Josie

Friday I woke to Simone jumping on my bed. Once I was coherent enough, she demanded to know what was up with my attitude the previous night. I explained everything, all the thoughts I had flowing through my head. How I thought I didn’t deserve the attention of the two men.

She cackled and said, “Honey, you’re crazy. I knew they were all talk. Christ, any female can see how they feel about you. It’s hard for them to even take their eyes off you.” She beamed then and squealed.

Which was when my bedroom door burst open and in it stood Caden and Eli wearing nothing but boxers. Their chests rose and fell rapidly and their guns were drawn to the room.

Simone burst out laughing, laying across my bed holding her stomach.

I offered a grimace and a shrug, then said, “Sorry, um, she was excited about something at school today.”

Caden relaxed first and with a smirk, as though he knew I was lying and had been in fact talking to her about them, shook his head and left the room.

Eli rolled his eyes and placed his hands to his waist, still holding his gun. Before he wandered off, he muttered, “All women are crazy.”

The morning started out frantic, after Simone and I took the time to talk, we realised we were late for class. We quickly dressed, me in jeans, a tee and a jacket, while Simone went for a skirt, tights and a woollen jumper. The guys stood waiting, with smirks upon their handsome faces, while we rushed around the house getting organised. On the way out, I grabbed a banana for breakfast and climbed into the passenger side of Simone’s car. When the back door opened, I jumped and looked behind me to see Eli climbing in the car.

“W-what are you doing?” I asked.

“Babe.” He smiled. “You didn’t honestly think we’d let you go to uni on your own? I’m doing half the time and Caden will catch up later.”

“But, why?”

“Sweetheart, no one fucks with you. We need to make sure all those fuckers got the picture or else they deal with us.” He reached out and gently touched my shoulder before pulling his hand back and saying, “Don’t stress, Josie. I won’t even be in your classes. I’ll wait outside for them to finish.”

“This is going to be so much fun.” Simone clapped, started the car and began to drive.

“But...” I started before shoving the banana in my mouth and doing up my seat belt.

“Seriously, babe. Just go with it.”

It wasn’t like I had a choice, really.

Remaining silent, I smiled. If I were honest with myself, I was glad there wasn’t a choice. I had been worried with how the day would turn out. Knowing Cameron, he would be fuming over the altercation they had the previous day.

Having Eli at my back eased my troubled thoughts.

It wasn’t until lunch did I find out how difficult it was to have Eli with me. He stayed true to his words and stayed outside the lecture room. However, the looks he got from the female students irritated me. I knew there were many good-looking women around and they’d zoned in on the rough, handsome biker.

Never had I had so many girls come up to me in class to see if I could introduce them to Eli. When I didn’t respond, they glared at me. I felt bad for the barest of heart beats, but that quickly passed as I didn’t want Eli to think I was pushing other women onto him, not when my feelings for him were strong.

Groaning, I got up from my seat and walked out of the room. It was my last class before lunch and then after, I had only one other, but that would go for another two hours.

As soon as I passed the door, I spotted Eli standing opposite me, only he was surrounded by at least five women. I grumbled under my breath. I wanted to stomp my foot, waltz over there and stake my claim.

But I didn’t.

“Hey,” someone said beside me.

Looking up, I quickly took a step back. A guy I didn’t know stood before me. “Um, hi.”

He smiled. “Sorry to scare you. I’m Kevin.” Thankfully he didn’t hold out his hand to me. “I’m in a few classes of yours and, ah, sorry I wanted to see, uh, now that you’re not, um with Cameron.”

I gasped. “I was never with him.”

“Sorry.” He blushed. “I know, what I mean is, I heard Cameron has backed off and, now that he has, I wanted to know if you would like to...go out to the movies or something.”

“No,” a voice growled. We both looked to Eli standing beside us.

“Who are you?” Kevin asked.

“I’m hers and she’s mine. Not only that, she belongs to Hawks.”

My head went back. I’m his and he’s mine?  

“Billy, are you coming to have lunch with us?” a girl called.

“No,” Eli snapped, his gaze never leaving Kevin.

I watched as the girl and her friends pouted and then glared at me, walking off.

“Okay, I’m gonna head off,” Kevin said.

“Good,” Eli stated in a short snap, crossing his thick arms over his chest.

Before Kevin got to step away, Caden appeared at his back. “Problem here?” Caden growled.

Goodness.

“No,” I squeaked. “Kevin was just leaving.” With a nod, Kevin quickly shuffled away from Caden turned and stalked out of the school.

“What was that about?” I demanded to Eli.

“Babe,” was all he said.

Frustrating man.

I started down the hall, making my way to the cafeteria for lunch when Caden asked, “What did that guy want?”

“He asked Josie out on a date.”

“What the fuck?” Caden growled.

