Outcast (Wiltshire University Book 1)

Chapter 11

Sunlight streamed through the bank of windows. I groaned, pulling the blanket up over my head as I rolled over. Snuggling further into the covers I inhaled the masculine scent of the bedding. Wait. Why do my sheets smell like boy? Slowly pulling the blankets down so my nose peeked out, I cracked open one eye, quickly squeezing it shut. This is not my dorm room. I'm in someone else's bed.

I frantically tried to force the cobwebs out of my sleep-addled mind. How did I end up in a guy's bed? I went to class, my room was empty, I bumped into preppy Superman, who was really helpful -- no wait, Tanner, not preppy Superman. Tanner and I got caught in the rain and came back to his place to wait for his friends. We ate soup, I made a cringe-worthy joke about date rape, then we sat on the couch to watch TV while we waited. Tanner put on a baseball game. The last thing I remember is the announcers babbling on about some unwritten rule. So how did I end up in here?

Carefully peering out from under my eyelashes I inched the covers down again. The bed beside me was empty and there was a pile of books on the nightstand. Ok, so this is Tanner's room. That answers one question. I held my breath, listening for the sounds of another person. Hearing nothing, I rolled over. Empty. I'm smack dab in the middle of the king-sized bed, and it looks like I was the only person who slept in here last night. Huh. Stripping back the covers I realized I was still dressed head to toe in the clothes Tanner loaned me last night. Other than feeling sore from carrying all that stuff up and down the bell tower twice and still being exhausted I felt fine.

Cautiously I eased off the bed, tiptoeing into the bathroom. Using the facilities before taking some time to splash some water on my face I studied myself in the mirror. My hair was raging all over the place, and I had pillow marks on my face. Attractive. A brush would be amazing right now. With a sigh I flipped my head upside down, doing my best to finger comb through the snarl of tangles.

When the worst of it was under control, I gathered my locks into a ponytail, groping for the hair tie I always kept on my wrist confused to find it missing. Groaning I remembered tossing both bands yesterday; the first one was so stretched out it was refusing to hold my hair, the backup snapped while I was wrapping it around my hair. Well, at least these tangles can be good for something. Righting myself I twisted my hair into a low bun, tying the hair through itself. The tangles would provide enough hold to keep everything at bay so long as I didn't do anything too strenuous.

Easing open the door I heard the sounds of clanking dishes coming from the kitchen. With one last deep breath, I padded down the hall noticing a pillow and blanket neatly folded on the couch. I guess that explains where Tanner slept. Venturing further into the open space I stopped dead when a half-naked auburn Alexander Skarsgardesque guy turned around in the kitchen.

"Sleeping beauty awakes! Havae seat. Tanner popped out ta the shops, he'll be back any moment," the redhead instructed in an accent I couldn't quite place; it was almost British yet not British at all.

Flying monkey balls this guy was hot! I hovered near the edge of the couch pretending to be enthralled by something outside the windows. It was either that or risk getting caught openly staring at this ginger Vampire Eric post-Pam's make-over. At least this way I could watch his reflection in the glass. Ok so he wasn't the spitting image of the Swedish actor, but there was something very European about him, and that was a descriptor I never thought I'd use. I bit my lip watching the way his muscles flexed as he shifted things around in the kitchen.

"Prince Charming returns," the half-naked stranger chuckled from the kitchen, jerking me from my covert leering as Tanner's reflection appeared in the glass.

"Shut up and put a shirt on; I don't want Cali walking out to find you half naked?"

"A dinnae hear any complaint; that right love?" Braxton winked at me, my face immediately burning; I knew I was flaming red now. Tanner's head whipped in my direction, spotting me for the first time. I awkwardly wiggled my fingers hello. I should have stayed hidden under the covers.