The Roommate Read Free Page B

me.  
    Nice.   I wanted to see him loosen up.   “What are you making?”
    He pointed at the sofa with the knife.   “Relax. Do whatever you normally do on Wednesday nights.”   And bossy.   I liked it.
    “Yes, sir,” I replied with a salute.
    His eyes dropped down to his task, but there was a small grin on his lips.  
    Wednesdays were TV nights.   Well, most of my nights were TV nights if Ros was out of town.   I’m not a social butterfly.   I did like to go out, but only with friends, and I preferred quality over quantity with those.   Anyway, going out with her was fun, but I could be just as content at home, too.
    “So, what did you do back home?”
    “I already told you.”
    “No, Ricky, for fun. It couldn’t have been all work and school.”
    More chopped veggies went into a pot.   I vaguely remembered receiving a pots and pans set from my mom when I first got my own place.   He probably found them with the box still sealed.   My culinary skills were limited to the microwave.   Who wanted to cook for one?
    “Mostly. If you recall, I wasn’t popular in school. College was easier, but…”
    “I’m sorry. I’m being nosy. You don’t have to tell me anything.”
    “It’s alright. It…took a while to settle in, that’s all.”
    “Did you live in a dorm?”
    He nodded.   “Student housing all four years. Went to the school rated best for my field, and that wasn’t at home, so. The nice thing about having a major is everyone in those classes is like-minded.”
    “You found your tribe.”
    A small chuckle.   “Yes.”
    “When did the growth spurt happen?”   Ros never mentioned it, nor brought recent photos back from holidays.
    “I was nearly twenty-one. Late bloomers aren’t uncommon in our family, but I was skeptical. Then spent a summer outgrowing all my clothes.”
    “Expensive.”
    “Yeah.”
    “I bet your friends barely recognized you.”
    Another chuckle.   God, his laugh was sexy.   “Some. I suppose it helped I had the same style, same backpack. Still me.”
    “I’d hope so, or I let a stranger in my apartment.”
    His cheeks darkened a little.   Still shy enough to blush.   Adorable.   Was he not used to a woman teasing him?
    “I’m sure the young ladies didn’t mind the new you.”
    “I wasn’t interested.”
    My eyes widened at that.   “Why not?”
    “Would you be interested in someone so shallow that they don’t know you exist until you look a certain way?”
    “When you put it that way, no. So, you didn’t date?”
    “Some. Honestly, my goals were my focus, and that didn’t leave much time for a social life. I finished classes a semester early so I could go straight into my Master’s and study for the certification courses.”
    Made sense.   “I’ve been career-minded, too. Always figured there was time for the other stuff after I was established.”   But I still got lonely.   Still envied the sweetness between couples obviously in love.
    That was where Ros and I differed.   She had zero interest in settling down.   Ever.   Not to say she avoided men—quite the opposite—but as soon as a guy she saw casually wanted to make it not-so-casual, she was out the door.   Always said it would cramp her style.  
    “The right guy would be lucky to have you.”
    “Aww, you’re so sweet.”
    He eye-rolled.   “Trying to pay you a compliment, Jess.”
    I knew.   I just didn’t want to take it to heart.   If I didn’t keep this light and casual, I’d start liking him too much.
    “You’re just grateful for my sofa.”   Which I lay down on, resting my head on the arm so I was no longer looking at him being domestic and cute in my kitchen.   “That smells really good.”
    “It presents well. Just some sauce for pasta.”
    “Dude, I’ve always had it from a jar, so I’m easily impressed. Did your mom teach you to cook?”
    “Some. She didn’t want me to leave home ‘completely unable to take care of myself like those spoiled