Page 32 of Embers in the Dark

I laugh while grabbing my items from my bag. “Yeah, I don’t know.” I still haven’t told them everything that happened with Myles. I’m keeping it close to my chest.

“Please come. It would be fun to have you around,” Sydney adds. “The parties are epic. You can join me and my girlfriends. Just let me know if you decide to come. You can always text me, I’ll swing by your place and pick you up. I usually DD. I don’t care to drink at these things.”

“Let’s just say, Sydney sort of had a rough freshman year with Jose Cuervo, so she would rather dance the night away instead. She saw the contents of that drink coming back up and it was not pretty—ow!” Jacob yelps.

“I thought we weren’t going to talk about that ever again, Jacob!” she counters.

He looks over at me. “I never promised that. She looked like the exorcist that night.” He laughs as Sydney shoots daggers at him.

“Okay, I’ll let you know.” I chuckle at their exchange.

Our professor walks in and we quiet down. It feels good to find my place bit by bit here, even if it’s just with two friends in such a big university. I only have a year to get my classes done here and I’ll soon begin another chapter, this time in my professional life. The bruises of my past are still healing and I honestly want to put that part of my life behind me. But as I move forward, I’d like to take the old parts of me back. I just hope I won’t carry the broken pieces with me.

I’m walking back to the apartment and I’m totally wiped after the long day of classes. Luckily, I don’t have too much work to do tonight. I’m just ready to change out of these clothes and get into pajamas.

As I get closer to the front door, I hear voices. I quicklyrealize they’re right in front of my door. I approach and the moment they see me, I notice their eyes bulge a bit.

“Um, hey.” I get my keys out.

“Oh, hi! You must be Baylee,” the brunette says as she moves a stroller by her side with an infant sleeping inside. She’s short with long brown hair and stunning blue eyes. I look over and the woman to her side is tall and blonde. She looks straight out of a magazine. Her blue eyes are piercing and I have no idea who either of them are.

“May I help you?” I can’t hide the bite in my tone.

“Yeah, sorry, we’re waiting on Malloy,” the blonde one says.

“Oh, um, he’s not home,” I tell them. I unlock the door, but don’t hold it open to give them space to follow me.

“That’s fine, we’ll wait for him to get home,” the blonde one says.

Okay, what in the world is happening? And who are these women? Does he date two women at the same time? Is he into people with babies now?Not that I could blame him, they’re beautiful.

“I’m sorry. Can someone catch me up? Who are you?” I stand at the door.

“I’m so sorry. I’m Abby and this is Kennedy. This here”—she points at the sleeping baby— “is my daughter Ella.” She smiles down, the love pouring out of her.

Oh, now I feel like an asshole. This is the famous Abby. She’s breathtaking. And he had no attraction to this woman? That’s surprising.

“Tucker didn’t tell me you were coming over. Sorry, I wasn’t expecting you,” I explain.

“We have book club tonight. It starts”—Kennedy looks down at her watch— “well, now. But he probably went to get snacks because he’s not prepared. Figures.”

“Kennedy, retract the claws,” Abby tells her.

“I’m hungry and River was being a pain in my ass. Hekeeps giving me demands for the wedding. Who knew the groom could be so fussy.” She rolls her eyes.

“Because you’re marrying a high maintenance child,” Abby says, and I can’t help the snort that escapes.

I’ve only met River a few times, but that’s an accurate description. He’s incredibly high energy and I can only imagine him being a lot to handle.

“I heard that snort, I like you already,” Kennedy says. “Now, can we come in?”

“Oh, yes. No problem. Sorry,” I tell them.

“Thanks so much,” Abby says.

“I hope you don’t mind. I’m going to go change. I’ve been in classes all day. Make yourselves at home. Do you want me to get you anything before I go to my room?” I ask them.

“No, don’t worry about us. We’ll grab it if we need anything,” Abby says.

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