Fearless - Kate Hawthorne

Prologue

Brad

Brad was in awe.

The college was everything he’d imagined it would be, everything his dad had told him it would be. He tried to not act nervous, but he’d been paired up with a really attractive upperclassman named Carlson to mentor him, and he was intimidated. Carlson was the kind of guy his dad would have loved, the kind of guy his dad would have said put his best foot forward.

And he was so hot.

Brad had always grown up receiving more attention from his father than his four brothers did, but if he and Carlson were put in a room together, Brad wouldn’t even make his own father’s radar. It was a tough pill to swallow, but a reminder he needed to step his game up. He needed to start college in the fall and be the man his father had groomed him to be.

Brad might not have been the namesake, but he’d be the one to carry the Motel name.

“Is there anything else you wanted to see?” Carlson asked, looking over his shoulder. He wore a pastel pink cable-knit sweater with a crisp white button-up beneath it. His khakis were pressed, and his brown loafers clicked across the cobblestones of the quad as Brad followed him toward the off-campus housing.

“I think I’m good,” Brad said, looking up at the old Victorian homes that lined the street. The campus was walkable, and Brad had already started making plans for the fall. He had an idea, thanks to Carlson, what buildings his classes would be in, so he knew which of the residence halls he wanted to try for. The excitement and the promise of his future bubbled inside of him, and he jogged to catch up to Carlson.

“Awesome. You want to have dinner with me and my roommates?” Carlson drummed his fingers on the wrought-iron handrail that led up the stairs to what Brad assumed must be his residence.

“Oh, I don’t want to intrude.”

Carlson smiled and shook his head. “Not an intrusion. My roommates would love to meet you.”

“How many roommates do you have?” Brad asked, following Carlson up the stairs.

“Four.” He unlocked the door and stepped aside to let him in. “They’re not home yet. Did you want me to show you around?”

“Uhm. Sure.”

“You want a drink?” Carlson turned and held his arms open wide. “I mean, first stop on the tour. This is the kitchen.”

Brad looked around. The house was gorgeous, from the white tiled floors to the dark wood cabinets, the place looked like it had been recently renovated.

“What do you have?” he asked.

“Beer.” Carlson shrugged, a little sheepish. “Or water. I haven’t had a chance to get to the store.”

“Oh, I don’t…”

“I won’t tell.” Carlson winked at him.

Brad had drank before. Three of his four brothers were older than him, and James had just turned twenty-one, so he’d let Brad have a beer with him before going out with his friends. That was only a few weeks before, but it counted. Brad didn’t think he could handle a lot of alcohol, but he could nurse a beer through dinner.

“Sure,” he agreed. “Beer is good.”

“Cool.” Carlson reached into the fridge and produced two bottles. He popped the tops off them and walked past Brad into the living room. He sat the beers down on the coffee table and collapsed onto the couch.

“Do you have a girlfriend back home or anything?” Carlson asked, taking a drink of his beer. “Anyone you’ll be leaving behind?”

“No. I’m single.”

Brad’s focus lingered on Carlson’s mouth; on his firm bottom lip that was slightly puffier than the top one, on the way those lips came together around the rim of that beer bottle, of the barest hint of a pink tongue that darted out as he swallowed.

Brad had been staring at Carlson’s mouth all day and he couldn’t stop now.

“That’s good. You know, you really should focus on academics your first semester. It’s awesome to have good roommates you can party with, but don’t get wrapped up with that Greek life shit.”

Brad nodded, mentally making notes. He’d never wanted to join a fraternity anyway. He didn’t think he would fit in, and he didn’t really want to. It didn’t go with the idea his dad had for him anyway. He shifted his weight around, leaning over to get his beer. The move pressed on his bladder and he realized he needed to go take a piss.

“Where’s the bathroom?” he asked.

“Down the hall, first door on the right.” Carlson pointed behind them, and Brad gave