Chapter Six

Dylan

I'm regretting my life choices right now. Dragging my arse out of bed and into the shower is hard today, but Vada has insisted we need to be at uni early, and I'm not one to argue with her on this. I know it's already hard for her, especially considering Roman, Taylor, and Grayson will all be at Neverland University and won't be around if she needs them. Means I need to step up and look after my best friend.

I've been working at Grumpy's four nights a week, and Brad has managed to avoid me almost every shift. If he is there, he locks himself in the office and leaves me out in the bar with Henry and the other staff. By the time I leave, he is already gone or just gives me a curt nod from the door on my way out. It's driving me crazy.

I thought we were making progress when he gave me the job, but I was wrong. And to make matters worse, he's ganged up on me with Minnie, and one of the contingencies with the job is that I have to go to university and not get into any trouble.

Going through the motions, I finish getting dressed and pull on my unicorn Converse sneakers. They are quickly becoming my favourite shoes.

"I made you a coffee to go," Winnie says from the door of my room.

"Thanks, Winnie. Did you add some vodka?"

She shakes her head at me. "Girl, you do not need any alcohol in your system. You trying to get yourself thrown out before you even start?" she responds, handing me my cup.

"Nope, I just need something to take the edge off."

I'm honest with her. I never wanted to go to university, and I'm only doing this to keep everyone around me happy. I'm nervous about starting school—this is different from high school and that has me on edge.

"You want some brownie? Jarred dropped off some more last night," she says with a wink.

"Really? You won't let me get drunk before class, but you'll let me get high? Minnie would have a fit."

"What Minnie doesn't know won't hurt him."

Her response has me laughing. Trust Winnie to find a way to lighten my mood.

"What don't I know?" Minnie appears behind his mum, causing me to startle.

"Jesus, Minnie, why are you here? Whatever happened to knocking?" I grab my bag and walk past them both, heading to the back porch.

"I'm just here to see you off. What is it that I don't know?" he asks again, and Winnie gives me a knowing smile.

"It's for us to know and for you to never find out."

"Mum. . ." Minnie warns.

Her laughter is contagious, and I can't help but join in.

Minnie looks between the both of us, confusion spreading across his face.

"Don't you ‘mum' me," she replies in her signature mum voice. Minnie may be twenty-three and an adult, but we both know that when Winnie uses that tone, she means business.

"On that note, I'm out. I'll see you both later." I walk towards the back fence and open the gate into Vada's property. The gates were installed a few weeks back to make it easier for everyone to come and go. It helps Isabelle's little sisters out, and I'm glad I no longer need to jump the fence.

"Behave!" Minnie yells from behind me.

I throw a hand in the air to acknowledge him and make my way around to the front of Vada's house. She's already standing on the front lawn with Roman beside her, trying to calm her down.

"You're late," Vada says as I come into view.

"Sorry, Minnie showed up, and it was a late night. I didn't get home from work until after two a.m."

Vada relaxes a little, but her frazzled look has me feeling guilty. I know Vada needs the structure and routine.

"Promise I'll be early tomorrow. Our first class isn't for three hours—we have plenty of time," I say, trying to bring her back to the present.

"I know, but I need to be there early," she says as Roman tugs her towards him for a hug.

"Are you sure you don't want me to drive you today?" he asks loud enough for me to hear.

New Hope University is a thirty-minute walk from where we live, and I would not say no to a lift, but Vada has her heart set on walking.

"I'm sure. The exercise won't kill us." Vada gives Roman a quick kiss and heads for the gate.

"Speak for yourself. I might die," I say, while waiting for the caffeine to hit my system and wake me up. I follow behind her.

"Have a good day. Message me when you get there," Roman says to us as we walk through the gate and make our way towards the uni.

"I will," Vada says quickly, before pulling her backpack higher on her shoulders and leading the way.

I drag my arse, barely keeping pace with her. She is fast for her size, and on a damn mission to get to uni a hundred years early. What I love the most about Vada is she doesn't need to fill the void with small talk, like me.

Puffing on my vape, I catch her side-eyeing me every time it blows her way. "Those things will kill you."

"So will life, Vada," I retort.

My phone pings again like it did a few minutes ago. I haven't pulled it out, knowing it will most likely be my brother relaying some words of wisdom, so I don't get kicked out on my first day.

Vada sighs. "Can you check your phone? The noise is annoying."

I huff and slide it from my pocket, realising the first message was from Minnie, so I leave him on read, but the second that just came through is from Winnie.

Mad Bitch

We have some man meat moving in next door.

**Image**

Opening the picture, I have to agree with her. Whoever he is, she has taken a pic from behind of him pulling boxes out of a rental truck.

Dylan

I might have to take that for a test drive later.

Mad Bitch

Not if I beat you to it.

