Page 73 of Accidental Roommates

She crinkles her nose. “Is that what you’re wearing?”

“Yeah. You don’t like it?” I glance down at my gym shorts and t-shirt. I’m totally joking with her, but I wanted to see how she’d react.

“Maybe you could go home and change? We don’t really match.”

I laugh. “I was kidding. I brought other clothes. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

In the locker room, I change into jeans and a button-up shirt. I haven’t figured out where we’re going yet. I probably should’ve put more thought into this date. Maybe I should take her to that Mexican place. Kenzie loved it. Maybe Briana will too.

“How about the Mexican place downtown?” I ask Briana as we leave the gym. “I know you like tacos.”

“I don’t like that restaurant. The music’s too loud and all those bright colors give me a headache. How about the wine bar down the street from the Mexican place? It’s quiet and dark. Really romantic.”

I’ve only been there once. Nikki insisted we go. I couldn’t afford to go back. The place is ridiculously expensive, especially for a college student with only a part-time job. Their cheapest glass of wine is twenty bucks and I’m guessing Briana isn’t going to order the cheapest. Nikki insisted on having two glasses of wine and wanted a third, but I had to cut her off. She was pissed at me, but I’d already dropped a hundred bucks on two glasses for her and one for me, plus the tip. I wasn’t willing to spend any more.

“Could we go somewhere else? That place is really expensive.”

Briana starts to roll her eyes but then stops herself. She puts her hand on her hip, clearly annoyed with me. “Where do you want to go? Some shitty sports bar like every other guy?”

We just met and she’s already angry at me? Just because I didn’t want to go to the wine bar? There’s no need to continue this date. She’s just another version of Nikki. I thought she was different, but she’s not. She just wants a guy to take her out and spend money on her. I know I’m not looking for anything serious, but I still want to go out with a girl I actually like, and I don’t like Briana.

“Why don’t we just call it a night?” I tell her.

“What are you saying?” She huffs. “You don’t want to go out?”

“I don’t think we’re a good match.”

“You’re seriously giving this up?” She points to herself. “You could’ve had a chance with me, asshole! But if you’re stupid enough to let me go, then fine. I don’t want you either.”

She storms off to her car. I wait for her to drive away, then get my phone out and call Kenzie.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I say when she answers.

“I just got home. Now I’m trying to figure out what to eat. Wait, aren’t you on your date right now?”

“It didn’t work out. But I’m dressed to go out and I’m starving, so what do you say? You want to join me for dinner?”

“Um, sure. Where should I meet you?”

“I’ll pick you up. You might want to wear something nice. We’re going to a steakhouse. It’s kinda upscale. Not like suit and tie upscale but a lot nicer than the Mexican place.”

“Okay. What time will you be here?”

“About fifteen minutes. Is that enough time?”

“Plenty. I’ll be ready. See you soon!”

As I walk to my truck, I realize I’m smiling. The girl makes me smile even when we’re just talking on the phone. I’m relieved I’m going out with her instead of Briana. It won’t be a date, but I’ll have a better time. It’s easy being with Kenzie because there’s no pressure like there would be if we were on a date. We can be ourselves. Talk about anything. Not worry about ordering food that’s too messy or might get stuck in our teeth.

Why can’t I find a girl like her? A girl I can actually date?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A MONTH LATER

Kenzie

“Hey, Tori,” I say, answering her call. I hear people talking in the background, kids crying, and some kind of announcement going off. “Where are you right now?”

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