Page 12 of Roommating

“I see them on holidays and live close enough to make spontaneous trips if I’m homesick.”

My mom climbed her way up the corporate ladder of a pharmaceutical company and was always working when I was younger, leaving me and Audrina in the care of Nana Lena and Grandpa Lou. She had no choice, since my dad was a deadbeat and someone needed to put food on the table and keep me and Audrina clothed in the latest trends and up-to-date with the newest phone, but it’s hard to miss something I never had. And as much as I love my sister, we’re so different—she’s all about exercise and fashion and I’m into books and pop culture. Small doses work best for us.

I’m about to ask Adam about his friends’ reaction to his temporary relocation from Philadelphia, but Marcia rejoins us and changes the subject to Adam’s and my respective plans for the night.

“Homework for me.” A master’s in library science involves a lot of reading. I also have to choose the subject of my young adult author study due next week.

“What about you, Adam? Going to explore the city more?”

Adam covers his mouth and yawns. “Not tonight. I’m too old. When you get to be my age…” He grins.

Marcia wags her finger at him. “I never want to hear that phrase again. Consider this your warning.”

Adam laughs. “Understood. I’m going to stay home and relax tonight. I’ve been wanting to watchOne of Us Is Lying, although I doubt it’s as good as the book.”

“It’s not,” I confirm. “But it’s worth watching.”

He exhales audibly. “The book is always better.”

“Agreed!” I beam at him.

“Netflix and chill. Great idea,” Marcia says.

I choke on a laugh, assuming she hadn’t meant to encourage her grandson to have casual sex in her living room. Adam and I share a knowing smile across the table. The bonding moment hits me below the waist, and I might be the first person in history to speculate if her roommate’s grandson has chest hair under his Henley.

“I need a break from Jeffrey’s constant nagging to figure out my life,” he says.

Marcia frowns and kisses the top of his head. “My poor boy. Take all the time you need.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Grams.”

While I run the dishwasher and scrub the soiled pots and pans, Adam helps finish clearing the table. Marcia lingers in the kitchen and watches Adam as if she’s afraid he’ll disappear in a poof of dust.

I stop what I’m doing to observe them hug again. Marcia’s eyes are closed, and a soft smile plays on her lips. Her joy at being reunited with Adam couldn’t be more obvious if she screamed it out the window. I’m truly happy for both of them, which is why I’m taken aback by the sudden desire to flee the room and cry into my pillow. When they break apart and catch me watching, I straighten my back and smile despite feeling like a third wheel in their sweet reunion.

Chapter Six

When my alarm goes off almost a week later, I press snooze with a groan. Tuesdays are rough because I have a shift at the library followed by both of my classes in the afternoon and evening. I lie flat on my back with my arms over my head and my legs stretched out. My eyes are closed, but it’s no use. Even if I could fall back asleep, the nine extra minutes will haunt me later when I’m running late and missing every single light on my walk to work. Because that’s how it goes; if I get stuck at one red light, they’reallred lights from then on unless I’m willing to sprint across half a city block to get ahead of it. Usually, I’m too lazy.

I drag my miserable ass out of bed and into the living room. The couch is open and the sleeper bed is unmade, but there’s no Adam-shaped blob under the covers. I don’t know how late he usually sleeps, but he’s always still dead to the world, all cozy and tucked under a blanket when I leave for work. Before my brain has the chance to contemplate his current whereabouts, I step into the bathroom and bang right into his back. The first thing I feel is cool wet skin and muscle against my palms. My tired brown eyes meet Adam’s alert light-blue ones through the bathroom mirror. And just like that, I’m wide awake. And mortified. “Oh my God. I didn’t mean… I didn’tsee you there.” My hands are still on his bare back. I drop them like they’re on fire.

“You’re fine.” Adam turns around so we’re face-to-face.

I suck in a breath. The bathroom we share is not big—more spacious than an airplane bathroom, but much smaller than Marcia’s en suite. Between the toilet, blue single-sink pearl-granite vanity, and glass-door standing shower, there’s enough room for one person, but two is cutting it close. Real close. Adam can probably see the line of sweat forming on my forehead. It’s easy to avoid continued eye contact since he’s so much taller than me, but it leaves me staring at his torso.

I take in the light dusting of dark hair on the top of his chest, the smooth skin below, and the happy trail beginning at his belly button and leading under the towel…mytowel. I consider telling him he got the short end of the stick, since the cheap blue and pink towels in the closet are mine and the bougie, fluffy white and green ones are Marcia’s. But it’s not a big deal. The idea of us sharing the same towel is kind of hot. Heat pools below my belly. Kind of ironic that I need a cold shower because he just took a hot one.

“Do you need to use the bathroom?” He’s so close I can smell the mint from his toothpaste.

I try not to look at his bare triceps, but that leaves my view open to most of his other parts, which are equally naked. “Um… Yes.”

He either has no idea what effect his almost-naked body is having on me or he’s a very good actor. “I didn’t want to change in the open living room, but it’s so hot and steamy in here so I left the door half open to let the air in.”

I nod stupidly. It’s definitely hot and steamy in here.

He frowns. “I should have checked with you before showering. I don’t usually get up this early, but I have plans today. Are you in a hurry? I’ll just be a few more minutes.”

“It’s okay. Take your time.” My voice comes out breathy. I want to ask what plans he hassobad.

---