Eden's Playground: Graystone Academy Book One, BE Kelly [good short books .TXT] 📗

was probably right, but the thought of putting herself out there wasn’t one she relished. It usually took her some time to warm up to new people. That’s why her newfound friendship with the Kirkpatrick twins seemed so strange. She felt an unexplainable connection with them both, and talking to them and hanging out with them was easy.

Eden accepted both of their friend requests and did a little snooping on their profiles. She found a picture of the two of them with their arms around a pretty young woman. She scrolled through picture after picture and they were all the same, only the women were different, and she wondered what that was about. The last picture was of the twins kissing a pretty blond on the cheeks and she rolled her eyes.

Her computer pinged with a new message and she opened it. Hey—you’re up early. Anson typed.

Yep, I’m an early riser. She watched her screen and saw the little bubbles that told her that he was busy typing his response. Eden pulled her blanket from her bed around her shoulders and snuggled into it. Her room was drafty and she hadn’t packed many sweaters. When she ran to town, she’d pick up some warmer clothes to help get her through the cold nights and mornings.

What are you up to this morning? Anson asked.

Making a list of things I need from town. I don’t want to count on my mother to bring up my stuff. I need some clothes and a few things for my room. She’ll probably flake out and I need some warmer clothing. She left out the part where her mother usually made up some excuse as to why she couldn’t make it to things—like her high school graduation. Her excuses were getting better and better, but Eden knew the truth. Her mom was usually off with her latest conquest. She liked younger men and having an adult daughter cramped her style. Most guys didn’t want to hear that she had a daughter who was almost as old as they were. Plus, her mother didn’t want to point out that there was a single, younger version of herself out there, so she usually didn’t even tell them about Eden. If she had to guess, her mother’s car was just fine and she was off with her latest boy toy, avoiding being a decent mom.

Want some company? Anson asked. She wasn’t sure what the policy was for going into town. She knew that traveling in pairs was highly recommended on campus but traveling into town didn’t seem to have a set of rules. It would be nice to have someone show her around town though. Anson probably could show her the best shops and that would make things easier—especially since she wanted to pick up her books for class to get a head start on her studies.

Sure. What did she have to lose? Eden could meet with Duff for breakfast and some research at the library and then meet up with Anson to go shopping. Eden heard a soft knock at her dorm room door and she wondered if she had inadvertently woken one of the other students. She got out of bed, keeping her blanket wrapped around her body, and opened her door.

“Hey,” Anson breathed.

“How are you here?” she asked. She looked out into the hallway and pulled him into her room. He wasn’t allowed to be in her room. Hell, he wasn’t allowed to be in her building without permission.

“Snuck in,” he admitted. “You said you wanted some company.”

“Right—while shopping. The sun isn’t even up, Anson,” she said.

“Well, I’m an early riser like you. Duff would sleep until noon if he was allowed,” Anson said.

“Then why did he offer to help me this morning with my research?” she asked.

“Because he likes you, Eden,” Anson breathed. She wondered what he meant by that but asking him if his brother “liked her, liked her” would make her sound like a middle schooler.

Anson chuckled, “Yeah—he likes you, likes you, Eden,” he said, reading her thoughts.

“I believe I asked you to stop reading my mind, Anson,” she grumbled.

“You did,” he agreed. “And I thought Duff made it clear that I wouldn’t stop.” She rolled her eyes and sunk back onto her bed. “You’re already dressed?” he asked.

“Disappointed?” she teased. “I believe that last time you raided my room, I was half-naked and asleep.” Anson bobbed his eyebrows at her and she giggled.

“I remember,” he breathed. “It was the highlight of my day.” Eden wasn’t sure if he was flirting with her or just being playful. It was hard to tell with Anson. He wasn’t as easy to get a read on as Duff was.

He sat down next to her on her bed, “Flirting,” Anson breathed. “Definitely flirting—although if you’re that unsure of what I’m doing, I must be doing a piss poor job of it.”

“No,” she whispered. “I just don’t have very much experience with guys flirting with me,” she admitted. “You just took me by surprise, that’s all. Not many people can surprise me, Anson.”

“Have you ever had a boyfriend before?” Anson asked. She wanted to tell him that it wasn’t any of his business if she had a boyfriend before or not, but that would be pointless since he could read her mind.

“One,” she admitted. “He was my boyfriend for the last year of high school. I wouldn’t exactly call him my ‘boyfriend’ though. He was more like a boy I went to dances with and such. We didn’t go out a whole lot together. He was—well, let's just say he was afraid of my father. Most boys in high school were afraid of my father, and I’m worried that trend will continue here since everyone seems to know who I am.”

“I’m sure with the last name Graystone that you’ll get lots of attention around here,” he said, looking around her dorm room.

“Don’t be so sure,” she said. “You’re a legacy, so I’m sure you know what I’m talking