Page 4 of Accidental Roommates

“That’s your problem, not mine. Now hurry up and pack your shit. The timer starts now.”

As I go to leave, I feel Carter behind me, heading to the closet.

“One more thing.” I turn back.

“What?”

I punch him, right in the jaw. He stumbles back, almost falling down.

“What the hell?” he says, rubbing his jaw.

I storm out of the room, slamming the door behind me. Pain shoots through my shoulder and I hurry to the kitchen to get some ice. I’m not supposed to swing like that. My shoulder hasn’t healed enough and I risk tearing it again if I do certain movements, like punching a guy. But damn, it was worth it. It felt good to hit that bastard in the face. Damn good.

I can’t believe he did this. I thought we were friends. He seemed like a good guy. I never would’ve thought he’d do this to me.

Taking the bag of ice from the freezer, I sling it over my shoulder then stand over the sink, staring down at the flowers I left there. I was going to cut them and put them in a vase after I talked to Carter. But instead I found him with Nikki, the girl the flowers were meant for. I spent fifty bucks on roses that now I can’t even look at. I pick them up and toss them in the trash.

The wine bottles I bought are taunting me on the counter, another reminder of Nikki. I want to smash them against the wall but that would make a huge mess and I have enough messes to deal with right now. Besides, I spent a good chunk of my paycheck on that wine. I might as well use it to get drunk later.

“Jace?” Nikki appears wearing the red dress I used to love on her. Now I think it looks trashy and too short.

“I told you to go.”

“I didn’t want you to find out this way.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you didn’t,” I say, rolling my eyes.

She sees the wine behind me. “Was that for us?”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

“Jace, I wish I felt differently. I just—”

“Nikki, please. Just go. I don’t want to talk about this.”

She nods, then turns and walks away.

I wonder if she really does feel bad or if she’s just faking it? After finding this out, I’m doubting everything she ever told me. She said she loved me, but did she really? You don’t cheat on the guy you love.

My shoulder continues to throb and I feel it stiffening up. I toss the ice bag back in the freezer, then gently move my shoulder back and forth, hoping I didn’t do any damage.

I hurt my shoulder last spring. Basketball season had ended, but I was practicing with the team and went to throw the ball when I heard my shoulder snap. I ended up needing surgery followed by months of physical therapy.

It was the end of my college basketball career. I still hang out with the team, but I can’t play anymore. Maybe that’s why Nikki lost interest in me. She liked being the girlfriend of a star basketball player. She liked the attention it got her and being able to tell other girls I was her boyfriend. Now she’s with Carter who’s still on the team and a rising star.

“Hey.” Carter appears, a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. His jaw is swollen and red where I hit him. “You got any garbage bags I could use? I don’t have enough bags for my stuff.”

I reach under the sink, grab the roll of garbage bags, and toss it to him.

“Eight minutes,” I tell him.

“This is bullshit,” he says as he walks away. “It’s not like you guys were married.”

Does he really think that makes it okay? Like Nikki’s not off limits unless we’re married?

I actually was going to ask her to marry me. Not tonight, but maybe in a few months. I’d been shopping for rings. Working extra hours at the gym to save up money. Good thing I didn’t buy one.

How could I want to marry a girl who didn’t love me? How could I not know that she didn’t? Was I that blind? I only saw what I wanted to see?

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