Page 49 of These Pucking Boys

I open the first door to my right, and without stepping inside, I know it’s Jake’s room. The scent that hits me in the face is undeniable. Even though this room gets as much natural light as Lachlan’s, everything is much darker. The walls are blue-gray, and all the furniture is dark wood.

“Oh, whoever sleeps in this bedroom is a total alpha,” Katrina chimes in.

“I’m pretty sure this is Jake’s room. He’s the team captain.”

“Are there any pictures anywhere?”

I look at the dresser, then the desk near the window, and see no photo frames. “No. But it smells like him.”

“What does he smell like?”

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “Like a dark room and wicked promises.”

“Hmm... that sounds lovely.”

I shake my head, trying to dispel the sudden lust haze that wrapped around me. I’m glad I’m on a call with Katrina, or I might do a little self-care on Jake’s bed. Needing to clear my head, I quickly walk out and continue to the last door in the hallway.

“This must be Ryan’s bedroom.” I try the knob, but the door is locked.

“Did he lock it?” Katrina asks.

“Yeah.”

I’m unsure why, but I’m disappointed Ryan locked his bedroom door. Did he think I’d steal from him?

“That’s a little sus, isn’t it?”

“He must have trust issues. It’s no big deal. Iama stranger.” I pivot and return to the living room. “What time are you coming?”

“About that, I completely forgot Beau has a work thing tonight, and I need to head straight home from work.”

Relief washes through me, making me feel guilty. Is it selfish that I want to keep the boys to myself for a bit longer?

“Oh, don’t worry. As you can see, I’m not a prisoner. I’m perfectly safe.”

“Come over tomorrow. I need to see you in person.”

“Okay, sounds like a plan.”

“Gotta go. Make sure you go for seconds.”

“Sure thing.”

I can’t tell Katrina that getting more entangled with the boys could be dangerous. They could be a trap for my heart. If I weren’t so broke, I’d find my own place as soon as possible. But the prospect of not paying rent for the next three months is too good to pass up. I need to save for a deposit.

I stare at the open space before me, hands on my hips. “What should I do now?”

The corner with all my stuff piled up catches my attention first. It’s an eyesore in this beautiful space. But I can’t do anything, because I’ll have to move everything to Mrs. Carpenter’s apartment. I turn my attention to the kitchen. Maybe I can cook dinner as a thank you. Everyone loves a home-cooked meal, right?

I open the fridge to do a more thorough inspection. The ratio of meat to vegetables indicates that no one here is a vegetarian. Plus, there aren’t any vegan substitutes for anything either. I could cook my famous lasagna. I see there’s enough cheese and ham, plus the milk jug is full. All I need is tomato sauce and pasta.

I check all the cabinets, but don’t see any jars with tomato sauce; there are only whole tomatoes in a can. They’re from Italy. Making sauce with those will probably taste better. I also don’t see lasagna noodles. I can make them from scratch. I have plenty of time.

Soon, I get in the zone, working like a determined bee. Cooking always makes me hyper-focused, and during the first hour of prep time, I don’t think about my problems. But once I finish part one of the process and take a step back, I see the chaos I left behind. The kitchen is a disaster. I have to clean up before I continue.

I fill one of the sinks with water and soap, and I’m about to start when my phone vibrates on the counter. It’s a text from Jake checking on me. I smile, but in my hurry to text him back, I grab the phone with my soapy hand and watch in disbelief as it slips through my fingers and dives into the sink filled with water.

“No!!!!”

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