Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 452(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Sex,” the guy on the other couch said, and the others laughed.
Apparently, those same gods who’d given Diego his chiseled looks were intent on torturing me tonight.
“Consent,” Diego corrected. “Which is a close cousin to respect. Be careful about your housemates’ belongings. Don’t take their food or borrow their things without asking.”
“What about stealing? We don’t have to ask before doing that, right?” Aaron said.
Diego smiled, and it made his face light up. Had he smiled that night at the party? Probably not since we’d been kissing the whole time. “Yeah, don’t do that.”
“And don’t take anyone else’s food,” Raymond said. He had sandy blond hair. His nose tilted slightly upward, like it disapproved of the air the rest of us were breathing. He seemed either unaware or unconcerned that Diego had just said that. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aaron look over, too. He didn’t appear to be happy with Raymond’s interruptions.
But Diego took it in stride. “Exactly. We have a system in the kitchen. Some shelves and cupboards are for communal food, and you’ll each have your own space. I can show you, or some of the residents who’ve been around for longer can.” Again, he glanced at Aaron, which freaked me out, since Aaron was sitting right next to me.
Diego clasped his hands together. “That’s basically it. There is an official list of house rules, and it should be on the desk of your bedroom, if you’re new.” He looked my way, and I fought the urge to try to dodge his gaze. “As for me, I’m a student, and a product of the foster care system, just like you all, but my door is always open. If you’re having problems here in the house, or in your classes, please don’t hesitate. I’m here to help. Aaron calls me a den mother, and hey, maybe I am. Just don’t expect me to take you camping to earn your junior explorer badge.”
Everyone chuckled again, and the two people on the other couch started to get up.
“We didn’t do introductions,” Raymond pointed out. He had a freshman-like, overeager-yet-judgmental energy to him, and I was glad I was able to claim to be an almost-sophomore.
Please ignore him, Diego.
My silent plea got me nowhere. Instead, Diego grimaced. “Right. Sorry. We were supposed to do that first thing.” He looked over to the other couch, and the two students who had gotten up sat back down. “Let’s start over here. Just your name, major, and what year you’re in.”
Oh god. This was it. I was going to speak, and it would trigger the memory for him. It would all come flooding back, and then I’d have to leave school and join a convent. Did they still have those?
As my mind spiraled, I missed the first two students who spoke, which was a shame. I wanted to get to know the other woman living here, especially. Then it was Aaron’s turn. He was a junior majoring in public administration.
Then all eyes were on me.
All eyes. Including Diego’s.
“I’m Mia,” I squeaked. “I’m a sophomore.” Kind of, I amended in my head. “And my major is—” I made the mistake of looking directly at Diego. Why did he have to be so good looking? Apparently, drunk me knew a hot guy when she saw one.
I blushed, realizing that everyone was still staring at me. Crap. What was my major again? It finally came to me just as the others were starting to look concerned. “Digital media and communications.”
There. I’d done it. All that was left was to duck my head down and hope that Diego would move on as fast as possible. Fortunately, he did, turning to Raymond.
“Freshman, and finance,” he said, flashing a self-satisfied grin. “Planning to hit seven figures before I’m thirty. Minoring in international business—obviously, that’s where the real money is.”
The silence that followed wasn’t exactly admiring. Next to me, Aaron shifted in his seat, the corner of his mouth pulling tight.
Diego went last, saying that he was getting his master’s in public health. Whatever that meant.
Then the meeting ended.
The other woman made her way upstairs, her phone in her hand. The guy who’d sat next to her went to talk to Diego. Good. That meant I could finally make my escape.
Except I’d forgotten about Aaron. “I told you it wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Right,” I said, and then I mumbled something about homework that he likely didn’t even hear. “I’d be happy to show you the ropes, like the system in the kitchen. And in the basement, there’s a storage area. I could show it to you.”
“Thanks, but I don’t have very much. All my things fit in my room.”
His warm eyes showed understanding. “That’s the case for a lot of the residents here.”
“Hey.”
I swung my head around to see a smug look and blond hair. “Hi.”