Amanda Jason - Lucky Number Four

“Bye, guys. I’ll be home tomorrow,” I say as they all get into Drew’s car.

Home. After tonight, it just might feel like home.

“Dora, I need to speak with you for a moment in private,” my mom’s voice drifts from the kitchen. She’s frowning when I enter, and I know it’s serious. “I just talked to Henry and he’s being very evasive, which isn’t like him. Normally, I can’t shut him up. It has to do with you, but of course the pain in the butt won’t tell me.”

“Mom, do you think you should talk about a spirit like that?”

“Yes, when it’s warranted. He tells me you’re to help Liam and Drew and do it soon. He won’t tell me why. He said you will know. I hate this ‘I can’t read for my family’ crap. It’s just not fair.”

“I think it’s great you can’t read us. Just think how our lives would be, knowing our mom can see everything about us. Don’t worry. It’s probably not that bad. Henry loves to be a drama queen, right?”

“I hope that’s all it is, sweetie. Really, I do.”

As I’m lying in bed in my old room in my parents’ house, I’m wondering what I could possibly help Liam and Drew with and why Colin isn’t involved. Just thinking his name is enough for me to feel warm all over. I’m usually levelheaded. Even my last boyfriend, aka The Jackass, never had me feeling this way. In the beginning, we had some chemistry. We’d have to, right? Or maybe I was tired of doing school and work and needed a little extracurricular activity in my life. The sex wasn’t too bad, and yet it wasn’t all that great either. I wasn’t a virgin. I lost that to Mark Stephens the night of homecoming my senior year. Yeah, that was memorable…not. But when I see Colin or hear his voice, I melt in my nether regions.

Stop it, Dora . Don’t go there. Concentrate on Liam and Drew’s so-called problem. Colin is out of my league—way out of my league—so just block those thoughts.

I know, I know. I talk to myself, but who doesn’t? Now, when I start answering my own questions out loud, then I know I have a problem.

My eyes are getting heavy and I snuggle underneath the warm down comforter, planning to dream about anything but my roommates … yeah right, like that’s being realistic.

She forgave us. How can she not see how beautiful she is? I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and I have no idea what movie we watched. I finally told the others of my feelings, and they told me if I hurt her, I’ll regret it. They assume she’ll want to go out with me, but I’m not so sure. I think she still feels we’re these carefree, jet-setting guys who don’t really feel. Boy, is she wrong. God, I sound like a woman. Now to get up the nerve to approach her. Maybe I’ll wait until her exams are over. Yeah, if I can wait that long. Those lips are calling me again …

Black Friday. It should be called Pushing, Shoving and Forget That Yesterday was Thanksgiving and We Should Still Love Each Other Friday, Right? No, it’s a complete madhouse.

I didn’t have to be at work until ten, as a few of my co-workers wanted the early shift, and I gladly switched to have a few more hours to sleep in. My mom is all smiles as I leave the house. She’s going shopping today. She follows me in her car until we reach the local mall entrance and then I wave at her and watch from my rearview mirror as she turns. I have decided that this year, Cyber Monday is my day to shop. Yep, going to get everything online. I have great insurance, but I’m not willing to waste it on tending to battle wounds from insane shoppers.

Every table is filled in the coffee shop and the line is almost to the door. Exhausted-looking people turn to look as I enter. I smile and hurry to the back to put on my apron and return to help my poor coworkers, who are trying to keep up with all the orders.

Time flies and before I know it, it’s quitting time. I realize I’m at loose ends. It’s Friday night and I have no plans. Julie and Kevin are spending the weekend with their parents, and my other friends are either out of town or already busy.

I slowly make my way to my car to fight my way home. The only part of living in the city I hate is the traffic. I usually take the subway to avoid it, but on days like this when I come to work straight from my parents’, I prepare for the traffic jams.

Brad’s smile meets me from the front desk when I walk into the lobby. He’s definitely a great addition to otherwise cold and vacant entrance to the warehouse apartment building. The elevator quietly takes me to the fourth floor and I hesitate before putting my key in the front door, hoping someone is home.

The first thing I notice is the heavenly smell, followed immediately by voices coming from the kitchen. Yay, I’m not alone. I quickly throw my overnight bag in my room and move to the kitchen, drooling at what might be cooking.

Colin stands at the stove, stirring a pot. Drew is leaning up against the island sipping a beer, and Liam is getting plates out of the cupboard. Drew notices me first and he smiles.

“Hey, look who is home. Hope you’re hungry.” He winks as Colin and Liam turn to look at me.

“We’re having a good old English nosh—roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes, and baby peas,” Colin says proudly before turning back around to stir the pot.

“It smells absolutely delicious, and I’m famished. How long until dinner?”

“About twenty minutes,” Colin says without showing me his beautiful face.

“Great. I’ll go take a quick shower.” I turn and practically run to my room, shut the door, and start peeling off my clothes.

At least ten people could fit in my shower. It has a massive showerhead that feels like I’m standing underneath a waterfall. The first time I used it, I didn’t want to turn off the water. In fact, it wasn’t until I remembered I had to be at work that I dragged myself away from it.

When I’m done showering, I dress in a pair of yoga pants, boot slippers, and a comfy, super-soft sweatshirt. I decide to put my wet hair up in lazy ponytail.

The table is set and they’re just putting bowls of food on it when I walk in. My stomach rumbles and all three chuckle to themselves. Drew pulls back a chair and motions for me to have a seat. I grab the first bowl, and soon my plate is piled high with food. I look up, realizing the others have stopped scooping food onto their plates and are staring at my plate.

“I like a girl who enjoys her food,” Liam quips and he smiles—yes, he smiles. A thousand-watt smile, at that.

I blush—yes, it’s a fault of being a redhead—embarrassed that I probably look like a little porker in their eyes.

“He means it, love,” Colin says, looking with concern at me. “The toothpicks we get the pleasure to be around wouldn’t dream of eating all that. Oh, no. That’s a good thing. Like I said, toothpicks.”

He grins and everyone else vanishes from the table as I stare into his amazing, crystal blue eyes. My stomach grumbles louder, breaking the spell. I break eye contact and concentrate on my plate, as does everyone else when they realize my discomfort. No one talks for several minutes. Thank goodness, because my brain is so wrapped up in the incredible food.