Page 8 of The Roommate Experiment

Hunter

No, no, it was definitely the dishes thing, promise

I close my eyes, letting out a shaky exhale—crisis averted, suspicions brushed off. But an uneasy dissatisfaction lingers. I bite my lip, torn between the fear of exposing my true feelings and the urge to pry, to find out more about the woman who’s stealing my dreams.

Before I can stop myself, my thumbs are flying across the keyboard again.

Hunter

Hey, random question…

Did you know Dylan had a girlfriend?

The moment I hit send, my stomach drops. What am I doing? I want to reach through the screen and snatch the words back, but it’s too late. Nina has already read the text.Crap.I bite my lip harder as I roll over the bed, waiting for her response, wondering if I’ve said too much. If my best friend can read past my bullshit.

The three dots signaling Nina is typing pop up immediately, but her actual reply takes forever to come through. I shift restlessly, running an agitated hand through my hair and tugging it over my shoulder as I stare unblinking at the screen. Shit, did my question about Dylan’s girlfriend give away what’s really on my mind?

The suspense is killing me. I hop off the bed, pacing around the room to work off the nervous energy. I blow out the candle on my desk, crack open the window to let the smoke drift outside, and snap my laptop shut. Once the air clears and the summer heat starts to creep in, I shut the window again and settle on the bed, hugging my knees to my chest just as a new message from Nina pops on the screen.

Nina

Yeah, he mentioned going on a first date last week. Didn’t know it had progressed to something official. Why?

A prickle stings my eyes and I rapidly blink it back. Call it a hunch, but I get the distinct sense that this carefully neutral response isn’t what Nina initially wrote. As if she’s figured out my pathetic crush on Dylan, but we’re both studiously skirting around the topic.

I sigh heavily, the phone resting limply on my thigh until it vibrates with another incoming text from Nina.

Nina

How do you know about the girlfriend thing?

Chewing on my thumbnail, I debate how much to reveal.

Hunter

Dylan asked if he could bring her over sometimes

I type back, attempting a casual tone.

Nina’s reply has an oddly cryptic vibe.

Nina

If you’re not comfortable with a stranger in your space, you can say no…

I scoff. Right, because I really need to come across as even more of a psycho bitch to Dylan.

Hunter

No, I’m fine with it. Not a big deal. Just wanted to know if you’d met her and if she’s cool

I also want to know if she’s beautiful, have all her social handles so I can low-key cyber-stalk her, and would asking for her social security number be overkill?

Nina

Sorry, haven’t met her yet

I roll my eyes at the non-committal reply and I toss the phone aside on my pillow. I’m done with this conversation.

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