Page 15 of The Pass Protection
Pushing open the door, I’m met with a savory scent from the kitchen. Walking forward, I pause in the doorway. Harris and Bret are in the kitchen. She’s sitting on the counter, towel in hand, as she dries the dishes Harris hands her. There’s almost a domestic vibe coming from the two of them. I won’t lie and say that jealousy doesn’t course through my veins.
“Crew, honey.” Mom’s voice pulls my attention away from the kitchen and back to the call.
“I’m here, Mom. Sorry, I’m just getting in from classes.” My voice interrupts the two in the kitchen.
Bret’s head snaps up as a blush creeps up her cheeks. Her emerald eyes warm and soften as she spreads a sheepish smile across her pouty lips. The same lips I can’t stop thinking about. They are soft and pillowy. Luscious and full. A natural pout that leaves everything about her alluring. As I’m busy watching the vixen in the kitchen, Harris gives me a nod in greeting, snapping my attention away from her.
Moving from the doorway, I step into my room, closing the door behind me as I toss my backpack on my desk chair. My navy beddingis tossed haphazardly across my king-sized bed. What’s the point in making my bed when I’m only going to sleep in it later?
“How was the first day of class? Are you getting excited for football season?”
“Classes were fine. It’s going to be a busy semester, but I’m used to it now.” Laying across my bed, I rest my head against my bent arm, keeping me propped up. “We have a new roommate this year.”
“Oh, that’s great, sweetie. I’m glad you could find someone to fill the empty room.” Mom’s voice is cheery, but if I listen closely, I can hear the hint of exhaustion she is trying to hide from us kids. “Is this young man on the football team too?”
I chuckle. “No, Mom. She is not on the football team.”
“Crew Ryan Riggsby, agirlis living with you? Who is she? When did she move in? These are things a mother should know.”
I chuckle at her onslaught of questions.
“This isn’t funny, mister.”
“I mean, it’s a little funny, Mom.” Images of Bret flood my brain as I try to find the right words to describe her to my mother. Where do I even begin? It doesn’t matter what I say to Mom. She’s going to read me like a book. It’s the one gift she’s always had. Dad would come down on punishments, but Mom always wanted to know the root cause of everything. She started picking up our ticks and cues for when we were lying when we had crushes, and everything in between.
“Where do I even start, Mom? Her name is Bret. She transferred from the University of Arizona and arrived on Sunday. We all thought we were getting another guy as a roommate.”
Mom’s soft chuckle fills the other end of the line. “With a name like Bret, I can see where there’s confusion.”
“Yeah, it was quite the shock. But she’s really cool. She kicked our asses in Grand Theft Auto the other night, which was a fun surprise.She’s captivating with her love for sports and action movies and her unique sense of humor. It’s like she’s one of us but a girl.”
“You sound smitten, my boy.”
“Nah, it can’t be like that.”
“And why not? Because you’re roommates? That’s foolish.”
“It’s not just that. It would be awkward in the apartment if we were to pick up something and it didn’t work out. The guys would be stuck in the middle. She’s also a Campbell, as in Coach’s daughter and Grant’s sister.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants, Crew. Don’t forget that.”
“So you’ve told me before. She’s hiding something. I can feel it.”
“That may be the case, and if she is, you should be there when those walls come crumbling down. Believe me, sweet boy, she will need someone strong if her world implodes. Be the gentleman your father and I raised.”
“Always, Mom. Now tell me, is Grandpa still working himself to the bone?”
“You know that man will never settle down. Just this morning, he was running through the yard trying to gather the chickens when the rooster caught sight of him. That damn bird chased him all over the yard.” A loud laugh bursts from me as a knock sounds on the other side of the door. I call out for whoever it is to enter.
Onyx locks contrast against the white-painted door as Bret pops her head into my room. My pulse thumps as my heart races whenever I’m in her presence.
“Hey.” Her soft voice fills the space. “Sorry to bother you, but we have dinner ready whenever you are.”
“Thanks, Bret. I’ll be out shortly.”
“Bret?” my mom’s voice practically shouts from her end. Bret’s eyes widen as she must hear my mom call her name. “Switch me to FaceTime, Crew.”
“Mom, I don’t think now is the best time.”
