Page 26 of The Roommate Experiment

I’ve requested a table for 9 pm

Just waiting for the confirmation

She replies instantly.

Olivia

Perfect. Can’t wait :)

An enthusiasm I’m not sharing. My disposition leans more toward a sense of obligation, which is ridiculous mere weeks into dating someone. But hopefully, dinner on Friday will give me clarity.

13

HUNTER

When I arrive at the coffee shop, Nina is already waiting, fidgeting with her mug of tea.

“Hey,” I greet her, taking a seat. “Any idea what this is about?”

Nina shakes her head, blonde hair swishing. “Not a clue. But I hope everything’s okay.”

I glance toward the sidewalk as if expecting Rowena to appear. “Me too. How are things with Tristan? How’s the Co-ed?”

Nina gives me such a bright smile in response, I consider putting on my shades. I click my tongue. “Lots of sex, then?”

“Yep, but also lots of cuddling.” She chuckles. “Who could’ve guessed the Prince of Darkness was a teddy bear?”

A server interrupts, taking my order.

When he goes away, Nina asks, “What about you? Is my brother still being a pig?”

The compulsion to be honest with her grips me again like it did the other night when we were texting back and forth. But Dylan has a girlfriend. It’s a complicated situation, and I don’t want to put her in the middle of it.

Just then, Rowena arrives, saving me from having to answer as we both focus on her. I had expected to find her frazzled or stressed. Instead, Winnie is glowing, her hazel eyes bright behind her black-rimmed glasses. The fake engagement suits her.

After we exchange hugs and she orders her drink, Rowena catches us up on the latest developments in her pregnancy and new home. She’s seven weeks along now, and things with Adrian are going smoothly. But what she wanted to discuss is whether she should tell Liam, the biological father, about the baby.

Nina is the first to respond, her green eyes wide. She insists that Rowena should not tell him, and I nod in agreement. After everything that jerk put her through, Liam doesn’t deserve to be let back into Rowena’s life.

“Winnie, that guy is bad news. All he ever did was make you doubt yourself and feel small. What if Liam were the same with the baby? Don’t invite that toxicity back in.”

Rowena bites her lip, clearly torn, her gaze shifting between us. “You’re right, both of you. It’s not fair to my baby to willingly expose them to a manipulator when they’re too little to protect themselves.”

We toast to leaving deadbeat dads where they belong—far away—and the mood brightens as we talk about Adrian. Rowena shows us the ring he bought her and mentions that we’ll get to meet him at the engagement party in three weeks.

I slam my palm on the table, sending our coffee mugs rattling. “Three weeks? Oh, hell no, we can’t wait that long to meet the mysterious Adrian West! It’ll be way too awkward if the engagement party is the first time we’re introduced.”

We insist a bit, and Rowena reluctantly agrees to ask him if we can get together sooner. With the promise she’ll introduce us to Adrian soon, we all hug goodbye and go our separate ways. The café is close to my apartment—it was one of our favorites when we lived together—so I walk the few blocks home, enjoying the early-evening sun that is still bright but not as hot. It’s late-ish when I get back.

I let myself in, feeling like an intruder. I listen for signs of Dylan’s presence, but he mustn’t be home yet. The apartment is quiet, too quiet. Empty without Rowena’s laughter or Nina’s chatter. I head to the kitchen and rummage through the freezer, settling on a frozen dinner.

The microwave dings and I grab my food, locking myself in my room. I refuse to risk running into Dylan after what happened this morning. I eat my unremarkable chicken fried rice in bed, watching video tutorials on my phone on how to create the perfect online dating profile.

Step one: don’t look like you’ve been eating sad microwaveable dinners alone.

I apply the newly gained expertise to draft a semi-decent, witty bio but don’t post it yet. I’ll wait until tomorrow when I’m with Clara for validation. Baby steps.

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