Page 24 of Hard to Take

“What happened to ‘I’ll be the best roommate you ever had’?” I challenge.

“I want you to feel safe and secure,” he clarifies. “You don’t like the food, say the word and I’ll have it changed. If you hate your parking spot, pick one out and it’s yours. I don’t mean that I’m going to watch you fuck some guy who doesn’t know what you need.”

My heart is thudding against my ribs at his audacity, and the implication that Miles does know what I need. “So you’re going to let a woman go on a date without protection.”

His nostrils flare.

Finally, Miles disappears in the hallway, returning a moment later.

He presses something into my hand. I feel the smooth packet against my palm.

“This is yours.”

He turns for the door, knocking the calendar on my dresser.

“One condom?” I say under my breath. “Is there a global latex shortage?”

“It’ll be enough,” he tosses over a shoulder. “We both know you won’t be thinking of him anyway.”

I open my fist and see the XL condom. But it’s the glint of gold next to the packet that has the breath sticking in my chest.

It’s my missing earring.

The one I left in his bed.

6

BROOKE

I never used to think about how funny a guy was before I went out with him. Humor was something I took for granted. But as I sit across from Trev, who’s regaling me with stories about great things he’s done, I resist the urge to yawn.

“Hey, Brooke. You still with me?” Trev’s voice has me snapping back.

“Sorry. Didn’t sleep much last night.”

“Your roommate keeping you up?” he says with a knowing grin.

My water goes down wrong, and I reach for my wine to wash it down.

“I’ve heard those Kodiaks like to party.”

I shrug. “In the summer, sure. But during basketball season, they’re working their asses off.”

“Not all of them. Miles has a reputation.”

I set my wine back down, the base clinking against my plate. “I didn’t realize you knew him.”

Trev blinks in surprise. “Not personally.”

“So, you don’t know what he gets up to.”

The implication that Miles is flaky irritates me. I’ve seen how devoted he is to family and friends, even to his game.

The problem isn’t that I can’t prove he’s wrong—it’s that I want to.

“Enough about them. We could go back to my place?” Trev suggests with a grin, reaching for the bill.

I lift a shoulder. “I should check on Waffles. I promised I’d watch him while my roommate was gone.”

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