When Our Worlds Stand Still (Our Worlds #3)(12)

“Don’t be silly. I’m happy you’re here.” Mark turns to the rest of us. “I’m happy you’re all here.”

I grab my two bags from the backseat and follow Mark inside. Warmth hits my face when we walk through the large door into a gorgeous foyer. A small table full of mail and car keys sits in front of us with a large silver mirror above it. The décor in this place appears to have been done by a professional. I don’t think college guys are capable of what this house has to offer.

Gorgeous navy fabrics and gold accents with silver undertones run throughout the main living area. Everything about this place is comfortable. The bright lighting illuminates the room to its full potential, making any visitor stop and appreciate the surroundings.

We drop our luggage at the bottom of the stairs and follow Mark into the enormous kitchen with marble countertops and dark-stained cabinets. A group of guys sits at a circular table. One of them I recognize as Beckett.

The largest of the six stands and saunters over to us. Dark hair hangs in his eyes, but he does us a favor by brushing it away to expose his striking brown eyes.

“Hi, I’m Amanda, and you are?” Amanda steps in front of us, her hand extended.

The Greek god smirks, showcasing a single dimple on his left cheek. “I’m Rick, but everyone calls me Rico. What are you doing in my house, beautiful?” He shakes her hand, keeping a tight hold.

“Your house?” Mark scoffs from beside me.

“I pay rent, don’t I?” Rick rebuts, sending a warning to Mark.

“Rico, eh? Like Suave?” Amanda laughs, biting her bottom lip.

“I guess you’ll have to stick around to find out.” He pulls her close.

Mark clears his throat to break up the weird sexual tension between the two. “Rico, this is Amanda, Kennedy, Dan, Violet, and Bea.” Mark points to each of us, then turns to the rest of the guys. “Everyone, that over there is Griffin, Shaun, Elliot, Beckett, and Levi.”

Amanda turns around and grins at us, pulling Rick with her. “Let me guess, you all went to private school and were captains of your row teams?” They each nod, and she turns with wide eyes for the rest of us. “We are in Connecticut, aren’t we?”

“Born and raised, ladies,” Griffin announces with a wink.

“He has a girlfriend,” Rick blurts, then his disapproving eyes shoot back to Mark. “And does Graham know you have all these people coming to stay?”

My throat swells when I hear his name. My vision blurs and an ache builds in my stomach. At the same time I let out a forced breath, a loud gasp rings in my ears. I tell myself there’s probably a million Grahams in the world. It isn’t my Graham.

And then the familiar electric charge runs up my spine.

“Does Graham know what?” a strong, deep voice says from behind me.

As if I’ve been hit by a raging bull, I rest my hands on my knees to catch my racing breath. I twirl in the direction of the familiar voice to find his honey-filled eyes searing into me. Everything around me sounds muffled.

Graham’s here, right in front of me.

“Kennedy,” Graham whispers.

With my right hand, I rub the compass resting on my left wrist. His eyes follow my movement, and with a small nod of his head, he takes a deep breath.

“I can explain.” He removes the Yankees hat from his head and tosses it on the counter.

“This is your place?” This shouldn’t be my first worry, but for some reason, this is what falls from my mouth.

“This is my house.” He takes a step toward me.

Violet pulls Dan from my side. Amanda whispers to Bea and her eyes widen.

“No, this is my house,” I whisper, tears resting on the rims of my eyes.

“Maybe.” He takes another step.

“Is anyone going to tell us what the hell is going on?” Rick’s voice breaks through the strange standoff between Graham and me. I assume Amanda whacks him across the stomach by the smack I hear, followed by his loud grunt. “Graham, who is this?”

“His past.” I move away from his path he has every intention of following.

Graham breaks the stare-off and glares over my shoulder at Rick. When his gaze falls back to me, his eyes are soft and inviting. “My future.”

I shake my head and press my eyelids to stop the tears from falling.

Rick lets out a loud groan. “Okay, this is getting too weird for me. Does anyone want to go grab breakfast somewhere else, anywhere else but here?”

“We do,” Amanda announces, happily, bouncing beside me.

I glare at her for abandoning me in this situation, leaving me alone with him.

Violet wraps her arms around my waist and squeezes. “I’m not sure why he’s here, and I promise you I didn’t know.” She turns a questioning glare on Graham. “You look frumpy by the way.”

“It’s nice to see you, too, Violet.” His eyebrow perks up, and he chuckles. “And no, I don’t.” He lifts his shirt, showing off the tight abs that have multiplied since high school. His delicious V peeks out, and I roll my eyes at the effect it has on me.

My best friend looks back at me and gives me one of those I-know-you’re-not-happy, but-look-on-the-bright-side stares. “Good luck. We’ll be back soon.” Violet kisses me on the cheek and disappears, leaving Graham and me alone for the first time in what feels like an eternity.