Page 69 of The Roommate Experiment

Tristan shrugs, nonchalantly. “The gossip is great.” He pauses for dramatic effect, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Your brother is single again. Miss Perfect got the boot last night.”

The words, so casual in their delivery, detonate like a grenade in my chest. I almost choke on a bite of my cinnamon bun, coughing heavily as I reach for my glass of orange juice. The citrus burns as it goes down, but it’s nothing compared to the fire in my veins.

Dylan is single? How? When? Why? What happened? He and Olivia were the perfect couple yesterday. I have a million questions, but I’m stricken mute.

Nina has no trouble talking, though—even too much. She turns to me, a foxy grin spreading across her face. “We need a plan.”

I play dumb, not wanting my infatuation for Dylan to be paraded in front of everyone, especially Tristan, his fucking best friend and also the worst gossip around. “A plan for what?” My voice stays impressively steady despite the flutter of nervous energy crawling up my spine at the idea of Dylan being single again.

Possibility and excitement wage war in my chest against confusion and disbelief. I take another sip of my orange juice, the cool liquid doing little to quench the burning thirst for answers.

Nina rolls her eyes, oblivious to my attempt at deflection. “A plan for you to seduce my brother, duh.”

The word “seduce” hits me like a slap to the face, unexpected and way too public. The directness of her statement makes my cheeks heat, the flush creeping all the way to my ears. I hiss at Nina, “Shut up.”

The eyes of the entire table fix on me, Tristan’s included. The weight of his curiosity sharpens my embarrassment. Nina looks surprised. “Why?” she asks, then repeats, “You have to seduce Dylan before he starts dating someone else completely wrong for him.”

I grit my teeth, to keep my voice low. “I’d rather not discuss my feelings for Dylan in front ofhis best friend.”

Tristan raises his eyebrows, his mouth quirking into a smirk as he points at his chest with mock innocence. “Moi?”

Between gritted teeth, I reply, “Yes, you.”

Nina hurries to reassure me. “Don’t worry, there’s a Chinese Wall in place.” She turns to Tristan, her expression serious. “You won’t repeat to Dylan anything you hear this morning, right?”

Tristan makes a cross-my-heart gesture. “I’m sworn to secrecy.”

I grip my glass tighter than necessary, as though it could anchor my swirling thoughts, still unconvinced.

But Nina smiles wide again. “Now can we move on to the plan?”

I hesitate, doubt creeping in. “Is there any point? Dylan has known me for years and never made a move. Why should he suddenly realize he’s into me now?”

Rowena counters, “But you’ve had a thing for Dylan for ages and never made a move either. You can’t be sure how he feels.”

Tristan low whistles. “Really, Hunt? You’ve been into my bro for years and never said anything?”

“He’smybrother.” Nina swats him. “And don’t be a dick; can’t you see she’s head over heels in love and had to live with him for a month while he was dating someone else?”

“And here I thought I was the one with the big news.” Tristan focuses his glacier-blue eyes on me. “You’re seriously that into him, like in love?”

I reluctantly nod, unsure of what to feel. The possibility of Dylan loving me back is both tantalizingly close and impossibly far away. I press my nails into my palms to steady myself, but my pulse continues to race, fueled by a potent mix of hope and fear.

Nina jumps in, her eyes gleaming as she taps her fingers against her coffee mug. “You should take advantage of it being summer and parade around the house as little dressed as possible. Maybe even sabotage the air conditioning.”

I nearly spit orange juice on her. And as I cough the liquid down, Rowena replies instead, her voice carrying a sharp edge. “She could strip naked in front of Dylan, but if he’s not ready for a relationship or has his own holdbacks, he won’t be seduced by her.”

For the first time since arriving, Adrian speaks. He levels Rowena with a stare so scalding, I’m tempted to intercept it with my mug of lukewarm coffee to have it re-heated.

“He might notacton what he’s feeling, but he’ll be seduced alright.” Adrian’s voice is velvety and rough, and his dark eyes smolder with an intensity that shifts the mood in an instant, like a slow-burning match nearing a wick, making the air between him and Rowena ablaze with something raw and unspoken. They are having an entirely different conversation only they can understand.

Rowena blushes and looks away, her fingers fidgeting with her napkin. Adrian, cool as a cucumber, takes another sip of his over-sugared coffee, looking unaffected.

We all blink for a stunned, suspended moment at the end of Adrian’s declaration until Nina jumps right back on topic, turning to Tristan with a mischievous grin. “You’re Dylan’s best friend. You should know what will seduce him.”

Tristan raises his hands in mock surrender. “Whoa, it sounds like treason to divulge the man’s secrets.”

Nina pokes him in the ribs. “Come on, Montgomery. You’d better start talking.”

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