The Roommate Read Free Page A

boss came in for coffee and raised a brow.   “Not that I’m not glad to see you, Jess, but why are you here?”
    “Good traffic.”
    “Uh-huh. Traffic so good you had enough time for Starbucks and still got here early?”
    “Uh, yup.”
    “Right. Well, whatever’s up with you, don’t let it affect your work. Remember our motto.”
    “’Your personal life is left at the door.’ I know, Lydia. I’m fine, I swear. I just got an early start this morning.”
    My boss sipped her coffee, not buying my bullshit, but left without pushing further.
    We were friendly enough, and the floor was filled with a good bunch of people, but Lydia was still my boss.   We didn’t hang out or share.   I texted Ros again.   Call me, dammit!
    Luckily—for distraction’s sake—today was swamped with work by lunch and I forgot to think about Patrick until I was on my way home.   Ros was still MIA, so unless by some miracle he’d found another place to stay, we were still stuck together.   I got to my door and heard the vacuum cleaner running.
    “Did you get that bored?” I asked.
    He turned the machine off.   “What?”
    “Dude, you don’t have to clean my apartment.”
    “There were crumbs on the rug. And I didn’t know what else to do.”   He unplugged the vacuum and started winding the cord.   “I haven’t had this much free time in I don’t know when and—”
    “It’s driving you a little nuts.”
    “Sorry. Have I overstepped?”
    The constant politeness was so damn cute.   “Nah. Probably needed done.”   I opened the fridge to put my lunch leftovers away and found it full.   “You shopped?”
    “The least I could do.”
    “Ricky, you’re too nice.”   I’d decided to call him his old nickname to remind myself he was my friend’s younger brother and nothing more.
    “So I’ve been told.”
    “You don’t have to hang around here, you know. Learn the city or meet people or whatever. You don’t have to do errands for me just because you’re sleeping on my sofa.”
    He glanced away.   “I’ve made you uncomfortable.”
    “No! I just meant—”
    “You want your space.”
    “No…I’m trying to be a good host and tell you I don’t need anything from you in exchange for a couple days of a roof over your head. Especially when your sister was supposed to be here for you.”
    “Did you hear from her?”
    “Did you?”
    “I got a text that she expects to be back tomorrow.”
    I sighed.   “More than I got.”
    “Well, with any luck, Rosalind’s apartment will be ready and I’ll be out of your hair tomorrow evening.”   He wheeled the vacuum into the closet.
      “Hey.”   I touched his arm.   “You’re welcome here. Probably the most polite houseguest I’ve ever heard of. And I’m glad to get to know you again after so many years.”
    “Thanks.”   He gave me a real smile this time and wow .   That grin was devastating.   “Jess?”
    “Hmm?”
    “Can you let me out of the closet?”
    “Oh! Sure, yeah.”   I backed up so he could close the door.   Then snickered to cover my brain fart.   “’Out of the closet.’”   Ha!
    He quirked a brow.
    “Oh, God. If you’re gay I just really made an ass of myself. I’m sorry—”
    “I’m not gay.”   Dimples appeared in his cheeks, as he was obviously trying not to laugh at me.
    “Oh good! I mean—I’m shutting up now.”   Where were my slippers, and this jacket was too warm for indoors…
    Patrick let me off the hook, going to the refrigerator while I made a beeline for my bedroom.   After hanging up my jacket and putting my shoes in the closet, I shut the door so I could change into more comfortable clothes.   A big old hoodie and my favorite jeans.
    He was chopping vegetables.   I had a cutting board?   “ Whatcha doing?”
    “Making dinner.”   He cooks, too?   Mrs. Clark had made the perfect son.
    “You don’t have to—”
    “Stop telling me what I can and cannot do, Jess.”   Teasing