My Summer Roommate Read Free Page A

him out into the hall.
    “I can drive mo st of this stuff in my car. You can take one or two boxes. You won’t be able to put much more in your Chevy,” I say to Harper.
    He grabs the first box and carries it out to the curb where I wait by the open trunk of my car. After twenty minutes, all the boxes are loaded, most of the heavy lifting done by Harper.
    “God, isn’t it nice, w atching all that muscle at work?” I tease, knowing that Harper is within earshot.
    Isabelle grins and agrees. Harper just sends us an annoyed glance as he pushes the last box onto his back seat and closes the door.
    H e gets into his car and turns the engine on. Isabelle turns to join him, but I stop her.
    “You know, you’re lucky,” I say. I feel a bit embarrassed saying it, but I want to make sure she knows it.
    Isabelle sighs dreamily. “I know. He’s unreal. Even his flaws are great.”
    “That’s cause you’re in love with him, silly.”
    Izzy shrugs. “So?”
    “So don’t fall out of love.”
    Izzy nudges me with her elbow and smiles.
    “I mean it,” I say, and walk to my car to lead the way to Chris’s apartment.
    ****
     
    Although I’ve been here before when I came to see the place and talk through the details with Chris, I still feel awkward walking up to his apartment. It’s like I’m barging in uninvited. Like this isn’t my place to be.
    “Hey,” Chris says as he opens the door. “You’re here.” His smile is warm. He’s tall and has an athlete’s body. With blond hair and light-colored eyes he looks more like a Cali surfer, not a snowboarder. His surf shorts and sleeveless t-shirt reinforce that impression.
    “Hey. This is Izzy, and Harper,” I say, ignoring the discomfort I feel. “They’re helping me move.”
    Chris moves aside for the three of us to enter. “Drinks?” he asks, already moving towards the fridge. The room is hot, and he says, “Sorry, no AC.”
    “Beer?” Harper asks from the window where he i s checking out the view.
    “Sure.” Chris hands him a bottle and waits for us girls to decide between beer and soda.
    He steps up to me, and I get the feeling that he’s trying to reassure me. Just the thought of it disperses half of my anxiety. I haven’t been wrong about him. He is truly a nice guy.
    “You remember Izzy? From History?” I say to breach the silence.
    “Huh? Yeah, I think so. I wasn’t paying much attention in History,” Chris says sheepishly, turning to Iz.
    “Who was?” I roll my eyes.
    “I remember you r end of year exhibition, though,” Chris says to Isabelle. “Nice work.”
    Even Harper turns around at his words. I beam with relief. Now Izzy won’t be able to dis him any longer.
    But Chris seems embarrassed by all the attention his words attracted. “Not that I’m an expert or anything. I just thought your paintings were cool.”
    “Thank you,” Izzy says, blushing.
    “They are,” Harper agrees , and Iz sends him a tender gaze.
    “I hear you’re a slopestyle snowboarder?” Harper says to Chris. Shredder , I correct in my mind, and then hide the smile that’s trying to curve my lips. I remember Chris explaining the lingo to me last time I was here. A lot of it rubbed off on me already, it seems.
    “Was. I injured my right knee last year and had to give up competitive snowboarding.”
    “ That sucks. Were you any good?”             
    Isabelle nudges Harper at his directness, but he ignores her.             
    “I placed third at the X-Games two years ago.”
    Harper nods appreciatively.             
    Chris gestures to me to join him on the couch and I walk over tentatively. The place is too masculine for my taste and it will take a while for me to get used to it, no matter how welcoming Chris is. My entire life I’ve shared a home with my mom. There was never any male presence in our house.
    “Was it hard, giving it up?” I ask as I sit down. Last time when he mentioned it, I was too much of a