Page 4 of Twilight of Embers
The bus slowed, making a hissing sound as it came to a stop.
“Everyone for Ember Hollow, Evergreen University.”
I stood and grabbed my backpack as the older woman rose to allow me out.
“You knock ‘em dead, honey.”
I grinned at her. “I’ll give it my best shot.”
Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I grabbed my duffel from the overhead compartment and made my way down the aisle. Two other passengers got off before me and made their way to where the driver was by the luggage bays.
I started toward campus before the driver called out.
“Don’t you have a suitcase?”
I turned, shaking my head. “I’ve got everything here.”
I didn’t have much to bring with me. The Johansens had tried to be as generous as possible, but they cared for a number of children and weren’t exactly rich. And I’d wanted to save money for the important things.
The driver gave me a wave, and I turned back toward campus. I scanned the buildings and swallowed hard. They were beautiful. Red brick with white accents. They looked important, stately, and I worried again about fitting in.
I adjusted the duffel on my shoulder before forcing my feet to move. It wasn’t like not fitting in was anything I wasn’t used to. I’d always been the odd one out. I’d had a few casual friends in high school, but no one I was truly close with. It was as if my classmates feared that someone losing their family was contagious.
Looking around, I searched for signs of the student center. I’d practically memorized the welcome packet from the number of times I’d gone over it. I’d looked at the map of campus more times than I could count, too, but it was different actually being here. Or maybe it was my horrible sense of direction.
I caught sight of what looked like a directory and headed toward it.
The paths through campus were brick, too, almost giving them a cobblestone feel. You could sense the history of the space all around you. I’d love to get lost in all that history and learn about it as I got used to my new home.
Stopping in front of the large map, I tried to orient myself. It took a second to find the You Are Here star and plot out a path to the student center, but the trek wouldn’t be that far.
A bubble of excitement rose inside me, and I grinned as I turned to head for the center. But instead, I ran smack into what felt like a cinder block wall.
2
HAYDEN
I let out a muffled “oomph” as I collided with the foreign body.
“Shit,” a rich voice muttered as large hands curved around my shoulders to keep me from falling.
That voice. It sounded like smoky promise and comfort all rolled into one. I had the bizarre urge to burrow into it. To roll around like I was a dog who’d found a deliciously muddy puddle.
“You okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” the rich voice asked.
I blinked a few times, trying to clear my vision. It had gone just a bit hazy. As the guy in front of me came into focus, I just kept blinking. As if that would somehow make him less handsome.
My head craned way back to fully take him in. I wasn’t tall by any stretch. A hint over five foot three on a good day. But this guy had to have a foot on me.
His sandy brown hair was laced with natural gold highlights that spoke of lots of time in the sunshine. His green eyes were kissed with flecks of gold in a pattern that had me wanting to lean in a little closer to discover them all. And his angular jaw could’ve cut stone.
He was hands down one of the most gorgeous men I’d ever seen. He screamed captain of the football team or fraternity president. Someone who would never be in my orbit.
“Sorry,” I squeaked.
Worry creased his brow, his voice gentling as he released me. “Are you okay?”
I felt the strange sensation of loss as his warm hands disappeared from my shoulders.
