Page 20 of Something Forever

The only question is… how the hell am I going to pay for it?

7

WHITNEY

Ihave decided that I simply no longer care about my new roommate. So what if he’s a jerk of the biggest proportion? I don’t care. He’s just my roommate. We don’t have to be friends. In fact, we don’t even have to speak.

We can simply coexist.

It’s not like Olivia and I were ever close, so I don’t know why this bothers me so much. Maybe the difference is because she never outright hated me, which is the general feeling I get from Liam at all times. I thought British people were supposed to be nice, but clearly not. I guess he’s more of the Gordon Ramsay variety.

Whatever. I don’t have time to waste thinking about Liam. I should be focusing all my energy on figuring out a business plan for the salon. If I get everything together, I’m convinced somehow the universe will reward me with a husband.

Right?

I spend a few hours working on the business plan and budget spreadsheet. I figure the inheritance should be more than enough to front the cost of renting a place and other upfront costs. Feeling positive about my productivity, I pivot to the fun stuff — interior design. Pinterest becomes my best friend, and I spend the next few hours saving photos and thinking of color palettes.

After a few hours of work, I’m feeling exhausted and slightly dejected. Even though planning for the salon is exciting, without the money secured, it’s nothing but a pipe dream. I close my eyes, feeling raw and emotional, a voice whispering in my head that I’m alone. It might not feel so true if I’d dated anyone since Christopher, but I’ve been nursing that wound since college, and in the three years since then, I’ve barely made it three months with any of the guys I’ve dated. Some of them were fine, but the truth was, I have walls up the size of Everest.

I text Abbi, knowing she’s probably at work. I don’t think she’s ever been further than five feet away from her cell phone at any given moment, so I’m not surprised when she responds right away.

Abbi: How’s hubby hunting?

Whitney: Awful.

Abbi: Why don’t I come over tonight and we can brainstorm? I have some ideas.

Whitney: Should I be scared?

Abbi: Terrified.

Whitney: Don’t put anything in writing. The FBI agent reading this will come for us.

Abbi: See you after work. I’ll bring wine.

I decide to distract myself by cooking dinner, but end up burning it. After I finish, I go to grab some silverware, yanking on the drawer, jiggling it left and right. It’s always a pain in the ass; it’s broken, and I can’t figure out how to get it back on the tracks.

“What did that drawer ever to do you?” a voice drawls from behind me, and I turn sharply to see Liam leaning against the doorframe with a smirk.

I blink, trying not to stare at the spot where his t-shirt rides up, revealing a strip of tanned skin. I turn away from him, shaking my head.

“Ugh. It’s been broken forever,” I reply. “You have to jiggle it open, FYI.”

He slips past me to fill up a glass of water while I slam the drawer shut and cross to the dining room to eat.

“Thanks for the heads up,” he replies.

Why does he have to say everything with that teasing, sultry tone of voice? It’s like he’s purposefully trying to rile me up.

“My friend Abbi is coming over tonight,” I tell him. “She’s very loud, so I apologize in advance.”

The corners of his mouth turn upwards, a small dimple forming on one of his cheeks. The sight of it sends a fierce blush to my cheeks, another wave of mortification rushing through me. This guy has done nothing but antagonize me since he’s shown up, and here I am fawning over his every micro-expression.

“I’m off tonight, but I’ll keep to myself. Wouldn’t want to spoil your girls’ night.”

I can’t tell if he’s trying to bait me, so I don’t respond. Thankfully, he goes back to his room, leaving me to eat in peace. As soon as he’s gone, I exhale in relief, shaking my head. What the hell has come over me? I should be focusing on my business plan, not getting distracted by some jerk.

Abbi texts me to let me know she’s on her way, so I clean up and light a candle.

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