down for Jace and Lynwood if anyone dared to bully them, but for some reason that didn’t include how Kavi often treated them.
Still, they had been close enough that when Kavi’s parents had bought a house just off campus, they had agreed to move in with Kavi and Kian. Of course, that could be because his parents were offering rent free to all of them since they’ve been together since freshman year.
Kian’s phone dinged with a text. “Ugh,” he said as he shook his head in frustration.
“Let me guess,” Kavi said. “Lynwood is already there.”
It never ceased to amaze Kian how one sound was all Kavi needed to know exactly what was happening. There were times it only took a look so it wasn’t exactly surprising.
“Sucks to be him.” Kavi wasn’t one to have a whole lot of sympathy for others. That was especially true when they were told exactly what to do but refused to listen.
“I’ll let him know we only just left and should be there by twelve, like we planned.” Kian wasn’t exactly happy to be the in between, but he was used to it.
Kian: We just left and will be there by twelve as planned.
Lynwood: Oh, but I thought we were going to move in and go watch the girls enter the dorms like we usually do.
Kian threw back his head and laughed so hard, tears leaked from the corners of his eyes.
Kavi slapped his arm when he hadn’t instantly replied to his question of what was so funny. “Seriously, Kian. What did he say?”
“He thought we were getting there early enough to watch the women enter the dorms.” How? He had no clue. Kian, Kavi and Jace were gay. To be honest, if they had to guess, which they have had many discussions about, they assumed Lynwood was also but so deep in the closet there was a chance he’d never come out.
“I swear that boy couldn’t find himself out of that closet he is hiding in if he tried,” Kavi deadpanned. “But if he wants to go look at the girls, they are moving in as we speak. Tell him to knock himself out.”
Tired of dealing with Lynwood’s oddness, Kian did exactly that. When he hadn’t gotten a response, he breathed a sigh of relief.
As usual when Kavi drove, he cranked up the volume and they sang at the top of their lungs. It was fun and somewhat freeing.
Since the summer after their freshman year, Kian had been staying at Kavi’s each break. It was great since his parents had a huge house with pool. More importantly, his parents were usually gone most of the time on their ‘trips.’ Unfortunately, that year they’d decided they should stick around since it might be the last time as they expected him to get a job in his field of marketing as soon as he graduated.
What they didn’t know was that Kavi had no desire to do much of anything after graduation. Well, other than follow his boyfriend, Brandon, who Kavi fully expected to be drafted in the NFL.
“How has practice been going for Brandon?” He had started football camp a couple of weeks ago and even though Kavi kept Kian up to date most of the time, he hadn’t heard much of anything for the last four or five days.
Kavi shrugged. “Good, for the most part. I just wish they would play him more often.”
Kian frowned. What he knew about football was only what he’d learned since making friends with Kavi and Brandon. “Uhm, I thought Brandon said the first several weeks of practice, they work the newbies to see how they’d do in order to not injure those that would play.”
That wasn’t exactly true. They still ran routes with the returning players, but it was more about getting them back in condition than working them to death.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know,” Kavi waved a hand around as if none of that mattered. “But how is he supposed to prove he’s the best player out there if they don’t see him?”
“He’s been doing great. Don’t stress about it.” And Brandon had. Scouts had been watching him for the past two years and his coach was positive he’ll be drafted.
As they pulled off the interstate and came up to the campus, Kian felt the excitement of starting his senior year. Admittedly, he’d still needed to attend graduate school, but it felt like he was finally in the home stretch.
Kian’s heart jumped into his throat as they pulled into the driveway of large home just off campus, yet close enough to walk to classes. It had seemed as if he’d been waiting his whole life for this defining moment, yet now that it was there, he couldn’t deny he was terrified.
None of his roommates would be continuing to graduate school. Once they’d graduated, he might never see them again and that had his stomach clenching in protest as the nerves he’d been trying to keep at bay overwhelmed him. If he wasn’t careful, Kian would end up losing his breakfast.
Although, even through the nausea inducing anxiety, he couldn’t deny it was paired with excitement that had him nearly giddy. He was actually tempted to dance around, screaming “I finally made it.” Growing up in foster care, he’d honestly never thought he’d have the chance to go to college, much less graduate.
It was like a fairytale coming true. A life he’d chosen. Not the one fate had ripped from him.
Kian felt his lips tip up at the thought of finally being in control. He could do this. If there was one thing going from foster home to foster home had taught him, Kian Williams was strong enough to handle anything life threw at him.
