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"Feel like you're back at Berkeley?" she asked, a playful smile on her lips.
"Honestly, it's a bit like stepping into a parallel universe," I chuckled. "Berkeley, it's all about redwoods and artsy murals while here it's open plains and cowboy boots. But the essence? It's uncanny how similar it is."
The doors of the dorm building swung open; the scent of cleaning products mingled with the ghost of thousands of instant noodle packets was like a time machine, whisking me back to my own university days.
Berkeley had been a whirlwind of late-night study sessions, impromptu football games, and passionate debates that lasted till dawn. Back then, I was just another face in the crowd, another hopeful spirit with dreams too large for my own good.
I remembered my roommate Clint, always buried in his books, his glasses sliding down his nose as he furiously scribbled notes. I shook my head, a wry smile on my face. That was until I moved into the fraternity house with the other guys that would later become my colleagues, leaving Clint to rent an apartment. He wasn't the frat boy type. The irony wasn't lost on me.
Here I was, years later, back in a dorm, this time not as a student but as a protector, friend, and lover. The roles had reversed, but the sense of camaraderie, the shared laughter, and the undercurrent of tension as assignments piled up and the chicks came and went was all too familiar.
I heard laughing, and two figures emerged. I figured it was Jenna, Courtney’s roommate, and Dylan, who I had met at Mitch and Amy's wedding, sprinting toward us.
"Dylan?" I exclaimed, stepping forward to shake his hand. "When did you enroll at the university?"
Dylan flashed a sheepish grin and turned to Jenna, "Giuseppe hired me to keep an eye on you girls," he admitted, offering a casual shrug.
"Wait," Jenna interjected, her eyes wide. "So, all this time, you weren't really into me? Were you just doing your job? Who's Giuseppe?"
Dylan's awkward chuckle filled the air, "Well, Jenna, yes, Giuseppe, a friend of Brad’s hired me, but I genuinely am into you. The job just... well, I’ll explain it later.”
“Sounds secretive,” Jenna whispered before bursting into laughter, and soon, we all joined in. The boisterousness of the dorm, the youthful energy, the unpredictable twists—some things truly never changed.
Soon we were watching a nature documentary with scenes of hiking and scenes of wilderness adventures. Jenna turned to me, her eyes twinkling with mischief, and said, "So Brad, Courtney tells me you were quite the outdoorsman."
Caught off guard, I shrugged, a light blush creeping up my cheeks. "I like to hike and camp, but I wouldn't call myself an outdoorsman."
"Brad here was a bit too modest," Courtney chimed in, grinning at me. "He held off a bear once when we were camping in the rain."
We all laughed again, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Knowing that Dylan, with his skills and experience, was here to help protect the girls gave me a sense of security.
After our laughter died down, I turned back to Dylan. "So, you're working for Giuseppe now?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Dylan tipped his head, his eyes taking on a stern edge. "Yeah, man, that's right. Giuseppe knew he needed someone he could count on to watch over the girls. So here's the rundown. The main gig was to shield Courtney. Jenna, being her roomie, was in the picture too. Giuseppe figured if Courtney was in some kind of danger, Jenna could be caught in the crossfire too.”
"I take it this isn't your first gig as a bodyguard?" I probed.
Dylan grinned, leaning back in his chair. "You could say that. I worked in Vegas for a while for the Russo family. Mostly as a bodyguard, sometimes as a bouncer when things got rough."
"Russo family?" I raised an eyebrow. "That's big league. You must be good at what you do."
"Dylan shrugged, downplaying his prowess. "I've trained in Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, even some tactical driving."
I let out a low whistle, "Giuseppe certainly knows how to pick 'em."
Courtney nudged me playfully. "Watch out, Brad. You've got competition." We all laughed. The dorm's boisterous atmosphere, and the youthful energy, all felt achingly familiar.
As we were in the middle of a laughter-filled story about Jenna's first riding lesson, Dylan's phone rang, cutting through the jovial atmosphere. He glanced at the screen, and his face turned serious. "It's Giuseppe," he announced, causing the room to fall silent.
He answered the call, putting it on speaker so we could all hear. "Hey, Giuseppe," he greeted, trying to keep his voice casual.
"Dylan," Giuseppe's deep voice filled the room. "How's everything going? Brad and Courtney still at the ranch?"
Dylan glanced at us, his eyes wide. "Uh... Can I call you back in a few minutes, Giuseppe?"
There was a pause. "Sure, Dylan. Talk soon," Giuseppe said, and the call ended.
We all looked at each other. "We can't tell him we're here," Courtney said, her voice resolute. "Not until we know more."
