Page 36 of The Roommate Lie

Does he miss her?

That’s what it looks like. This guy broke her heart barely twenty-four hours ago, but now he’s glancing at Alice like she’s “the one who got away.” And that’s all it takes. He gives her that look, and I’m done.

Who knows what comes over me. Where my common sense goes, and when it might return. All I know is his gaze heats up as he stares at Alice, and I spring into action, slipping my arm around her shoulders. Claiming her like I’m her type, and she’s mine.

A few old ladies at our table gasp. Others give me a death glare because my heathen arm is defiling their Regency queen—and maybe they’re right.

I have no business holding on to Alice like this. Even if I was her type—which I’m not—she’s way too good for me.What am I doing?

I’m not even the relationship type. When it comes to dating, no one’s ever taken me seriously—why would they? When you’re the town screw-up, a happily-ever-after just isn’t in the cards.

I should move my arm; I should apologize and retreat, but then Alice leans back, settling against me, and my arm isn’t going anywhere. My arm is staying here forever.

Mine, mine, mine.

Jason eyes us as he tries to cut Muriel off, but she keeps going. “He even met someone new while he’s been out here, another one of my guests. They checked in on the same day, and they were just friends until last week—but now they’re inseparable. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Jason and Tiffany are staying at Muriel’s?

If someone had asked me to guess fifty different versions of the future, I never would’ve guessed this. These people have been staying next door to me for months, and I haven’t spotted them once. Muriel’s bed-and-breakfast isn’t cheap, either. Mostresort employees live in the dorms on the property for a reason. How much money do these people have?

Not now, Charlie.

I keep my focus where it belongs. On the beautiful girl I have my arm around. The one who’s so upset, she’s trembling.

This close, Alice smells faintly of strawberries, and I try not to let that scent mesmerize me. Muriel smiles at her expectantly, waiting for Alice to say something to her new friend from Texas. Tiffany jumps in before she can.

“Alice—was that your name? It’s so nice to meet you. How funny that you’re from Texas too. It really is a small world.”

She pairs that with her best fake friendly smile, and is this actually happening? Is Tiffany trying to pretend they just met?

Beside her, Jason’s face lights up with a fake friendly smile of his own. He starts to introduce himself, but Alice doesn’t let him finish. As she cuts him off, she hesitates, and her nerves almost get the better of her. Then she takes a deep breath, giving Muriel a soft look as she breaks the bad news.

“Jason’s my ex—the one who dumped me after inviting me out here to visit. And I’ve already met Tiffany. She helped him break up with me.”

Muriel is devastated. She really thought this was going to be a fun Texas meet-and-greet, and Alice tries to console her before glancing back at her ex.

She hesitates again, and for a moment, I think that’s it. That she’s going to freeze like she did during their breakup. But that girl is full of surprises.

“You came out here to work in a kitchen? You said you got a marketing job. You said it was too good to turn down.”

Alice hadn’t known that part until now—I never told her what Raven said back at the wilderness resort—and Jason blinks.

“If things were over between us, you didn’t have to wash dishes in Colorado. You could’ve just told me.”

Her face is flush, voice shaky, but she said what she needed to say. Today, Jason is the one who freezes, and silence falls over our entire group. I have no idea how worked up I am until Alice notices. No idea how hard my knee is bouncing under the table until she presses her leg against mine. That touch startles me, then it burns through me, lava under my skin.

I glance down at Alice as she glances up at me, and her brown eyes are the warmest thing I’ve ever seen. I should look away, but I don’t. She exhales softly as her eyes search mine, and I couldn’t look away if I tried.

Bingo!

Henrietta yells that with extra oomph, and we jump, the spell broken. Laughing nervously, Alice leans forward, and my arm slides off her shoulders.Message received, Carrots.

I keep my hands to myself after that. An official comes over to check Henrietta’s card, and Alice and I don’t even look at each other. She stares at her hands while I try to seem like a polite member of society. A future kindergarten teacher or someone Alice might’ve met at poetry summer camp. Anything but who I really am.

The boy from the wrong side of the tracks who doesn’t belong anywhere near a girl like Alice.

A guy whose only summer camp was rehab.

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