Lucky Number Four (14 page)

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.

“So, Dora, how was your day?” Drew asks and
all three pairs of eyes focus on me.

“It was super busy.”

“Ah, yes. Your Black Friday nightmare, which
I must say I have tried once and that cured me for all time,” Colin
says, his eyes twinkling. I swear they are.

“I agree, Colin. No shopping for me. I’m
doing my shopping like I always do, on Monday online. I will never
understand why people stand in line for hours to save a few
bucks.”

“To some people, it’s a business.” Liam’s
voice shocks me, as he always seems like he isn’t listening. “They
buy cheap and sell to make a profit. Not bad if you have the
patience. Which, of course, I would never have.”

His Aussie accent is so adorable. What am I
saying? Liam … adorable?

The conversation continues. I listen and
interject every now and then with my comments. I love listening to
them talk, each with distinctly different accents.

“Colin, that was so good. Thank you.” I watch
his face light up at my comment. Not again. I can’t get lost in
those eyes. I may end up doing something really embarrassing, like
climbing onto the table and kissing him soundly. Instead, I get up,
grab my plate, head to the kitchen, and open the freezer to cool
off my heated face and thoughts.

Drew’s voice brings me back. “No dishes for
you, ‘Ms. I’ve Worked All Day’. Go get dressed up. We’re going
out.”

“Out? Out where?” I ask, forgetting I’m still
holding the freezer door open.

“Out. To have a good time. You do like to
have a good time, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I’m not … I mean, my hair is … I’m
just not up to going out tonight.”

“It’s Friday night and we’re going out. No
arguments. So hurry up and get ready.” He grabs my arm and gives me
a light shove out of the kitchen, where I find Liam and Colin
grinning.

“But I was going to relax. I have to work
tomorrow.”

“No, you don’t. We got you the day off. No
more excuses. We could help you get ready,” Drew says, leering at
me.

“Yes, we could. We wouldn’t look, of course,”
Colin says, chuckling. I hear a small laugh from Liam. I swear he’s
smiling too … or maybe it’s a leer.

“Okay, okay. I’ll go get dressed. It’ll take
me a few minutes. Do I have time to shave my legs?” I ask, then
regret it as I see them all smiling like hyenas. “Gutter minds,” I
say loudly as I open my bedroom door. I almost slam it shut as I
hear the wolf whistles aimed at my back.

Here I stand in my closet, looking at my
pitiful wardrobe. Hey, I’m a college student, so don’t judge me.
And remember, I wear a freaking apron for work. I do go out at
night, so I have a few passable outfits, and my little black dress
is always a great standby. I love wearing black since it makes my
hair seem more vibrant. Even I can be a little vain at times. My
mass of curly hair and my blue eyes are my best assets.

I’m going all out tonight. Armed with my
diamond necklace with matching teardrop earrings, I feel my
confidence is an eight on a scale of ten. Subtle eye makeup makes
my eyes bluer, and a coral lip stain and matching blush finishes
the job. And, of course, my “eff me pumps”, as Julie would call
them. The black, five-inch heels feel strange at first, but I
stroll around my huge room, getting use to them.

I grab my small purse, put on my jet-black
winter coat with an appropriate hood, check once more in the mirror
and open my door. Three sets of eyes meet mine before examining me
from head to toe. My long coat hides my short dress, so all they
can see is my head and my feet, which is how I want it.

“Wow,” Colin says, his warm eyes meeting
mine. My tummy does its normal somersaults. Yeah, I said “tummy.”
Sue me. Thankfully, for once in my life I don’t blush.

“I second that. But, Dora, what’s hidden
underneath that coat?” Drew asks.

Liam snorts, grabs his jacket and opens the
front door.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I reply. “I
guess you’re giving us a hint, Liam? And, may I say, you guys don’t
look too bad yourselves.”

“May I?” Colin puts out his arm. I grab it
gently and he pulls me close so we can move through the door
together. We ride down the elevator listening to Mick Jagger
singing “Jumping’ Jack Flash.” Drew has a rock radio station piped
into the elevator. My dad will love this when he visits.

Whether planned or by chance, I end up
sitting with Colin in the backseat, which is absolutely fine by me.
My tummy is still flipping its little heart out. We are sitting so
close I feel the heat from his body, which, combined with mine,
makes me want to rip off my coat and his clothes.

What the hell am I thinking? He’s just acting
like a gentleman … taking my arm, holding my car door open for me.
We really don’t need to sit this close since Drew’s backseat is
huge, but I can dream, can’t I? I’ve seen him on posters and in
magazines dressed only in briefs, so I don’t have to imagine how he
looks under his clothes.

“Dora,” Drew’s eyes meet mine in the rearview
mirror. “What’s on your mind? You seem preoccupied.”

“Oh, nothing,” I reply, frustrated that I was
so distracted by Colin that I couldn’t think of a snarky retort.
I’m so glad none of them are not mind readers.

“Riiiight,” he says with a small laugh as my
eyes widen.

“Yeah, right. My head is completely empty,” I
say in a huffy voice and the three laugh at my statement. “Where
are we going?” I’m a little nervous that they’re taking me to some
star-studded club where I’ll be the only nobody.

Quit that, Dora. You are just as important
as they are. You just make a lot less money and you’re not as
pretty. But you can hold your own.

Boy, would my psych teacher have a field day
with this whole situation. I’ve never thought I needed therapy,
even with my crazy family, until now. Where the hell is my
self-confidence hiding? See, I must be nuts.

“We’re going to a little place that has the
best drinks, music and—” Drew begins.

“And some of the most mouth-watering tapas
you’ll ever have in your entire life,” Liam finishes, smacking his
lips.

“Yeah, this is Liam’s favorite spot for
cheese sticks, chicken wings, and pizza bites. Watch how much this
Aussie puts away tonight. He’ll have to do double time in the gym
tomorrow,” Drew teases.

“I have to start back on my exercise regimen
too,” I reply, thinking about how long it has been since I’ve gone
for a good long run.

“Well, you have full use of the gym
downstairs. We’ve shown you that, haven’t we?” I see Drew’s
forehead lines deepen through the rearview mirror as he tries to
remember.

“I don’t do gyms. I just run. In fact, I was
just thinking I haven’t run in a few weeks. Since I’m off tomorrow,
I think I’ll go for my mid-morning jaunt through the park across
the street.”

Colin looks at me with concern. “I don’t
think that’s wise. Maybe you should use the treadmill.”

“I don’t like machines, and it’s not like I’m
going to run at midnight. The park is safe, I’m sure.”

“We’re here,” Drew announces as he pulls into
an empty spot in a brightly lit parking area.

Colin helps me out of the car and takes my
arm, nestling it in his as we make our way to a building with a
large neon sign.

“The Raven? Sounds intriguing.” I look at
Drew, who is walking to my left.

“The owner is a big Edgar Allen Poe fan,” he
explains.

“The owner has good taste. I love Poe,” I
respond.

Seeing his wide smile, I realize it’s his
place. He opens the door and Colin and I follow Liam into a foyer
that looks like a Victorian parlor. A voluptuous girl dressed in an
old-fashioned dress, complete with generous boobs threatening to
spill out, stands behind an old, bar-like counter.

“Good evening, Jen. How’s business tonight?”
Drew’s dazzling smile would make most women faint, but she doesn’t
even bat an eyelash. I need to talk to this woman and find out her
secret.