Page 22 of Catching Feeling

“No, you big oaf. What? Are you going to start hopping on a flight to New York every time I go on a date that doesn’t go well?” She sighs again.

“You know I’d go anywhere for you, Rosie. The Landry jet is always there when I need to visit.” She knows that, but I tell her every chance I can get.

Especially since she’s all the way across the country at Juilliard. It’s her freshman year on a full ride for ballet, and I’m so fucking proud of her.

“I know. But that’s extremely wasteful to the environment, and I cannot condone it.” She laughs, then goes quiet for a moment. “I miss you so much. I was eating pizza with a few girls from my class, even though I probably shouldn’t be eating pizza, but that’s neither here nor there—anyway, it made me miss Jack’s and my big brother hovering over me all the time.”

I gasp. “I do not hover, Jellybean.”

“Dude, I’m eighteen and you still call me Jellybean, and you legit just asked if you should beat up someone I had a bad date with. Point proven.”

“Fine. But it’s only because I love you, and it’s my job as your big brother to protect you. Now, tell me about class. How’s it going? Are you settling in for second semester?”

“Yeah.” She pauses for a moment, her breath whooshing out. “I think the holidays just made me a little homesick? Don’t get me wrong, I love New York. It really is the city that never sleeps, and there are so many cool bookstores it’s literary heaven. But… I miss Mom, and Dad, and you, and my room, and my friends.”

I stand from my bed and walk over to my dresser as she talks, throwing on a pair of sweats and a T-shirt to head to the gym. I haven’t heard Viv this morning, so I’m assuming she’s still asleep.

“I get it. I feel like that sometimes, but you know I’m here night or day for you, Jellybean. If you need me to hop on the jet, I’m there. Just like when we were kids and I’d always sleep on your floor when you had nightmares. I might be further away now, but I’ll sit on FaceTime if you need me.” If there’s one soft spot I have, it’s my family. I’d do anything in the world for them. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for all the sacrifices they’ve made for me. Especially when it comes to baseball. I owe it all to them.

“I love you. Thanks for calling me, even if it is 6 a.m. I didn’t get home until late from the date from hell, so is it okay if I call you later today?”

“Of course.” I grab my gym bag off the hook on the back of my door and my wallet off my desk. “I’m headed to the gym, then class, but I’ll be home later. I guess I should mention that I got a roommate…”

Her breath hitches. “A roommate? Is he hot?”

“Rosie,” I grunt. “The only thing that is hot to you is soup and bathwater, remember? We’ve been through this.”

“Stop trying to protect my virtue, Reese. I’m eighteen, and I’m a woman. Plus, I lost my virginity when I was sixteen in the back seat of a beat-up Toyota. There’s nothing left to protect.”

A sigh blows past my lips as I shove my wallet into the pocket of my sweats. “I’m going to walk into oncoming traffic now.”

Rosie laughs, and even though my ears are currently bleeding, I do too. “My new roommate’s a girl. I’ll tell you all about her later.”

“A girl?” She gasps. “No way. Oh my god, you cannot just tell me you moved a girl into your freakin’ house and then get off the phone. That’s unacceptable, Reese. Wait, did you tell Mom and Dad? Is she your girlfrie?—”

“Bye, Jellybean. Talk to you later. Love you.”

I press End and hang up before she can finish her third degree. Serves her right for the virginity comment.

Immediately, my phone vibrates with a text that I already know is her without even looking.

Rosie: This conversation is not over, mister. I expect a detailed report this evening and don’t you dare leave out any juiciness or I’m not speaking to you for at least three days!

Chuckling, I open my bedroom door quietly and make my way to the kitchen. I’m all but fucking tiptoeing, which is hard to do for a guy that’s six foot three and two hundred pounds.

It’s only been one night that Viv has been here, and I’m still trying to get used to cohabitating with another person, especially one that I want to sink my cock inside twenty-four hours a day.

Not sure what the proper etiquette is here.

The kitchen is quiet, and when I walk to the cabinet to pull my protein out, I notice a handwritten note on the back of a takeout menu from Jack’s.

Thanks again for letting me be your roommate. Breakfast on me. Don’t worry, I didn’t poison it.

… Maybe. ;)

-Viv

I can’t hold back the smile that quirks my lips as I reread the note. Right next to where the menu was is a protein bar. I pick it up, rip the packaging open, and all but scarf it down in .2 seconds, and then I realize…

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