Moving into a house was a whole different experience than when he’d arrived his freshman year to the dorms. It had been chaos with throngs of people moving about to help their loved ones move in. Parents had cried or cheered right along with their child.
The fear of not knowing how to make friends had been daunting, but he’d lucked out with his roommate and suitemates. The thought of that time had him wondering if the following year he’d get so lucky. Refusing to dwell, he grinned at Kavi as they unlocked the door, each carrying a suitcase.
“Home sweet home,” Kavi said as they looked around at the classy, yet comfortable looking furniture her parents had provided. “Come on, let’s claim our rooms before the others get here.”
Technically, they already had picked them out when they’d come with his parents to look at possible housing options at the beginning of summer. Work had been done to update some of the features of the house. Kavi had insisted on new flooring and of course, all new furniture. Both of their bedrooms had been freshly painted, but it had been decided that Lynwood and Jace’s bedrooms had been good enough.
The kitchen appliances had been updated, but the granite countertops as well as the cabinets had been still in great shape, so Kavi’s parents insisted they were to be left intact. There had been a few arguments on exactly how much his parents’ were willing to spend for a house that he would only live in for a year.
The one thing Kavi had insisted upon was that they allow Kian to continue to live there, rent free, for his graduate degree. Since Kian had been staying with them each school break and they’d come to treat Kian as another son, they’d easily agreed to that stipulation.
“I had texted Lynwood thirty minutes ago,” Kian glanced at the clock of his phone. “I wonder where he’s at.”
Kavi snorted as they brought in the last of the boxes. “Please, that boy may have tried to fool himself by claiming to want to watch the girls move into their dorms, but twenty bucks said as soon as it was time for the boys to arrive, he went there to check them out. Since his parents agreed he would need his car this year, they hadn’t come with him, which means he doesn’t have their judgmental religious nonsense to stop him from drooling over the boys.”
Kavi had a point. Lynwood might try to hide his sexuality, but all one had to do was be around him in a crowd to see him staring at guys’ asses like predator on the prowl. Subtle wasn’t a word one could use when describing Lynwood. Well, unless his parents were around. Then he did everything in his power to check out the women, although he still sucked at it.
“Come on,” Kavi grabbed his keys and walked out the door. He hid a key for Jace or Lynwood in case they weren’t back from watching all the boys move in when they arrived. “It’s time to check out all those muscle bound men and see if we can’t find you a boyfriend.”
Kian was all for that. He’d never once had someone consistent in his love life. Oh, he’d been on a couple of dates, but he’d never felt comfortable just hooking up with any of them. He wanted someone who would love him. After years being shuttled around the foster care system where no one seemed to want him for more than a couple of years at most, Kian craved to find anyone who would love him and stand by his side no matter what.
Afraid that he might just be unlovable, he blew out a breath as Kavi drove them to the parking lot for the boys’ dorms. At UT, the girls checked in during the morning hours while the boys had the afternoon. It helped keep the chaos of so many people on campus at once under control. Mostly.
It hadn’t taken them long to find Lynwood, who had taken a seat on the wall of one of the larger planters filled with hedges. It was a bit odd that the school had felt the need to put it near the doorway forcing students to go around it to get inside, but Kian was certain there had been a reason for it be there.
Probably some long ago landscaper had insisted it would add to the aesthetics of the area. Not enough to compensate for the hindrance it caused. But who was he to complain?
They sat there watching as bulging muscles carried in heavy suitcases and boxes. Kavi and Kian had no trouble making comments about the hunks. They weren’t rude enough to laugh or point out those who were clearly still growing into their bodies. They had been there long enough to know that just because someone still hadn’t hit their peak didn’t mean they wouldn’t. There were several guys over the years who had gone from a zero to ten in three short years.
Lynwood, as usual, pretended he wasn’t really interested but was there in support of his suitemates despite the fact that he’d had to wipe the drool off his chin more than once.
When Jace texted that he’d just pulled into the parking lot, they directed him to where they were sitting. “Did you get moved into the house?” Kavi asked when he arrived next to them.
Jace shook his head. “I was already running late and didn’t want to miss the show completely.
Kavi and Kian chuckled in agreement. “Good choice,” Kian said.
But an hour later, they were getting hungry and bored. “Why don’t you two go to the house and get settled while Kian and I pick up some food at the store?” Kavi suggested.
Agreeing, they all stood up and headed to the parking lot.