Page 18 of Fair Catch

“I was still half asleep. And truth be told, I assumed hearing a shower running would prevent someone from walking in to begin with.” I pause, knowing the next thing she’d say before she even has a chance. “And yes, I know what they say about assuming.”

“Well, the curtain was closed, right?”

“Yes.”

She frowns. “Then what’s the harm—”

“It’s called privacy!” I blurt, tossing my arms out. “And walking in the bathroom while I’m in the shower is a complete invasion of it.”

“You’re telling me in all the years you and Phoenix were roommates, or even before, he didn’t walk in the bathroom while you were taking a shower?”

Goddamnit.

“I mean…” I trail off, not wanting to admit she’s right. Again.

“Then what’s the problem with Hayes doing it?”

Biting the inside of my cheek, I mutter, “It’s not that it was Hayes who did it instead of Phoenix. It’s that, when it happened, I was…occupied.”

The last word comes out in a pained whisper, and I’m praying like hell she doesn’t ask me to elaborate any further. But while it takes a second for her to pick up what I’m putting down, she eventually does. The audible gasp she lets out before she claps her hand over her mouth is something right out of a sitcom.

“You’re joking,” she whispers.

I shake my head. “God, I wish.”

The last thing I expect is her to start giggling hysterically. “Oh, my word. The amount of second-hand embarrassment I’m feeling for you right now is…” She lets out a breath, shaking her head. “Wow. Yeah, I can see why you’d be a little peeved about it.”

A littleis a complete understatement.

“I know we’re both dudes and it shouldn’t matter.”

“But you’re gay, and your roomie is a hottie?” she supplies off-handedly.

I blink at her, wondering how the—

“How do you know what Hayes looks like?”

She lets out a little scoff. “You think I didn’t immediately go find him on social media after you told me about meeting with him back in April?”

It’s not like I didn’t have the exact same idea myself, but I didn’t actually follow through with it.

“You internet stalked my roommate?”

“Oh, please, Kase. I moonlight as an FBI agent when it comes to people my friends are involved with. It took me all of five minutes on Quinton’s Insta to find this sexy roomie of yours.” A devious little smirk tugs at her mouth. “And honey, he might not be your usual type, but he’s still fine.”

“Just because he’s good looking doesn’t mean—”

“I’m gonna stop you right there,” she says, holding up her hand. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know you were shucking the corn to thoughts of a certain blue-eyed dreamboat who looks like a less buff version of Clark Kent.”

My brows crash together as I frown. “Hayes doesn’t wear glasses. Are you sure you weren’t looking at Quinton?”

“I’m not an idiot, Kason,” she chides with a roll of her eyes. “And if you keep insulting me like that, I’m gonna leave you to your own devices to figure out this debacle with your sexy roommate.”

I wince. “Please stop calling him that.”

“Ignoring the facts doesn’t make them any less true,” she sing-songs as she pushes off her car and steps toward me. “But since you seem hell-bent to die on the hill of denial, I’ll let it slide and just tell you what you’re gonna do.”

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Okay, Obi-Wan. What am I gonna do?”

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