Spinning to face them, I glared. “Well, it’s not like Eli hasn’t had a busy morning and now you’re here, the women will go extra crazy. I’ve lost count of the times they’ve asked me for Eli’s number or if he’s free to date or why he’s here or how they tell me how hot he is. Now they’ll do it all over again for you as well, Caden.” I growled under my breath and turned around, walking off. Frustration over everything was winning, causing me to react like a little jealous school girl. 

Their laughter followed me as I entered the cafeteria and then there was silence. All eyes were on us. For once I didn’t cower and slink away. I stood tall and got in the line. Eli and Caden were right behind me.

I was looking down at the selection when someone in front of me cleared their throat. Looking up, I blanched when another male I didn’t know smiled down at me.

“Hey, I’m Tony. I was wondering if you’re free this weekend?”

Goodness me.

Did everyone know that Cameron had backed off? And now the men were confident in approaching me?

That was until Eli and Caden’s heat touched my back. Their arms were folded over their chests as they stared down Tony.

“Are they your bodyguards or something?” Tony asked.

“No,” Caden growled.

“Brothers?” Tony asked.

“Fuck no,” Eli snapped.

“Just back the fuck off and tell any fool who tries to ask Josie out, they’ll have us to deal with,” Caden ordered.

Heck. Shaking my head, I grabbed my tray and went to the nearest vacant table. I slammed my tray down and sat.

Too late I realised I only grabbed an apple. Shrugging to myself, I picked it up and took a bite. Juice dribbled down my chin. I wiped it away as Eli sat on one side of me and Caden the other side.

“You’ll need more than that,” Caden said and placed two pizza slices on my tray.

“Thank you,” I uttered.

“Precious, we’re only looking out for you.”

“I know, but—”

“Hey, girlfriend.” A leggy blonde smiled at me as she stopped in front of our table. Inwardly, I groaned. I had never met this woman before and yet she was calling me girlfriend. “I’m having a party this weekend. I wanted to know if you all want to come?”

“What’s in it for us?” Eli smiled. Quickly, the smile faded and he turned an apologetic grimace to me as I glared back. I suppose I couldn’t expect to turn his playboy attitude off overnight. At least he felt bad for it.

Glancing back at the blonde, I said, “No, but thank you for asking.” I smiled.

“That’s cool, how about just your friends come then?”

I really wanted to bang my head against the table. Instead, I took my annoyance out on the pizza and bit into it roughly.

“We’re busy,” Eli said.

“Yeah, anything I could help out with?” she purred.

Snorting, I took another bite of my pizza.

“Do you have a problem?” she asked me.

Sighing, I placed my pizza down on the plate and looked back up to her. “No, I don’t, but I think you’re trying too hard. Yes, they’re hot men, but they have already said they were busy and you’re still trying to throw yourself at them.” Slamming my mouth shut, I blushed. Never had I spoken that much to someone I didn’t know, especially so confrontationally.

I was appalled by my behaviour.

Then again, I didn’t like the way she wanted a chunk out of Eli and Caden.

“Scat,” Eli growled.

She huffed and stormed back to her table.

“Sweetheart—”

“I can’t believe I just said that,” I uttered.

“Baby,” Caden started. “You think we’re hot?”

Blushing, I was glad, for once, when we were interrupted again.

“Hey all, you would not believe the rumours I’ve been hearing starring our little girl here,” Simone said as she sat across from us. She looked to my blushing cheeks and asked, “What’s going on?”

Eli chuckled, leaned back in his seat and said, “Not much. Women keep hittin’ on us. Josie doesn’t like it. She told one girl to stop. Plus Josie thinks we’re hot.”

“Eli,” I snapped.

“Precious,” Caden said in a low tone. Turning my head, he moved in closer, so our noses nearly touched. “We like that you don’t like women tryin’ to sink their claws into us. Shows us that you do want us. So maybe, if it happens, you tell the leeches we’re your fellas.”

“Um.” I blushed, my breathing heavy. “O-okay.”

“Good.” He smiled and tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear sending tingles down my body. He caught that shudder and his smile deepened.

Shaking myself out of the daze, I glanced at Simone and asked, “So, what are the rumours?” before I picked up my pizza and started eating it again.

“Damn, woman. You are so freaking lucky,” she said, glancing from Caden to Eli. “Just from the looks they give you I could come in my pants.”

“Simone,” I snapped.

She shook her head. “What? Woman, don’t fret about the other hussies. The way these guys are with you, they’ll get the picture.”

“Simone. Rumours?”

“Oh, yeah. The others aren’t worth mentioning, but I’ll tell you my favourite. Your boys here are a part of the mob. They think you’re a daughter of some drug lord and they’re here to protect you. Also, seems Cameron isn’t here today. They’re saying they killed him.” She shrugged and started on her pasta salad.

Goodness.

Rumours I could handle. The torment before was something I couldn’t. Let them believe what they wanted. I no longer cared.