Page 25 of Between Hate and Desire

I roll my eyes. Of course there’s not.

At least they’ll both be gone by the time I get off work tonight, I remind myself.

I leave without another word and inhale a deep breath. As soon as I’m in my truck, I’m already thinking about having the place to myself this weekend. It’s been a month since Jenna and I first hooked up, and while those few times were fun, it’s the furthest thing away from being serious. Considering she was in a long-term relationship not too long ago, I hope that means she doesn’t mind keeping things casual.

Before putting it in reverse, I text Jenna and change that.

Hunter

I have the apartment to myself tonight. Wanna hang?

The jumping dots appear, and I wait for her response before pulling out of the parking lot.

Jenna

Just so happens I’m free. Count me in.

“Oh my God,” Jenna squeals the moment she enters. “Your place is so nice.”

I notice she’s carrying bags. What the hell? I didn’t ask her to come over for a damn dinner party.

“Thanks,” I say, closing the door behind her. “Not really my doing.” I shrug. It was pretty simple and bland before Lennon moved in and sprinkled her girly crap around like fairy dust.

“So,” Jenna says, walking toward the kitchen and finding her way through the apartment with ease. She drops two bags down on the table and smiles. “I brought Chinese, which I hope you like because if not, that could be a deal breaker for me.”

I raise my brows, wondering what the fuck she’s talking about.

“And of course, beer,” she continues, holding up a six-pack. “I’ll get us some plates and forks.” She moves through the kitchen like she owns the place and opens a few cabinets before finding what she’s looking for.

When the hell did I say to bring over dinner and beer? Right,I didn’t.

However, I don’t want to be a jackass to her, considering it’s a nice gesture, and I’m starving. I’m just worried she has the wrong idea about us. I invited her over to mess around, not to play house.

“So how was your day?” she asks, setting the plate in front of me and unpacking the containers of food and chopsticks. Before I can respond, she continues. “Mine was fucking nuts. The only thing that got me through it was knowing we were gonna hang out tonight.”

“Mine was fine. Busy as usual.” I shrug, giving her the bare minimum. I don’t typically share my workday with anyone except Brandon and only if he asks. Sometimes I tell Mason and Liam if we hang out afterward, but work is work. I love my job, but I also love leaving it behind when I clock out for the day.

Once our plates are made, Jenna suggests we eat on the couch and watch a movie. I don’t argue and let her pick something on Netflix.

“Who’s Lennon?” she asks before clicking on my name.

“My roommate’s girlfriend,” I reply dryly before taking a swig of my beer.

“She has her own profile?” she asks, scoffing as if she’s jealous.

“Yeah, she lives here too.”

“Ohh.” Her voice goes up an octave. “That makes more sense. I wondered who the yoga master was.” She chuckles, nodding to the mat Lennon left out this morning.

And fuck, now the images of Lennon’s ass as she practiced the downward dog pose are back in my head.

“Yeah, ironic she left it out,” I mutter to myself. She gets on me for having anything out of place, yet she somehow “forgets” to put her shit away. She probably did it on purpose.

But you’ll miss it when she’s gone, a voice in my head says, but I shake it off.

“So you said your roommate’s girlfriend. You don’t consider her your roommate too?” Jenna asks, thankfully pulling me from my thoughts. She finally clicks on a show and puts her feet under her ass, getting more comfortable.

“No. She moved into his room last summer. Her name isn’t on the lease. However, I really wasn’t given much of an option if I didn’t want to lose Brandon as my roommate,” I tell her honestly and shrug. “It’s whatever. I ignore her most of the time anyway.”

---