Today had been the best day of Haley’s life, and it was about to get better. Since bumping into Scott that morning, Haley couldn’t stop smiling. They’d sat next to each other on both flights and had spent the whole journey talking. And Haley had discovered Scott wasn’t just a pretty face. He was the most amazing guy she’d ever met, and she could see herself falling in love with him in the blink of an eye.
“Are you sure you’re okay with swapping rooms?” Alice asked.
They were chatting on the bed in their room.
“Yeah.” Haley beamed at her over-concerned friend. “More than okay.”
“Isn’t it a bit… mmm… quick?”
“Alice, we’re going to sleep in the same room.” Haley rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t mean we have to have sex.”
Alice put her hands forward in a defensive gesture. “I’m just saying that if you’re not sure, or if you change your mind at any point, you don’t have to switch with Peter.” She dropped her arms. “I can see him any other night.”
Peter and Scott were sharing a room and Peter, playing matchmaker, had asked for a roommate swap. Both Haley and Scott had said yes. Haley was waiting with Alice for the guys to come back from their mandatory team dinner.
“Alice, I’m sure,” Haley insisted. “I haven’t been this excited about a guy in forever.”
“I’m just saying you can take it slow if you want to.”
“And I already told you I don’t plan to sleep sleep with Scott,” Haley said. “Just sleep in the same room.”
Alice looked at her skeptically.
Haley smiled wickedly. “I’m not saying it’s a total hands-off situation. I sure hope there will be some kissing involved.”
“Okay,” Alice conceded. “Because Peter will be here soon.”
Haley giggled. “Hey,” she said. “You know what room they’re in?”
“No. Peter’s coming here, so I didn’t ask,” Alice said. “Didn’t Scott tell you?”
“Yeah. But you know me, I forgot.” Haley leaned to one side of the bed to grab the room’s phone and dialed nine.
The line connected after two rings.
“Reception, how may I assist you?”
“Hello,” Haley said. “Could you please tell me what room Scott Williams is in? I’m here with the Harvard Crimson.”
“Mr. Williams is in room 226,” the efficient voice replied. “Anything else I can do for you tonight?”
“No thanks, that’ll be all.” Haley hung up.
As if on cue, they heard someone knock on their door.
“This must be your prince charming,” Haley said, getting up to open the door.
She let Peter in, grabbed her overnight duffel bag from the floor, and left Alice and Peter alone.
Haley walked down the hall, staring at the doors. She was in room 230, so room 226 wasn’t far. Haley reached it and stared, undecided. She’d been cocky with Alice, but truthfully she was super nervous. She liked Scott so much, and she was afraid he didn’t like her back with the same enthusiasm. He’d been wonderful all day, but what if he’d said yes to the room swap only to do Peter a solid? Well, it was too late to change her mind now.
Haley knocked.
A tall guy—presumably another basketball player—came to open the door. He was shirtless with only a pair of fleece pants on. His dark hair was wet as if he’d just come out of the shower. Piercing blue eyes dilated in surprise at finding Haley on his doorstep. Yet, quickly, his gaze shifted in a way that could be described only as… predatory.
Haley was struck silent.
“Hello, again,” the guy said.
Again? Had he noticed her on the plane?
“What can I do for you?” His tone and lopsided smirk were suggestive.
“Oh, I’m s-sorry,” Haley stammered. “I asked the reception for Scott Williams’s room and they sent me here.”
“Ah, I see.” Blue eyes flashed. “They had the sense to direct you to the better Williams brother.”
“You-you’re Scott’s b-brother?”
Why was she stuttering? This guy made her nervous.
He nodded. “David.”
Haley was tempted to turn and run. “D-do you know which room Scott’s staying in?”
“Were you on the plane with us today?” David asked, ignoring her question.
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t catch your name.”
“Haley.”
David casually leaned against the threshold, arms crossed on his bare chest. “So who are you? His girlfriend?”
“No, we met today.”
David raised both eyebrows.
“I mean.” Haley tried to think how she could make him understand the situation. “I’m here with my best friend. She’s dating Peter, your captain. They wanted to share a room, so we swapped. I’m supposed to be bunking with Scott.”
The smirk was back on David’s face. “Interesting.”
“Nothing is going on.” Haley didn’t know why she felt the need to explain herself to this guy. “I’m just going to sleep in Scott’s room, not sleep with Scott.”
“Well,” David said, gently grabbing her hand and locking eyes with her. “If you’re ever interested in doing something more exciting than sleeping…” He suddenly pulled her in closer. “You know where to find me.”
“David,” Scott’s voice came from behind her. “Let her go.”
Haley tried to free herself, but David held her firmly against his chest.
“And why would I do that?” David asked.
“Can’t you see you’re scaring her? I won’t just stand here and let you intimidate her.”
David’s jaw tensed. “I don’t recall needing your permission to do anything.”
Haley was still struggling to push him away from her, but he was not giving an inch.
“David, back off,” Scott ordered between gritted teeth.
“Or what?” David asked. He made some sort of weird move and spun Haley around so that now she had her back pressed against him as he hugged her from behind. David bent his head ever so slightly. As he kept taunting Scott, his lips almost brushed against Haley’s neck. “What are you going to do, little brother?”
Scott was breathing hard. “Leave. Her. Alone,” he repeated, closing his hands into tight fists.
“She’s all yours,” David said.
He pushed Haley toward Scott, who grabbed her shoulders to steady her.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Haley lied. She wasn’t digging the family drama one bit.
Scott let her go and, before she had a chance to realize what he was doing, he threw himself at his brother. Fury twisted his handsome face in an unrecognizable mask.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Scott screamed, grabbing David by the throat and nailing him against the wall.
David threw his brother back with equal force, and the two started beating the hell out of each other. They barreled around the room, knocking over furniture as they careened toward the back of the room. They ended up crashing against the French windows with a loud bang.
Haley was crying. She was yelling at them to stop, but she was too scared to go anywhere near them. So she looked on as they kept fighting. At one point, the curtains collapsed, covering their struggling bodies so only a shaking blob of fabric was visible.
Peter came into the room, pausing briefly next to Haley. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Relief washed over her. “I’m fine. Please, just make them stop.”
“I’m on it.” Peter darted forward and started pulling at the curtains entangled around both brothers’ limbs.
“Haley, I’m here,” Alice said.
Haley turned around and launched herself at her best friend, hugging her tight.
“What happened?” Alice asked.
Haley tried to reply, but instead of words, she started sobbing so hard against Alice’s shoulder she no longer could talk.