Natalie Howard is her father's biggest disappointment, and nothing will ever change that. She's come to terms with the fact that she's useful only for her face, but with a lifetime of dreams to one day open her own gallery, and get as far away from...
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Admittedly, when I first hauled the big basket of blankets down the stairs and into the living room, I was unsure on how my roommates would react. I let them settle with me for a few more days before I had the courage to haul it out of my room, but after four days of the living room being colder than the day before, I had no choice.
It wasn't the air at all — actually, Los Angeles was going through a wonderfully hot summer, but these boys sure love the air conditioning more than they need to, and I feel like my room might be the only room in the house that isn't cranked up to the max.
At first, I wasn't sure how they'd react to the subtle changes I was making in the house, but Jack thought it was a brilliant idea to fill some of the bookshelves by the entrance to the living room from the hallway with little plants and book holders to make it look used. And when I came home from a run the day after placing the basket underneath the window, ready to make myself my usual smoothie for breakfast, I was surprised to find Noah and Kai wrapped in blankets like they were in the freaking Antarctic.
Even now, after over a week of being settled in, I walk in after my morning run, and Kai is flipping through a sports magazine, laying down, clearly having just woken up, whilst Noah is trying like hell to beat my scores.
I can't help but grin as I walk past the living room entrance and into the kitchen. The boys had all unanimously agreed that the top shelf was mine, and my shelf was to remain untouched. Most of them were threatened a second time, because after the second night, someone — Noah — had accidentally eaten all six of my nutrition bars that I usually ate before the gym.
I told them I could care less and they were more than welcome to eat my food, but there was a whole lecture, and when nobody fessed up, even though we all knew who the culprit was, it didn't happen again. I explained to Noah separately on the couch later that day that he could take what he wanted, but Greyson must have got the message across clearly, because his protein shakes had also been disappearing one by one and he had found an empty bottle next to the controller.
When I open the fridge, everything is in tact, so I grab the almond milk, strawberries, bananas, and spinach, ready toss into the blender with my almond butter as a source of protein.
The blender is just about finishing up its job when Greyson walks right on time, wearing a sleeveless tee and basketball shorts that immediately grasp my attention. He beelines for the refrigerator too, after we exchange quick greetings, and I try really hard to divert my gaze to anywhere but at him.
I look a mess compared to him — my bun can no longer be considered one, with my hair falling out in a few strands all over, and I'm sure my face is beet red from the hour I've been out running. He, however, looks absolutely put together after his morning gym session.
The only thing I have going for me right now is my favourite two-piece of cornflower blue yoga pants and a matching sports bra. It does me great justice, that much I know, but I pray to look as good as he does when I come home from a workout.
