The Billionaire Boys Club (Billionaire Romance Series Book 1) (12 page)

“I have a bracelet that might go well with it,” Jessica said. “It’s in my room.”
 

“Perfect!” Ashley said happily. “I’ll go change.” She headed back to the dressing room.
 

“$500 on that bonehead,” Jessica said.
 

“A small investment if she lands him,” Kelsey mused.
 

“So how much money does Dylan have?” Jessica asked.
 

Kelsey laughed. “You are unstoppable, Jessica.”
 

“If everyone else is lining up for billionaires, I want one too. Anyway, I need a backup plan for when I fail Civ Pro.”

“It’s graded on the curve. If none of us understands what’s going on, we have as much of a chance for an ‘A’ as anyone.”

“Yeah, that’s super comforting Kels,” Jessica quipped as Ashley left the dressing room. Ashley paid for the dress and they left the store.
 

“Back to campus?” Ashley asked, swinging her bag.
 

“Let’s hit the bookstore first,” Jessica said.
 

The three girls walked into the bookstore. Kelsey noticed that they weren’t the only students taking advantage of the afternoon. Tyler and Zachary were standing in the travel section, laughing. Kelsey hadn’t known that Tyler Olsen knew how to laugh. She turned and walked over to the magazines, where Jess and Ashley were skimming
Vogue.
 

“I see some of Matthew’s friends are here,” Ashley noted. “You know that the one with brown hair is the son of a billionaire.”

“I’ve heard,” Kelsey said.
 

“Tyler Olsen is already Kelsey’s nemesis,” Jessica said, smiling.

“Why? He seems really nice,” Ashley commented.

Kelsey shrugged. “I don’t know him.”
 

“You will, since he works out next to you every morning,” Jessica said.
 

“I don’t think he talks to commoners,” Kelsey replied.

“He’s really managed to irritate you,” Jessica commented. Kelsey thought about this. He had, but she hadn’t figured out why. Lots of the students were overly confident, and it was possible that Tyler was shy and that’s why he didn’t talk to her. But she hadn’t appreciated being called princess.

On Friday, Kelsey went back to the Athletic Center. And as he had for the past two days she had been there, Tyler walked in about five minutes later than she did. As was becoming her habit, she ignored him. Kelsey ran, then moved over to the weights. A few moments into her routine, she heard Tyler.
 

“You’re doing it wrong,” he said. Kelsey turned around.
 

“What?” she said, removing her earbuds.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Tyler repeated. “Here,” he said, removing one of the weights from Kelsey’s hand. He extended his arm, holding the weight. “If you bend your elbow, you’re only going to hurt yourself. See how my arm is straight?”

Kelsey frowned, but watched him as he demonstrated again.

“Try it,” he said, giving her the weight back. Kelsey held the weight in her hand and this time, she straightened her arm as she lifted the weight. Tyler grabbed her arm gently.

“Don’t lock your elbow. Just keep it soft.”

“You said to straighten it,” Kelsey protested. Tyler smiled.
 

“Straighten, not lock. Try again,” he said. Kelsey lifted the weight one more time, this time following Tyler’s instructions perfectly.

“Good. Now you’ll stay safe,” he turned back to his own weights.
 

“Thanks,” Kelsey called after him.
 

“My pleasure,” Tyler replied.
 

After returning to the dorm and showering, Kelsey joined Jessica and Dylan for a full-day Civ Pro study session in the library.
 

“I have no idea what’s going on,” Dylan sighed.
 

“I have a feeling that this has got to be easier than Professor Dudley is letting on. There’s a million lawyers in this country and everyone of them has to understand how to file a lawsuit,” Kelsey noted.
 

“Okay, let’s start from the basics. How do you start a lawsuit?” Jessica said as she pulled out some printed papers.

“What is that?” Dylan asked, taking one of the pages from her.
 

“A Civ Pro outline. I found it on the internet.”
 

“It’s come to that. We have to learn Civ Pro from Wikipedia,” Dylan sighed.

“It’s clearer than Professor Dudley,” Jessica commented.
 

“That is so sad,” Dylan said. “For this I’m paying sixty thousand a year.”

“Worth every penny,” Jessica retorted.
 

