Bound To The Alpha Brothers

For Now

Immediately the plane lands and we can get up, I pick up my bag and race to the exit door. The guy sitting next to me is asleep and the last thing I see of him is an air hostess waking him up.

After he told me he was going to UC Blue Ash, I knew I had to stay very far away from him. And what about that last minute eye colour change? It could have been the lights though.

Either way, UC Blue Ash is big enough for us to never meet each other again. I don’t need distractions in my new school. I switch on my phone and take a picture for Dad in the lobby. I would send that to him once I get a taxi to drive me to school.

I check out my luggage and move out of the airport to flag down a taxi. Finally, a car pulls up in front of my thumb, but it does not look like a taxi. It is a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 and I know because I learnt about cars from Dad.

The front door glass rolls down and a familiar face smiles at me, waving.

Damn! I thought I had lost him before. What is he doing here?

“Want a ride?” he says casually, stepping down from the car.

I stare, eyefucking the white machine. Who wouldn’t want a ride in that baby? But those are not the words that leave my mouth.

“No,” I establish firmly by withdrawing my luggage from his grabby hands. It is time to set some things straight. “I don’t know you, so, stay away.”

His hoodie is nowhere to be found, and he is in a white long-sleeved shirt. The material stretches over his chest, outlining every ridge and rough edge. I feel like an odd rope is pulling me to him against my will.

He drops his hands in defeat and I cannot keep my eyes from running down his body. Gosh, when did I become so reckless?

“This is ridiculous,” he scoffs, shaking his head. “Hi, my name is Seven and I do business in Blue Ash. Can we go now?”

Is he kidding? Did he think that was an introduction?

I pull my luggage along, and he comes to stand in front of me, obstructing my way. I fire him with my signature look: a blank, unyielding stare.

“It’s not safe wandering about in a town you are not very familiar with. I went to school in UC Blue Ash so I know the area more than you do. Don't be stubborn; get in the car.”

Before I could utter a word, he snatches my luggage and heads back to his car with them. Have I stumbled on a mad man?

Way to go, Merritt. You sure know how to pick them.

“Stop!” I warn him once I get my tongue back, running after him. “You can't just force me to go with you! I will find a taxi myself. Seven, stop!”

He freezes immediately I call him by his name, my luggage still leaning against his car. His eyes look dead, and they lost all the light in them. The brash, rude man is gone, replaced by a cool, calm one.

“I would never. . .” he pauses, takes a deep breath and nods to himself. “Fine. I will let you be. . . for now.”

He brings my luggage back to me and going back to his car, he drives off without looking back. I wave away the dust that billows after his hot wheels, coughing up a storm.

When I recover, I remember his parting words.

“Fine. I will let you be. . .for now.”

What did he mean by ‘for now?’

***

“No chitchatting! Hold out your receipts for examination before it gets to your turn!” the bursar yells into his desk microphone and the noise reduces a little. His door was thrown open to allow students form a long line down to the greeny quad.

Soon, the students resume their noise, everyone anxious to get a room in the hostel. Mom paid online to secure a room for me, but it wasn’t an assurance that I would get one.

God, please. Anything but going back to Charleston.

I got a cab eventually after waiting for another hour. At some point, I began to regret not accepting Seven’s offer of a ride. It would have saved me time and provided the comfort his spacious car had.

I was part of the last set of students to arrive and when I saw the long line, I cursed my pride.

Finally, it gets to my turn and I present my receipt. The bursar takes it from me and proceeds to check something on his laptop.

“Merritt. . .Maibie,” he sings my name in a boring tone, searching with his mouse. “Hmm. Just a sec.” He abandons his desk and picks a dusty green file off his shelf. He takes out a set of small white cards and goes back to his chair.

I stand there waiting, unsure of what was going on. Had Mom not made the payment to the proper account?

He taps his microphone once and gets the feedback he needs.

“Attention, students. As of now, there are no longer any available rooms in the female hostels. All rooms have been assigned to the early birds. . .”

The female students in the line behind me groan in similar disappointment.

Oh no! This can’t be happening!

“However,” he continues, standing up to wave one of the white cards. “There is an option of getting lodges around the college environment—”

“What about the animal attacks?” a girl with neon coloured hair screams, terror bright in her eyes. “I heard about those. How can the school protect us if we don’t even live on school premises?”

“There has been no reports of animal attacks near the school, Miss. Besides, these lodges are backed by the school because the owners are alumni of UC Blue Ash. The fees you paid will be refunded to you in due time .”

The girl does not look convinced but she calms down a notch, burying her face in the tattooed neck of a boy I assume is her boyfriend.

He withdraws from the microphone and turns to me. “Here’s a card. You can go over to the waiting room and contact the number on the card. Good luck.”

I walk over to the waiting room, dragging my luggage with me. At that point, I am ready to fall face first on the tiled floor. My stomach is completely empty and I have run out on soda.

I immediately dial the number, examining the simple white card. It is ringing on the other side and I turn the card over, my eyes running to the bottom.

Then I see it written in gold serif letters.

Seven Flynn, Landlord.

“Hi. My name is Seven and I do business in Blue Ash.”

I admit that Seven is a very rare name but it didn’t mean they are the same people.

Right?

“Hello,” a female voice on the other side says cheerfully. “Thank you for calling Flynn Properties. My name is Marilyn Bono. How may I help you?”

I tell her my situation and she confirms the bursar’s words of assurance.

“Congratulations on your admission, Miss Maibie. To further discuss your housing plans, may I suggest you make an appointment for tomorrow?”

“No, it’s an emergency. I have nowhere to go tonight,” I explain, hoping she could make an exception.

“I’m sorry, Miss but you have to come around tomorrow. I can put your name on the early batch for tomorrow morning’s appointments; that’s the best I can do for you. So, what do you say?”