Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 234
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
I feel so very loved.
And I easily begin to drift to sleep—only to wake to quiet footsteps. We aren’t fooling around anymore, but the second I catch sight of Beckett in the kitchen, I freak and go deep-sea diving into the mattress. Flinging the quilt over my head. Pretending his brother didn’t see me right up against Ben.
Does this look worse? Like I’m giving Ben a blow job?
Too late now, Harriet.
Ben is laughing though. He thinks it’s hilarious that out of all his brothers, Beckett intimidates me the most when that title should go to Charlie. Maybe for him that’s true, but Beckett is the most protective of Ben, which I’ve realized means I care more about his opinion of me. Whereas Charlie is just a loose cannon who pushes Ben’s buttons.
On Tuesday, I fully intend to crash on my couch. Mine. Then after Board Game Club, I find myself once again at Ben’s apartment. I left a change of clothes here. Even some toiletries. I am nothing if not prepared, but it also makes it very easy to not go home.
I’m scared this is starting to feel like a home. It’s comfortable. Safe. Loving. But it’s not really mine, right? It’s still Ben’s. And what happens if he does say goodbye to New York? To me?
By Wednesday morning, it dawns on me that Ben has stopped saying he’s leaving. He no longer ends each kiss with reminders that this won’t last.
Preparing to venture to class with this high, I’m happily showered and stuffing my backpack. All the Cobalt brothers are awake, milling around the kitchen for breakfast. When my phone buzzes, I check the screen and go slack-jawed.
“Harriet? You alive?” Ben rounds the counter like I need CPR.
I fucking might. “Guy Abernathy just texted me.” I sway backward into the wall. Pressing my phone to my chest as I dizzy.
“You need us to kill him, brother?” Eliot says to Ben, which jolts me into awareness. I’m acting like a dopey fool over a text from another guy—who is literally named Guy—in front of his brothers.
I’m sure my scowl reforms. “It’s not like that.” I haven’t read the message yet. “He’s the president of the Honors House.”
“This is that weird Kappa bet thing?” Tom asks, pouring a bowl of Lucky Charms. A while back, Ben explained the Kappa Phi Delta’s housing stipulation to his brothers. They’d asked if he ever convinced the frat to let him stay there, so they know all about the “sleep with an Honors House girl” bet.
Ben sidles beside me. “She’s not trying to be a part of the Honors House just so I can live at the frat. She had this goal before me.”
“But if she gets in, you will move out?” Tom questions.
Ben lifts a tense hand. “Yeah, I guess.”
“He guesses,” Eliot says to Tom, as if there is wiggle room there.
Beckett is listening intently while shutting the fridge and fisting a jug of orange juice. Do not look his way. Do not look.
I blow out a long breath.
“Read it, Fisher,” Ben urges with a smile. His optimism is really sweet because right now, I am floating in an ocean of cynicism. Likelihood of this being a rejection is high.
Okay. Fuck it. I read the text.
Guy Abernathy
Harriet Fisher, on behalf of the Honors House, I’m pleased to inform you that you’ve reached the final round of selections. You’re in the top five.
“She looks like a cartoon character,” Tom quips. “Harry, is this your happy face?”
“Shut up, Thomas,” I manage to say, albeit breathily. “I’m in the top five,” I tell Ben directly. “I made the top fucking five.”
His bright smile is everything. He says a melodic-sounding phrase in French, then translates, “Never doubt yourself.”
It floods me. He lifts me up, just to kiss me, and I swoop my arms around his neck, the shock wearing off as Charlie claps slowly.
Ben brings me to my feet.
“Girl Genius,” Charlie says, less dryly than usual. His other brothers aren’t as excited for me. I get why. If I’m accepted to the Honors House, then Ben will move out. My frown takes hold.
Ben pushes a hot hand through his hair. “Her achievement isn’t my downfall. You can be happy for Harriet.” He adds something else in fiery French.
They all speak over each other while my phone pings. I pop up my email notification, and I exhale an audible dejected sigh.
The whole kitchen quiets. It’s odd that my mere crestfallen mood can have people shifting their postures. Prepared to go to battle for me? To be there for me? They’re definitely not against me anymore.
“You okay?” Ben asks.
I nod, then acknowledge Tom. “You’ll be happy to know, Tommy, that I did get rejected. Just not from the Honors House.”
“From what?” Beckett frowns.
My neck heats. “From another shadowing position. They’re super hard to find. I’ve cold-called so many doctor’s offices. Emailed twice as many. All of them are either filled or they’re not seeking any. Too much liability and paperwork—that’s the main complaint.”