Chapter 20: Layla POV Fuck . My . Life . All four guys step towards me , not having noticed the other's reaction to seeing me . But that changes the second they notice movement from the corner of their eye . They all grind to a halt , swivel their heads toward each other and stare . Xavier is the first to speak , his booming voice drifting over to me where I'm still rooted to the spot on the back porch . He doesn't direct his voice at them though . " You must be shitting me ! You've fucked them , haven't you ! All of them ? Or are you planning on sealing the deal tonight with whoever hasn't had a turn ? " My heart sinks and I have trouble breathing . I must be hallucinating . I'm probably still at home , under my covers , locked in a bad nightmare . The three guys snap their heads toward Xavier and glare at him . I might hear someone growl at him , but I can't say with certainty . I push my solo cup into William's hands and turn on my heel , heading for the front door . I can't be here right now . I can't fathom how three of the sweetest guys can be friends with that brute . As my foot hits the walkway in the front yard , a hand clasps around my bicep and swings me around . I gasp and am immediately pressed up against a hard body . My hands automatically go to the person's chest for stability . I look up , ready to cuss out whoever dared to put their hands on me ( presumably Xavier ) but am rendered speechless when Hunter looks down at me with perplexity . " Hi Beautiful , what are you doing here ? " he asks softly , probably anxious he might scare me off if he speaks too loudly . " Cade invited me . I didn't know the rest of you guys would be here . I didn't even know you guys knew each other . If you let me go , I'll get lost and you can enjoy your party further . " I'm rambling but I can't seem to stop myself . I'm flustered . I'm bewildered . And I'm hurt by Xavier's poisonous words . I go to pull away from Hunter , but he locks his hands around my waist , " Hey there , breathe . We're not here to hurt or force you to do anything . But I think it might be a good idea if we all sat down for a little chat ? " he words it as a question , showing me , I still have a choice in the matter . He won't make me do something I'm not comfortable with . I peer over his shoulder , noticing Cade and AJ standing on the porch . Xavier is nowhere to be seen - thank goodness for small miracles . Cade and AJ nod subtly at me but stay standing where they are , probably afraid I might run again if they come closer . 1/3 Chapter 20 : Layla POV I hesitate for a second , but Hunter squeezes my waist , grounding me in the moment . Deciding that a talk would be best , even just to clear the air , I pull away from Hunter . " Sure , a talk might be good . Where do you want to go ? " I look around at them , hoping they don't say inside . Hunter lets me go but keeps his fingers laced with mine . I feel awkward about holding hands with one guy I like , in front of the other guy I like , who is standing next to the other guy I liked years ago . I know , I know it's convoluted , but it sounded better in my head . Hunter , the ass that he is , notices my discomfort and smirks at me . " I know of a 24 - hour diner around the corner , they have the best milkshakes and skinny fries . Are those still your favorite midnight snack Layla ? " AJ asks as he walks down the steps towards us . I smile up at him , touched that he remembered our late - night junk food fests after we would beg my parents to stop at the local takeaway joint . " I can do fries and shakes . But shouldn't you get back to your party ? " I look towards Cade , suddenly remembering he is playing host and can't just up and leave . " Nah , let Xavier be bogged down with that , he deserves nothing less after the crappy comments he made about you in the backyard . " He says as he comes sauntering over , giving me a heart - stopping smile . Everybody agrees and so Hunter pulls me away from the house . He abruptly stops and looks around ; he gives me a sheepish look and scratches the back of his head . " You don't by any chance have your car here , do you ? All our cars are boxed in in the garage and it'll take an army to move those in front of the garage door right now . " " What do you mean , all of your cars ? Do you all live together ? Here ? " My brain is struggling to compute this information , instinctively knowing the answer but refusing to speak it into existence . Cade answers , " Yeah , I thought you knew . " He looks sheepish and I can't be mad at them , it is not as if I explicitly asked who their roommates are . I'll process this tidbit and all its ramifications later , while I'm alone in my room , with a pint of Ben & Jerry's . " No worries , I'm parked just across the street . " Hunter visibly relaxes and we start towards my car . Just as I go to unlock the car , AJ hollers " shotgun " and jogs to the passenger side door . I shake my head at him , but I smirk behind my hand . I'm glad he hasn't lost his playful side over the years . 2/3 Chapter 20 : Layla POV Once everyone is buckled in , I turn towards Cade in the backseat . " Whereto , my dear sir ? " " Dork . " He smirks at me before directing me towards the diner . AJ fiddles with my radio , Cade is my GPS and Hunter's left hand ( who is sitting right behind me ) is on my shoulder from behind , his thumb massaging the back of my neck . " So , how do you guys know each other ? " I ask because my curiosity is getting the better of me . Hunter is the one to answer , " Cade , Xavier , and I grew up together . AJ is the newbie to our group , but we've become fast friends in a matter of days . " " Is he the guy that transferred and only moved in the day that classes started ? " My question is directed at Hunter , referring to our conversation in the student center a few days before classes started . " That is correct , Beautiful . " He smirks at me in the rearview mirror before speaking again , " And you ? How do you know AJ and Cade ? " " AJ and I were best friends when we were younger before he moved away at age 11. I met Cade at the coffee shop I work at part - time . " Hunter swivels his head towards Cade . With a devilish grin he asks , " Is she the girl you told us about ? The one that … " Before Hunter can finish his sentence , Cade thwacks him in the chest . I spot the scowl he gives Hunter in the rearview mirror , and I make a mental note to try and find out exactly what Cade said about me . Pulling into the diner's parking lot , I haven't even shut the car off properly , before AJ is at my door , opening it and bowing slightly as if we are in an 18th - century romance novel . " My lady . " Giggling at him , I take his offered hand , and he tucks it into the crook of his arm . Cade and Hunter flank us as we step into the restaurant . This is going to be one hell of an interesting conversation . Chapter Comments