Page 72 of The Roommate Experiment

She gives me a small smile. “Tristan mentioned it at breakfast.” She hesitates before asking, “Are you okay?”

“More than okay. I’m relieved.”

Again, Hunter makes a cryptic face, but if I had to interpret, I’d say she doesn’t seem too displeased by the notion. “Why relieved? I thought you two were happy together.”

I rake a hand through my hair. “Nah, I realized almost right away that Olivia wasn’t the right person for me. I wanted to break up with her, but then she had that funeral and it didn’t seem like an appropriate time, you know?”

Hunter nods, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes.

I launch into the story of my failed attempts at breaking it off, down to the gory details of grief socks.

Hunter tries not to laugh at the mention ofStep Into HealingandToe-tally Here For You.

She purses her lips. “Those are hardcore motivational quotes.” Then she turns somber. “What made you finally do it last night?”

I grin. “It was Olivia who dumped me. Apparently, I didn’t display the proper amount of support for her grief over the loss of Theo… wait for it…” I pause for dramatic effect. “The dog.”

Hunter’s eyes widen. “Wait, Theo wasa dog?”

I nod, and we both burst into laughter, unrestrained this time, the kind that makes your stomach hurt and eyes water. As our laughter settles, I turn to her with a curious smile. “You’re not a dog person, are you?”

Hunter shrugs, eyes still watery but twinkling. “I like dogs, but I wouldn’t give out grief socks for a Fido funeral.” She claps a hand over her mouth. “Oh gosh, are we horrible people for laughing about this?”

I reach out and gently pull her hand away. “If we are, then you’re my kind of horrible person.”

“Said the dog hater.”

We burst out laughing again.

When the chuckles fade, they leave a comfortable silence between us. Hunter leans back against the couch, her fingers still loosely gripping the controller, her eyes shining from the afterglow of our shared amusement. The glow of the TV casts gentle shadows across her face, highlighting the curve of her smile. I want to kiss her so fiercely, but it’s too soon, and for now, having her next to me is enough.

Hunter glances down at the controller in her hands, then over at me, a playful glint lighting up her expression again. She asks, “What’s next? Want me to beat another puzzle for you?”

I grin, leaning in enough to make her breath hitch, our knees brushing again. “Alright, Brolin,” I tell her, “but this time, I’m not going easy on you. If you get stuck against a wall, I’m going to let the dragon eat you.”

Hunter sputters mock-indignantly, “That’s not very chivalrous of you.”

I smirk again, reminding her, “We established we’re horrible people. As the villain, I can let the dragon eat the damsel.”

She straightens up. “I’m not a damsel but a badass elf warrior. We’ll see who the dragon eats.”

I nod. “Game on, Brolin.”

I push play on the console, the stakes of the challenge seeming much higher than a simple video game.

34

DYLAN

The air in the gym is saturated with the mingling scents of sweat, disinfectant, and rubbery linoleum. My shirt sticks to my back as I hover in a lazy defensive stance, not really focused on the one-on-one basketball game I’m playing with Tristan. He fakes right, sneakers squeaking, and I’m too slow to pivot. The ball arcs uncontested toward the hoop, andswish—another point for him.

Tristan snags the ball, eyeing me. “Dude, why’d you even invite me to play if you’re gonna half-ass it and space out?”

I ignore his jab, blurting out the question that’s been bouncing around my head. “How did you know with my sister that it was more than just physical attraction?”

His brows shoot up. “Way to pivot, Thirty-Three.” He hurls the ball at me hard.

It thuds against my chest, forcing out a sharp exhale as I catch it with an “Oof.” I lob it right back. “C’mon, be serious. I need your help.”

---