Page 14 of The Roommate Lie

That’s all he says, then Mr. Walters glances at me like he knows this is my fault. And technically, he’s not wrong. Alice isonly back at the bus station because of me. This fiasco has my name spray-painted all over it.

His eyes bore into me like termites. “You didn’t check the bathrooms? Isn’t that part of your job?”

Actually, I clocked out a long time ago. My shift ended at four fifteen. Checking the bathrooms for Alice Van Winkle would’ve been Carl’s job, but there’s no way I’m going to let him take the fall. My brother is a model employee, and he’s covered for me plenty.

“I did check, Mr. Walters. Maybe she had her feet pulled up.”

Now I’m the one telling terrible lies. Falling asleep in a bathroom stall is bad enough. Alice also having her feet pulled up at the same time sounds physically impossible—and mildly dangerous. So, of course, she nods enthusiastically. That woman has never met a bad lie she didn’t like.

I try to keep a straight face. Then I notice the fresh tearstains on her cheeks, and my smile fades for good. When Carl ushered me to the break room, Alice had calmed down. Did something new upset her while we were gone?

Alice catches my eye and exhales a shaky breath. There’s something she needs to tell me, Walters or no Walters.

“When I woke up…in the bathroom, I realized I’d missed my Old Western bus in Denver.” Alice flips her phone to show me she’s been digging around on their website. “And they don’t have any more buses leaving until tomorrow afternoon. There aren’t any Greyhounds either.”

She’s stuck here overnight. Even if I drive her to Denver, Alice doesn’t have anywhere to go. And if she didn’t like the idea of buying a new bus ticket, she’s going to hate paying for a hotel room.

I can feel Carl staring me down.No more strays, Charlie. This is not your problem.

But it kind of is. I’m the one who brought Alice back here. I inserted myself into her breakup and acted like I had a plan. If I pawn her off on someone else now or abandon her altogether, I’d just worry. Nothing will feel right again until I help her board a bus home.

Tomorrow.

Before I can figure out what to do next, what to say, my phone buzzes with a message.

Lydia:Running late at work. Can you pick up the cupcakes for tonight?

Tonight. Our plans had totally slipped my mind, and I text her back that it’s not a problem. I can get the cupcakes on my way. Then I hesitate.

Lydia Sharp is one of the most responsible people I know; she’s like Carl, but sweeter. Her brother and I joke that she’s our walking moral compass because she always knows the right thing to do. So I pitch her my idea.

Charlie:Is it okay if I bring home a temporary girl roommate for the night? She’s stranded in town until tomorrow.

Lydia’s response is instant. And I take that as a very good sign.

Lydia:The more the merrier. It’ll be nice to not be drowning in testosterone.

That settles it. Maybe Carl won’t be thrilled, but if Lydia’s on board, my idea can’t be all bad. I put my phone away and glanceat Alice, ignoring my brother and Mr. Walters.Especially Mr. Walters.

That man is practically humming with villain energy today. He’s wanted to fire me since the day his aunt Edna made him hire me, and he’s probably dying to call the cops on Alice too. He’s just that kind of guy.

Which means I have to move fast. Before either of those dreams become a reality.

“Ma’am, try not to fall asleep in any more bathrooms,” I tell Alice, and she gives me a solemn nod.

“I’ll do my best.”

Her response almost breaks me, the sheer adorableness of it. I have to press my lips together to keep from smiling as I toss my brother his car keys and grab my skateboard from behind the counter. Carl tries to catch my eye as I reach for Alice’s arm, but I glance away.

I hate disappointing my older brother, but a Charlie’s got to do what a Charlie’s got to do. And this Charlie has to help Alice.

Mr. Walters pulls out his phone. He probably has the cops on speed dial, and I whisk Carrots toward the door. “Let me walk you out—I can give you directions on the way. I’m late for book club.”

Chapter Eight

ALICE

Charlie wasn’t kidding about book club.

---