Page 87 of The Roommate Remodel

“It will be!” Sloan replies.

I’m torn between helping my sister and having this conversation with Brax.

“You were saying...” He tilts his head, studying me, like I’m the only one here, even though more players are shuffling in.

Sharing a house with hockey players is like living in Grand Central Station. It’s never quiet, and people are forever coming and going.

Since Sloan invited the entire team, I won’t get another opportunity to have Brax to myself for the rest of the evening.

“Can I ask you a question?” I swallow down the lump in my throat.

“You can ask me anything you want. You know that, Jaz. I’m an open book.”

“I know, it’s just that... everything’s been so great between us. I almost feel guilty.”

His smile fades. “Wait, are you breaking up with me?”

“No!” I insist. “Why would you think that?”

“You look concerned.” He smooths my wrinkled brow with his thumb.

“Nothing’s wrong.” My stomach clenches at my own twisted truth.

“The look on your face doesn’t agree.”

He can see right through me, which makes me feel flattered and a little terrified.Am I that easy to read?

A face peeks around the corner. “What are you guys doing back here?” Tate asks.

Brax shoots him a look that saysnot now. “Trying to have a conversation. Get out of here.”

“I was going to wash my hands before dinner.” He nods at the bathroom in the hall.

“Go upstairs,” Brax demands.

Tate sighs and turns to leave.

“We need more privacy,” I say.

“Story of my life,” Brax mutters.

Every time Brax and I are alone, we get interrupted. It makes life challenging, and our alone time nearly impossible.

“Come in here.” I pull him into the same pantry closet where I had a private conversation with Sloan when I discovered Brax was our new roommate.

I flip on a single bulb in the cramped space. Brax’s body is almost pushed up against mine, sending spirals of heat through me.

His lips curve into a smirk. “I never knew about this closet.”

“I use it all the time with Sloan.”

“But not me?” He looks around at the shelves stuffed with mac and cheese and cans of soup. “This could be a seriously good make-out spot.”

“Funny you bring that up,” I say with a nervous laugh.

Brax shoots me a puzzled glance.

“You want me to be honest with you, right? Because that’s what got us into trouble before,” I say, twisting Granny’s ring. The butterflies in my stomach are bumping around, but it’s not the same panic I felt on the zip-line platform. Brax is my safe space, and I know he won’t laugh at me, no matter how foolish I feel. “I’m trying to do the right thing this time, instead of feeling like I messed things up between us.”

---