I snort at her message. Vada stops under a tree in the shade. Yeah, bestie, walking isn't all it's cracked up to be when it's a thousand degrees outside. What moron thought, "Hmm, let's start school for everyone in the hottest part of summer!" A man. I bet it was a man with an air-conditioned office, given all our classes have air conditioning. But Vada wanted to walk. Facepalm.

She fans herself with one of those retractable fans. "Who is messaging you?" she asks.

I hold out my phone as I say, "Winnie."

"Who is that guy?" she asks, and I shrug.

"No idea, but if he lives next door and looks like that, I'm kind of glad my brother is shacked up with Isabelle now."

I was sad when he moved out of the duplex next door, but now not so much. Another text comes through.

Mad Bitch

Look at those muscles. Luck was on our side.

**Image**

Dylan

Yummy

Vada starts to walk again after taking a drink from her water bottle.

Mad Bitch

Abort mission, I have been busted.

I laugh as another text comes through from Brad. I open it because it could be a shift change.

Brad

Here I am minding my business with cocaine on my break and she is taking pictures.

Dylan

Cocaine at this time of morning. Are you going to share????

Brad

COKE

Dylan

That makes more sense.

Dylan

What's happening?

Brad

That woman you live with.

Dialling his number because we are getting nowhere, I can't help my smirk when he answers on the first ring.

"You're moving in next door?" I say, getting straight to the point. "Damn, now I really do need to move out."

"No, Mady's parents are. I lost a bet with Mady's harem and now I'm here against my will, so I'm already agitated, and that woman won't stop sneaking around taking pictures of me."

I laugh. "Winnie is harmless. She might want to take advantage of you, though. I would put a shirt on to ward off the cougars. I'm not sure you could handle the claws." He doesn't reply straight away. "I'm kidding, kind of. Just wave at her and keep your shirt on and you'll be fine."

"Are you not home? I was hoping you would help me with her."

"Nope, on my way to uni. First day, remember?"

Brad sighs. "I thought you didn't start until later."

"I don't. Vada wanted to leave early and walk, so now I have arse sweat, and she thinks vaping is going to kill me, when in reality, this heat will take me out first. It's too early to have boob sweat."

"Who is that on the phone? Is it my adorable future son-in-law?"

"No, Dina, it's the girl who lives next door. I was just seeing if she was home so she could meet you."

"The one you were telling me about?"

"So, you were telling people about me? What did you say? Was it about how nice my arse looks in my work pants?" I joke, and Brad coughs. "You know age doesn't matt?—"

"I have to go. See you at work," he says and ends the call.

As I slide my phone back into my pocket, Vada stops abruptly.

"I have decided I'm ready to have sex with Roman."

I beam at her. We have been adding pros and cons to her list. Mine has turned into more of a BDSM checklist of things I want to try. For me, it's not about whether I'm ready or not, it's more about trusting someone enough to let them in.

"That is great, but where do you plan to do it? You live with your parents still and Roman lives in a sporting dorm full of basketball players."

I can see her cogs ticking over. "I was thinking about that. Maybe you were right, and we need to get a place closer to campus."

"Are you serious? You want to move in with me?"

She nods her head, and I don't care that she doesn't like sudden hugs. I wrap my arms around her and jump, and she laughs and jumps with me.

"Wait," I say, pushing her back to arm's length. "Are you just using me so you have a sex pad?"

"Yep," she says with a smile.

I nod. "I'm okay with that. This is going to be so fun."

"There is only one condition."

I don't care if she tells me I can't leave my shoes everywhere, or if I have to do the dishes for the rest of my life, I'm in. I love Winnie, but I want to stand on my own two feet.

"Roman was talking to Grayson?—"

Ugh, I like Roman's brother enough, but I still have some unresolved issues with how close he is to Isabelle. I don't want my brother to be hurt, but Minnie keeps telling me they are just friends.

"—who spoke to Isabelle, which means your brother knows."

I roll my eyes. Great, so we are moving into a nunnery.

"Apparently," she continues, "Mady's boyfriend Chad had an apartment on the same street as the university. It's three bedrooms."

"Chad, as in Brad's twin," I say with a smile, and she nods.

"He doesn't live there anymore—there was a flood or something—and they said we can stay rent free. Anyway, the reason I wanted to leave so early is that Mady is meeting us there."

My eyes widen. "Are you serious?"

Vada nods and steps back, putting her hands up. "I am, but no more hugs, please. I have reached my quota for today."

Holy shit, I'm moving into my own place. My life is starting to come together.

"There is a catch," she says awkwardly, as if she is gauging my reaction before she says anything.

Of course there is.

"We would have a roommate."

I mentally run through who it could be. If it's another girl, I can't do it. Girls hate me and they can be mean. I won't let Vada go through that.

"It's Logan," she blurts.

I smile at her while also wondering how she'll handle living with him. But I'm happy we've been offered a place, even if we do have to have a roommate.