Page 93 of The Roommate Lie

The house is dark. The Sharp twins left to see a movie after dinner, and once again, Charlie is nowhere to be found. His absence settles over me, the weight of missing him, and it makes the house seem even darker.

Don’t get attached.

My life is too messy for that right now. I still don’t know why my ex left, and worrying about it has made me do the stupidest things in the past twenty-four hours—like send Jason an email at three a.m. because I couldn’t send a text. An awkward “why did you break up with me” message that I regretted instantly.

And when he didn’t respond?I did more stupid things.

That’s how I ended up next door this morning when I was supposed to be writing downtown. Hovering on the front porch of a haunted bed-and-breakfast until I lost my nerve and gave up.

I’m not even sure if I want answers, if I can handle them. I just know I’m too scared to think about anything else, anyone else. Even Charlie Roscoe.

So I focus on that kiss scene instead.

I have no idea what I want it to look like, but I know there should be moonlight. Lots of it. Lonesome streaks of pale silver that filter through the windows, dappling the room and making it glow.

That’s how I end up in the kitchen; it has the best moonlight in the house. And that’s where I’m still standing, lost in thought, when Charlie comes home and finds me.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Working on my book.”

Am I though?In reality, I’m just standing in the middle of the room, holding a sheet of paper while I daydream in the dark. But Charlie doesn’t argue.

He moves to flick on the kitchen light—then he stops. Hesitating, he leaves the house dark and leans against the open entryway, the moonlight and shadows making him look even more playful and dangerous than usual. Even more like a rake.

He nods to the paper in my hand. “Is that what you’re working on?”

“Yep.”

“Why is it blank?”

It isn’t. But when I try to explain, Charlie moves closer and slides the paper out of my hand, his fingers grazing mine. There are words waiting at the top like I promised, four of them. An entire sentence. His smile quirks as he reads them out loud.

“And then they kissed.” Pausing, he raises his eyebrows. “I don’t know, Carrots. I think you might need a little more than that.”

Carrots.

It has felt so good to be called that again, and tonight is no exception. I let that nickname roll down my spine, giving me whatever chills it wants. Enjoying every second.

“Maybe it does need more,” I concede with a shrug. “But only a little. I’d hate to overdo it.”

He smiles, and I should stop while I’m ahead, while I still seem charming and fun instead of awkward and nervous.Go back to your room, Alice—end on a high note. Be smart.

But I’m never smart. At least not when it comes to Charlie.

“I can’t picture it,” I admit instead. “I’m not even sure what I want to happen in the scene. I just know there should be a moonlit window. That’s why I’m in here.”

Charlie glances at the large window across the kitchen. Nestled on that one blank wall where the counter ends and the view begins. The moonlight drifting through the glass speckles every surface, casting the room in a soft glow.

Charlie looks back at me, scrubbing his hand along his jaw. “Do you need some help planning it out?”

“Sure.”

I answer before I really consider that question. Before I notice the weight in his gaze and realize he’s flirting with me. But I don’t take it back.

He nods to the window. “Is it supposed to be behind them or beside them or…”

“Beside them.”

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