Page 74 of The Roommate Experiment

Tristan dodges the projectile, grinning. “I guess the plan worked, then. You, my friend, are seduced.”

He’s not wrong.

Tristan leans forward. “Did it start last Sunday? Or before?”

My cheeks heat up. “Before,” I admit, my voice low. “As soon as I moved in… even while I was with Olivia.”

Shame twinges in my gut at the confession, but it’s overshadowed by the exhilaration of voicing my feelings.

Tristan nods, understanding in his eyes. “Why haven’t you acted on it yet, now that you’re single?”

I muss the hair at my nape. “It’s too soon after the break-up with Olivia. I don’t want Hunter to think she’s a rebound.”

“What? From five-minute Olivia?”

“It was more like a month than minutes.”

“About that,” Tristan asks me pointedly. “Why did you try so hard with Olivia when it was obvious she wasn’t right for you?”

I glance away, the dim light from the pub’s patio reflecting off my beer bottle, casting a long shadow on the wooden table. I’m not entirely sure. “I think… I was on the rebound. I didn’t want to be alone.”

Tristan arches an eyebrow. “On the rebound? Your last serious relationship was two years ago.”

I stare at my best friend. “I was on the rebound from losing you.”

Tristan’s eyes widen. “What? You haven’t lost me.”

“I know. But…” I trail off, to find the right words. “It’s different now. I used to be your person, and now Nina is your number one. As it should be,” I add quickly, not wanting him to think I still begrudge their relationship. “But with the dynamic shifting and me moving out of the apartment, I guess I felt left out. That’s why I jumped into the thing with Olivia.”

Tristan leans forward on the table and levels me with a stare. His blue eyes are intense and sincere. “Dylan, we’re family. We’ll always be family. Even having this conversation with you, I’m breaking a code. Nina made me promise not to say anything about Hunter to you.”

I blink, surprised. “Why did you, then?”

“Because you’re still my number one, too. Together with Nina. We’re brothers, and that’s never going to change.”

My throat tightens at that. I nod, hoping he can see in my eyes what I can’t put into words. I give him a fist bump and make a joke because that’s what we do. “This is starting to sound too incestuous.”

“Sorry, Thirty-Three.” Tristan sits back, grinning. “I do feel a little guilty about spilling all your secrets to Hunter.”

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “I still can’t believe you told her about the socks.”

“Which brings us back to the original question you asked.” Tristan’s tone turns serious again. “Is it physical attraction for Hunter, or does it run deeper?”

I pause, considering. My mind flashes to all the little moments with Hunter—the way she laughs at my jokes, the warmth in her eyes when she looks at me, the comfort of being around her. It’s more than the allure of her long legs and bare shoulders.

“It runs deeper.” The realization hits me with full force. “Definitely runs deeper.”

Tristan leans forward, his eyes intent on mine. “What makes you say that?”

I take a swig of my beer, collecting my thoughts. “I just… can’t wait to come home every night, knowing she’ll be there. Being around her is easy, comfortable, right. I can be myself.” I hesitate, then admit, “I even told her about my dyslexia. You know I tell no one about that.”

Tristan’s eyebrows shoot up. He knows the significance of that confession. A slow smirk spreads across his face. “Well, then. There’s that.” He pauses, then adds, “And of course… the legs.”

I grin, my mind conjuring up the image of the smooth expanse of Hunter’s toned thighs under those tiny shorts. “And then there are the legs,” I agree, my voice husky.

Tristan chuckles, shaking his head. “What are you still doing here, man? Why don’t you go home and kiss the woman already?”

I mull the question, a wide grin breaking across my face. The beer in my hand is cold, but inside, I’m all warmth, giddy excitement bubbling up at the realization that I’m allowing myself to want this, to pursue it.

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