Protected (Book 1 in the Ariya Adams trilogy) Read Free

him to come up this weekend. Is that okay? I know it’s our first weekend back, but I would like him to meet everyone, and since things are relaxed with no classes, I figured it was the best time.” I knew he must be pretty serious if Caroline was inviting him up already. It meant she wanted to show him off a bit. Good for her; Caroline deserved it. She’d been single almost as long as I had, and while neither of us needed men in our lives to be happy, it was nice to think she had found someone. Plus, for her to be that attached to a guy was a first, at least that I had seen.
    “What do you mean is that okay? I can’t wait to meet him!” A giggle escaped me as my own reaction infused with her excitement.
    “ And there’s something else, too.” She was grinning from ear to ear. My eyebrows shot up expectantly. “He’s thinking about transferring and I wanted him to get a feel for the place once students were back, you know? And meet the people he’d be seeing the most. Since everyone will be together, it just kind of made sense.”
    “A senior who wants to transfer? Whoa! You really reeled him in, huh?” I hollered. “This must be serious, Care.” I was excited for her. She was giddy for once and I loved it. Giddiness wasn’t an emotion Caroline displayed much.
    “Good. The long distance thing is going to be hard and if he likes it here , it’ll be so much easier.” I could tell she was glad at my reaction.
    “When is he going to be here?” I glanced over at the clock.
    “He’ll be here in an hour.” I wasn’t s urprised and laughed to myself.
    She may be Miss Independent , but like I said, when Caroline wanted something, she made it happen.
    “Well , I suggest we get ready now so we can head over to Ashley’s early once Nick gets here. You can show off a bit yourself. I’m sure her new guy has nothing on Nick.”

Chapter 2
    An hour later, Caroline introduced me to Nick. He was handsome, tall with a ripped, muscular frame, and had blond shaggy hair. We poured ourselves a drink and sat down in the living room to talk for a bit before getting dressed for the evening and heading to Ashley’s.
    Nick was not shy and had us all chatting away in easy conversation almost immediately. I could instantly see that he was exactly what Caroline looks for in her guys. The few crushes she admitted to having had all been the jock-type, but with intelligence. It was a nearly impossible combination to find. However, Nick seemed exceptionally bright when he spoke. I learned he played football at the college he was currently attending. He was the quarterback at a school further south, near Caroline’s hometown in Kansas. I hadn’t heard of his school before and barely remembered the name after he said it.
    His interest in transferring was already surprising enough when Caroline first informed me that he was in his last year, but learning that he was also the starting quarterback made this entire thing mind-boggling. M aybe Caroline really had cast a spell on him.
    We bonded over football for a bit and I filled him in on how hockey was the hot ticket here. He sounded like he really had his stuff together, plus he spent the summer employed full-time, which led me to believe he was hard-working, even in his free time. I know that is something Caroline values. Glancing over at Caroline every few minutes made me happy. She was glowing the whole time he was talking. That girl is a goner, I thought to myself.
    Caroline excused the two of us so we could get ready , telling Nick to make himself at home. She pulled me into her room, and shut the door.
    “So?” s he questioned anxiously.
    “Two thumbs up.” Sticking my thumbs up to demonstrate caused the already large smile on her face to grow even more. She pranced to the closet and flung a silver sequin top and a pair of skinny jeans at me.
    “You know how I feel about sequins .” I looked at her disgustedly.
    “That’s what you’re wearing. It’ll look amazing ,