Page 118 of Accidental Roommates

“No. I’m happy you did.”

“Then what difference does it make? It shouldn’t matter why I called you.”

He looks me in the eye. “But it does matter. I want to know why.”

I take a breath, summing up the courage to say this, because I’m afraid to. I’m afraid to put my heart out like this again.

“I needed to talk to you,” I say. “I needed to hear your voice. When I’m sad or angry or panicked and don’t know what to do, you’re the only one who makes me feel better.” I look down. “You’ve always been able to do that, and I don’t know why.” I swallow and take another breath. “I wasn’t going to tell you this but—” I look up at him. “I need to.”

“What do you want to tell me?”

“That I wanted us to be more than roommates. Even though I knew I could end up homeless if it didn’t work out, and left with a broken heart, I still wanted to try it. I wanted us to be more than friends. To try being a couple.”

“Why are you using the past tense? Are you saying you don’t want that anymore?”

“I do, but…”

“But what?”

“I know about Nikki. I know you’re back together with her. I don’t understand why, and I wish you would’ve told me but—”

“Wait. Back with Nikki? I’m not back with Nikki.”

“Jace, you don’t have to lie about it. I saw her coming out of your room. She made it clear you two were back together.”

“What are you talking about? When was Nikki here?”

“When I got home. You were in your room with her.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I got home from class, went in my room, and fell asleep. When I woke up, nobody was there.”

“Nikki was definitely here. I saw her. She said she forgot her earrings. She had them in her hand when she left.”

He nods. “So that’s what she was talking about. She called me yesterday saying something about earrings. She kept rambling on and I had to get to class, so I just hung up on her. She must’ve been telling me she was coming to get her earrings. I didn’t even know I had them.”

“So you and her didn’t…”

“No. I didn’t even know she was here. She must’ve let herself in. I have to get that key from her. Or maybe I’ll just change the locks. I’m sick of her coming here without asking.” He reaches over and holds my hand. “I’m not back with Nikki. I haven’t even considered it. Since meeting you, I haven’t even thought about Nikki, or any girl. All I think about is you.”

I keep my eyes on him. “You mean as a friend, right?”

“And more.”

“More?”

“Finish what you were saying,” he says, still holding my hand.

“About what?”

“About what you wanted to tell me. You said you wanted us to be more than friends. Was that all you wanted to say?”

I pause. “Pretty much.”

“You sure? Because it kind of seemed like there was more.”

“Maybe, but…” I stop, not ready to say it.

“While you’re thinking, I’ll say what I’ve been wanting to say to you.”

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