Page 66 of The Roommate Experiment

“Come on, Hunt.” She grins. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

We sway together to the music, laughing and spinning, and for a few brief spins, I forget about everything else. But then Dylan and Olivia join us, and it all comes rushing back.

He catches my eye, and for a second, I see something in his expression—self-consciousness? Regret? But it’s gone as quickly as it came, replaced by his usual serene smile as he twirls Olivia around.

By the time the evening winds down, I’m even more drained. I watch from the sidelines as Olivia rests her head on Dylan’s shoulder, and the weight of everything becomes unbearable.

When the fireworks start, I slip away quietly, finding a secluded spot by the beach to catch the show from a distance. Lights explode above us, and everyone else oohs and ahhs, but I feel numb.

The sky erupts into vibrant reds and golds, the colors offensively happy. I close my eyes, letting the sound of the waves wash over me and imagining a different ending to this night. One where it’s me in Dylan’s arms, me he’s looking at with that smile that makes my heart thud.

But when I open my eyes, I’m still alone, and the fairytale fades away, leaving only the bitter truth in its wake.

31

DYLAN

The night air hangs heavy with humidity, pressing against my skin like a damp cloth. Fireworks explode overhead, bursts of color illuminating Olivia’s profile as she tilts her head to the sky. I’ve positioned us at the fringes of the crowd, preparing for the inevitable. As soon as the show ends, I’m ending our relationship.

Olivia sighs, her voice wistful. “Fireworks always remind me of Theo. He loved them so much. Isn’t that weird?”

“Why? Most people love fireworks, don’t they?” I hum noncommittally, determined not to get sidetracked again. No matter how many times she mentions Theo tonight, my heart is fortified, encased in steel. I won’t let her sadness soften me, not this time. We are over.

Another firework bursts overhead, bathing us in electric-blue light. Olivia keeps her gaze fixed upward. “Yes, most people love fireworks. But dogs usually hate them, you know? They get scared and have to be kept inside.” A faint, wistful smile curls her lips. “Not Theo, though. He used to run around the backyard barking at them, tail wagging a mile a minute. Pure joy.”

I blink, certain I’ve misheard. “You mean, Theo is…a dog?” The question comes out sharper than intended, my voice cracking in surprise.

Olivia turns to me, eyebrows raised. Her expression shifts from curiosity to something bordering on condescension as if she was looking at a particularly bone-headed monkey. Another firework bursts, gold and purple sparks raining down.

“Of course Theo was a dog.” She talks as if explaining to a child. “The best dog ever.”

Irritation prickles under my skin at her tone, at her acting as if I’m the unreasonable one. Then shock gives way to disbelief. “Hold on. You’re telling me that all this time, you’ve been going on and on about your grief… for a dog?”

Olivia reels back as if I’ve slapped her. “Theo was like a brother to me, Dylan. We grew up together. He was my best friend.” Her voice trembles, but holds an undercurrent of steel.

“But… but,” I stammer, increasingly appalled, “you told me you had to go home fora funeral?”

“Yes. It was a beautiful memorial in our backyard. All the family gathered to celebrate his life.” Olivia’s tone is defensive, daring me to challenge her.

I can’t help myself. “You held a memorial? For a dog?”

“Yes, I told you from the start.”

“You told me your best friend had died, never mentioned it wasa dog. I thought an actual person had died.”

Olivia gasps, eyes narrowing. “Oh my gosh. You’re one of those, aren’t you?”

“One of what?”

“A simpleton who’d sneer at cherishing the memory of a soul that touched your life only because they walked on four legs instead of two.”

I open my mouth to retort, but nothing comes out. I’m caught between anger, confusion, and the absurd urge to laugh.

“Olivia, you’ve been acting like you lost a close relative. An uncle, a grandparent, a beloved neighbor.” I try to keep my voice level, but frustration seeps through. “I thought a member of your family had died.”

“Theowaspart of the family,” Olivia yells, startling a nearby seagull into flight.

“Okay, okay. But what are you going to do when you lose an actual human relative?”

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