Dylan handed the page back to Jessica. “Keep going,” he said.
 

“OK, first you start with the pleading,” Jessica said, reading.

“Wait, that can’t be right. You have to figure out which court to sue in,” Kelsey chimed in.
 

“Yeah, jurisdiction comes first,” Dylan said. “I see we’re already hitting the limits of free information.”
 

“Hang on,” Jessica said. “It’s not the outline. I was reading out of sequence. First, you select the jurisdiction.”
 

“Don’t you have to decide whether it’s federal or state court?” Kelsey asked.
 

“I skipped that sentence.”
 

“Skip nothing, Jess. Otherwise I’m going to stay lost,” Dylan said.
 

Kelsey patted his hand. “It’s only the first week of classes.”
 

“Which means it’s eleven weeks until exams,” Dylan replied.
 

“Thanks for the reminder,” Jessica said, with sarcasm.

“It’s true. Whether we want it to be or not,” Dylan said.

“We have the same amount of time as everyone else,” Kelsey said soothingly. “We’ll figure this out.”
 

“I hope so,” Dylan said gloomily.

Saturday afternoon, Jessica and Kelsey got roped into helping Ashley prepare for her date with Matthew Hudson. Ashley stood in front of her mirror fluffing her freshly coiffed hair and smoothing her black-and-white dress. She took a picture of herself and put it on Instagram.
 

“What do you think Matthew likes to discuss?”

“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t say it,” Kelsey whispered to Jessica.

“What do gorillas discuss?” Jessica whispered back.
 

“Sports!” Jessica said loudly to Ashley. “Guys love sports.”
“True,” Ashley replied. She pouted in the mirror. “I hope he likes me.”
 

“If he doesn’t he’s an idiot,” Jessica said.
 

“I mean, he is anyway,” she whispered to Kelsey.

Kelsey giggled. “Matthew likes to talk. Just let him take the lead,” she added.
 

Ashley smiled at herself in the mirror.
 

“Perfect advice, Kelsey.” She glanced at her smartphone. “Oh, I’ve got to go downstairs!”
 

“Are you fashionably late?” Jessica asked, standing and picking up her casebook.
 

“Of course. Wish me luck tonight,” Ashley said, picking up her coat.
 

“Good luck,” Jessica and Kelsey said. The girls left the room, and Ashley walked down the hall to the stairs. Jessica and Kelsey let themselves into their room. Jessica jumped on her bed and Kelsey sat in her chair.
 

“Kill me if I fall for someone like that,” Jessica said. Kelsey giggled.
 

“I think you’re safe,” Kelsey replied.
 

“Why him? There’s three decent ones out of the Billionaire Boys Club.”

“Hmm,” Kelsey replied.
 

“And I’m not even considering the rest of the class. I’m sure there are some jerks in the bunch, but at least 50% should be decent.”

“I think Ashley must have a type.”

“Stupid?” Jessica asked.

“I was thinking brawny. He’s built like a football player,” Kelsey said.
 

“What’s your type, Kels?” Jessica said.

“No idea. How about you?”

“Single?” Jessica grinned.

“No. Matthew is single.”

“Single and not stupid,” Jessica replied.

“There you go,” Kelsey said.
 

“And Dylan’s type?” Jessica asked.

“I knew we were going there.”
 

“C’mon, Kels. Give me a clue. Straight hair? Underweight? I can handle the truth.”
 

Kelsey thought for a moment. “I don’t think Dylan has a type. He dated a Spanish exchange student for a few months, and a dance major from Philadelphia for a couple. Blonds, brunettes, thin, fat. I don’t think that’s how he decides. I think he’s looking for something else.”
 

“That indescribable something,” Jessica said.

“Exactly,” Kelsey replied.
 

“Well, that’s no help at all,” Jessica pouted.
 

“Sorry,” Kelsey replied.
 

“How did you meet him?”
 

“He was in my dorm, then we ended up in the same freshman English class together.”
 

“And you never….”

“No, of course not,” Kelsey said dismissively.

“Interesting,” Jessica said thoughtfully. “Why is he freaking out about exams already?”

“I don’t know. Dylan seems more stressed out than usual.”

“Maybe it’s because he has Matthew as a roommate?”

