Page 18 of Catching Feeling

The black gym shorts on his hips are slung so low that it almost feels indecent.

No, that’s definitely just the current thoughts I’m having about him.

“Hellooooo, Earth to Viv.” Hallie snaps her fingers in front of my face, pulling my gaze from Reese. “Seriously, I’m starting to worry that you’ve been body snatched. I just watched an entire documentary on this, and it is entirely possible. I mean… you are moving in with Reese. Blink twice if you need help.”

When I don’t immediately answer, she exhales, brushing her now frizzy curls from her face. “That’s it. I knew you were an imposter in my best friend’s body. I’m going to have to kick an alien’s ass.”

It’s so ridiculous that I snort, my giggle getting stuck in my throat until it tumbles out, and then we’re both laughing so hard that tears form in my eyes, and it feels impossible to catch my breath.

My best friend is so fucking weird, and I love every bit of her weirdness.

She’s my other half. My inherently better half. And it’s times like this, when she’s this feral, unhinged, alien-loving, conspiracy theorist, that I know she’s my soulmate.

Fuck a man being my soulmate. No, that’s my best friend, who’s been by my side through it all. Who’s held my hair when I was sick or held me when my father died and who’s been the person that’s picked up the pieces when some douche broke my heart. Or at least thought he broke my heart.

I’ve never been in love, and I’m in no rush to lose my sanity over a guy.

It makes me feel so guilty for keeping these important pieces of my life from her, even if I’m only doing it for her good.

When I can finally suck in a breath, I turn toward her and place my hands on her shoulders, staring into her wide blue eyes. “Hal, I swear, it’s me. No body snatching. Just me. Although it is reassuring to know that you’d take on an alien for me.” I’m trying to divert the conversation by joking, but her eyes narrow.

“Viv. Seriously, are you sure about this?” she asks, her tone now serious, and any hint of teasing is gone.

My lies continue to fall from my lips, but… if it means protecting her happiness, then they won’t stop. I plaster on a reassuring smile, linking my arm through hers. “Yes, babe, I’m sure. Look, yes, Reese… annoys me to the ends of the planet with his rich-boy, everything-is-handed-to-me attitude, and yes, I would have picked another place, but the truth is, he has a badass house and needed a roommate. I just so happened to also need a roommate, so it works perfectly. Sure, yeah, it’s really fucking inconvenient that there was a housing mix-up and I no longer have a dorm, but it is what it is. It all worked out perfectly. Everything is good. Promise.”

She eyes me warily, clearly not convinced with my acting. “You know you could always stay with me, Lane, and Eli? I mean… I spend more time in his room than mine now.”

“As much as I love that you’re having all kinds of amazing sexual experiences, space babe, I do not need a front-row seat. I love you though, seriously so much, and I appreciate the offer, but things will be fine here. Pinky swear.”

Before she can protest, I pull her into my arms and hold her to me, squeezing my eyes shut to enjoy the moment of just the two of us. Lately, they feel a little few and far between, and I want to soak in this time with her.

“Love you more. My place is always open, and you know I’ll always be here, Viv. No matter what. You know that, right?”

“Of course, I know, Hal. That’s what best friends do. You’ve got my back, and I’ve got yours.”

A string of guilt tugs at my heart, and for a second, I almost come clean and tell her how shitty my life is right now and how I wish that I hadn’t ever kept it from her in the first place.

It’s hard to even admit that to myself. I just keep telling myself that it’ll work out and try more to look at the glass being half full than empty, but some days are harder than others.

When I pull back, I turn to the house and shrug. “I mean, I know his mommy and daddy pay for it, but this place is ridiculously amazing.” Amazing is an understatement. This place is a palace for a college kid. Not surprising that his parents would pay for something this over-the-top for just him for only four years.

While it’s not three stories like their vacation “cabin", it still screams luxury. Twelve-foot vaulted ceilings, marble countertops, expensive chandeliers. The pantry is basically the size of my entire dorm room… including the bathroom.

And speaking of the bathroom, this one has heated floors. Literally, this guy is living the life most of us only dream about.

She nods. “It is. I just still can’t believe that you’re moving in with Reese. It feels so… weird.”

Tell me about it.

A second later, the boys finish up carrying boxes into the house and walk over to us. Go figure that everyone but my new roommate is wearing a shirt.

Reese’s gaze finds mine, and he grins, showing off a row of perfectly white teeth and dimples that do something funny to my traitor of a vagina.

Clearly, I need to hook up. But never with him again, obviously.

I’m horny, and the last thing I need to do is be attracted to this man. My life is complicated enough as it is to add in hooking up with a guy I can’t stand simply because he’s hot. Especially now that he’s going to be sleeping right down the hall and is my new, unwanted roommate.

“I think that’s it,” Reese says, lifting his water bottle to squirt a stream of liquid into his mouth. “Got all the boxes and your books. Anything else you need to grab from your dorm?”

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