By Chance (Courtland Chronicles) Read Free Page A

right?”
    “Um, well…” She glanced around nervously, then leaned in closer. “ The Spectator ’s holding the story till next week, but it doesn’t look good. I interviewed one of the top guys in building administration, and they’ve had contractors and insurance adjustors in the past few days assessing the damage. The hall needs a complete re-pipe job, plus replacing most of the flooring and drywall. They’re estimating repairs will take most of the semester.”
    “Oh, great .” As if he didn’t already feel like bashing his head against the nearest wall. “Fuck! What am I supposed to do now?”
    “Didn’t you just say you’ve got a place to crash?”
    “Yeah, but Eric’s not happy about having me there. Guess I can’t blame him. If I came back from Christmas break to find a total stranger using my shower, I wouldn’t like it either.”
    Ally’s coffee mug froze an inch away from her mouth. “That’s how the two of you met?”
    “Would I make up something like that?” She burst out giggling, and while Nick tried to shame her with a glare, it was a losing battle. “Go ahead, laugh. You’re not the one who’ll be sleeping in a cardboard box on the street.”
    “Oh, c’mon, you don’t think this Eric guy’d kick you out? I mean, he can’t—not legally, anyway.”
    “But he could make the next few months hell for me, if he really wanted to.”
    “Well, I can ask Holly if it’s okay for you to stay with us, but you’ll have to sack out on the floor.”
    “Nah, that’s okay. I’ll just have to get through it.” He shrugged. “Eric isn’t that awful. I mean, it got kind of weird there at the beginning, but we ironed things out. He’s just not very friendly. Plus, he’s a real neat freak.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Lucky him, snagging the King of Slobs as a roomie.”
    “He’s been pretty cool with it, as long as I keep the bathroom picked up and don’t let my mess migrate over to his side of the living room. Could be a lot worse.”
    “Isn’t that what they said about the Black Plague, when it only killed half of Europe?”
    They were both through with classes for the day, so Nick invited her over to take a look at his new digs. Her gaze ping-ponged between the couch, piled high with clothes, rumpled bedding and books, and the other side of the room, with its neatly made double bed and a sturdy oak desk so spotless it looked as if no one had ever used it.
    “Oscar and Felix, together again,” she quipped with a grin.
    As if on cue, the door opened. Eric shut it behind him, glancing pointedly from Nick to Ally, then back at Nick. “I wasn’t aware we were expecting guests.”
    Nick’s stomach sank. Shit! Last thing he needed was to get Eric pissed at him again. “Eric, this is Ally Taylor,” he said, pasting on a smile. “We used to be suitemates over at Ruggles. Ally, meet Eric Courtland.”
    “Wow.” Ally reached out to grasp Eric’s proffered hand. “I had no idea Nick was hanging out in such rarefied company.”
    One corner of Eric’s mouth curved up in an ironic little half smile. Nick wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or nervous. “What exactly has he told you about me?”
    “It’s more what he didn’t mention. Not all of us are lucky enough to land billionaires for roommates.”
    Eric let out a snort. “My father’s the billionaire. I’m just a poor student.”
    “Pretty nice room for a poor student.”
    “A poor student on an allowance. Now if you’ll excuse me . . .” He slung his backpack off his shoulder and onto his desk, then peeled off his coat and wool cap, his short sandy-blond hair sticking up in spiky tufts. “I’m going to fix myself some lunch.” With that, he disappeared into the kitchen.
    Ally shot Nick a pointed glance, sidling up to him to mutter, “You weren’t kidding about the not-friendly part.”
    Nick shrugged. What else could he say? Eric was just…well, being Eric.
    “I’d better get going,” she added. “Oh,