Page 32 of Accidental Roommates

“Thanks for doing this,” Kenzie says as we’re driving home.

“Doing what?”

“Getting me out. Introducing me to laser tag. It was fun. I’d totally do it again.”

“Me too.” I smile at her. “We’ll have to go back there sometime.” I slow down as the light ahead turns red. “You want to go anywhere else?”

“I don’t think so. I’m really tired and I want to take a shower.”

“Don’t forget to lock the door. Even though I know you’re showering, still lock my side of the door just so you get in the habit of doing it.”

The light switches to green and I turn down the road that takes us home. I’m a little disappointed she didn’t want to stay out longer but after what she went through today, I get why she’s tired. I’m tired too but I doubt I’ll be able to sleep.

“Did you ever walk in on your last roommate?” she asks.

“Yeah, he’d always forget to lock the door. But we were on the team together so I’d seen his naked ass plenty of times in the locker room. Carter’s someone who doesn’t care if you see him naked. Sometimes the dumbass would even walk around the house that way.”

“But not with your girlfriend around.”

“Actually, he did. One time he walked to the kitchen with nothing on. He said he didn’t know Nikki was there, but I know he did. There’s no way he didn’t hear her. She was fighting with me. I don’t even remember why. The girl just liked fighting. Anyway, looking back now, I swear Carter did it on purpose. Because he knew Nikki was there.”

“You think he was trying to steal her from you?”

“I can’t say for sure, but I think it’s definitely possible.”

“What did she do when she saw him?”

“She didn’t look away, which pissed me off because I worked my ass off in the gym to look good for her. Not that I didn’t work out before I met her. I’m kind of a gym rat, but I worked out even more after we started dating, knowing how much she likes guys with muscles. And not to brag, but my body’s better than Carter’s. The guy eats like shit and drinks too much to look the way I do. And I spend a lot more time in the gym.”

“The gym you work at?”

“Yeah, the one on campus. You should check it out. I can show you around. It’s part of my job but nobody’s ever asked me for a tour. You’d be my first.”

“Then let’s do it. I’ll be your first.” There’s awkward silence as she realizes those words could have a different meaning. A sexual meaning. “Tour,” she says. “I’ll be your first tour.”

“Yeah, I knew what you meant,” I say with a laugh so she’s not embarrassed. We’re at the house now and I park the truck on the street.

“Why don’t you park in the garage?” Kenzie asks as we meet up on the sidewalk.

“Because there isn’t room. My uncle stores all his crap in there.”

“I thought you said he had his own house.”

“He doesn’t have room at his house. And I don’t think he wants it there. The stuff in the garage is old and dusty, not something you’d want in your house.”

“Then why does he keep it?”

“Because he inherited it from my great-grandfather. I guess it has sentimental value but it’s mostly junk. Rusty tools. Old car parts.” I unlock the front door and open it, reaching inside to flip on the light switch. “After you.”

She smiles at me. “Thanks.”

We go inside and I turn on more lights so it’s not so dark. I’m used to having the place dimly lit but girls usually like more light so I turn on the lamps I never use so Kenzie feels more comfortable. I want her to feel like this is her home, because it is for as long as she’s here, which I hope is more than just a semester because I really like having her around.

“Thanks again for tonight,” she says. “I’m gonna go to my room.”

“Okay.” I take a seat on the couch. “Let me know if you need anything.”

She goes in her room and shuts the door. I turn on the TV, lowering the volume so she can sleep. I wish I could sleep, but now that I’m home I keep thinking about what I saw earlier. It doesn’t help that I can still smell Nikki’s perfume. She used to spray it around my house before she’d leave just in case I had some other girl over. She was marking her territory. Making sure I didn’t cheat. I told her I never would but she didn’t believe me. And now I find out she’s the cheater in our relationship.

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