“Dylan gets along with everyone except Ian. I’m sure Matthew is a minor problem for him.”
 

“Well, if he’s like this now, I’m really worried about exam time.”
 

Kelsey shook her head. “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

“I hope so.” Jessica was thoughtful for a moment. “The odds of graduating Darrow really suck though.”
 

“It’s about 65% right?” Kelsey said.
 

“That seems optimistic.”
 

“Well, people have already dropped out. Haven’t you noticed in your small group?”

“Yeah. I have,” Jessica said.
 

“So we just have to hang on,” Kelsey said positively.
 

“Tell you what. If you don’t drop out, I won’t,” Jessica said.
 

“I won’t. They’ll have to throw me out,” Kelsey said. “I’m not going quietly.”
 

“That’s the spirit!” Jessica said brightly. “Now we just have to cheer up Dylan so he can ask me out.”

“Why don’t you just ask him?” Kelsey said.
 

“That’s not romantic at all,” Jessica replied.
 

“Are you looking for romance or a rich husband?” Kelsey said.
 

Jessica laughed. “I told you. It depends on whether I pass Civ Pro or not.”

On Sunday, Ashley described her date with Matthew in what Jessica called “exhausting detail.”

Monday and Tuesday, Kelsey felt like she was getting into a routine of working out, meals and general confusion in class.

Wednesday morning, Tyler and Kelsey were in the gym, working out in their usual silence. Suddenly, Ryan walked in.
 

“So this is the reason you’re here every morning,” Ryan said brightly to Tyler.
 

Tyler glanced at him from his bench. “To work out?” he replied.

“Not what you’re doing, who you’re doing it with. Good morning, Kelsey,” Ryan said, smiling at her. Kelsey smiled back. Ryan walked over to her as Tyler went back to concentrating on his weights.
 

“Hi, Ryan,” Kelsey said, removing her earbuds and placing them around her neck.
 

“No wonder you’re in such great shape,” Ryan said. Tyler rolled his eyes, but said nothing.

“Thanks,” Kelsey said, glaring at Tyler. “Did you come to work out?”

“I did,” Ryan said. He put his gym bag on the floor and adjusted the laces on his gym shoes which, unlike Tyler’s, looked brand new.
 

“Great,” Kelsey said brightly, looking into his bright blue eyes.
 

Ryan ran on the treadmill next to Kelsey until she stopped her machine to do her usual weight routine. Tyler finished his workout and left, while Ryan and Kelsey discussed the merits of various exercises. They finally left the gym at 8 a.m., 45 minutes later than usual for Kelsey.
 

“I’ll see you in class,” Ryan said as they walked into the dormitory.

“Bye, Ryan,” Kelsey said, walking upstairs.

“You’re late for breakfast,” Jessica said when Kelsey walked in.

“I know. I’ll hurry,” Kelsey replied, putting her book bag on the floor.
 

“Did you do a new workout?” Jessica asked, putting on lip gloss.

Kelsey shook her head no. “Ryan came to the gym today.”

“Oh. Ryan,” Jessica teased. “No complaints about that billionaire.”

“Stop it, Jess,” Kelsey grinned.
 

“Go for it, girl,” Jessica smiled.

“Maybe,” Kelsey said, heading for the shower.

Kelsey was still glowing from Ryan’s attention while she was in Civil Procedure, and therefore was less bothered than usual about the fact that Professor Dudley still made no sense to her at all. Ryan waved at her in Torts, Zachary said hi. Tyler, per usual, ignored her presence.
 

Kelsey’s glow continued to last through Friday. However, as she was studying with Jessica and Dylan in the library on Saturday afternoon, Kelsey realized that it was the end of week two, and she still wasn’t confident about what was going on in her classes.

“Do you even understand what he said on Wednesday?” Jessica asked Dylan.

“I never seem to understand anything Dudley says.” Dylan sighed.
 

“It’s got to get better right? Right?” Jessica said.

“It will,” Kelsey said hesitantly.
 

“Forget it,” Dylan said, standing up. “Let’s go off campus for dinner. I read about a place on Capitol Hill.”
 

“What do they have?” Jessica asked, putting her books into her bag.
 

“Burgers and brews,” Dylan said.