Page 67 of Roommating

“Does your mom not have the money to help you out?” He holds out his bag of chips.

I take one and bite into it. “Honestly, I don’t really know her financial situation. I mean, she’s got a very important job at a pharmaceutical company and it’s just her. Well, my sister lives with her now, but it’s temporary and I don’t think it’s costing her much extra. She’s probably in good shape, but she worked tirelessly for every dollar. When we were choosing majors for college, she urged us to pick something that would easily lend itself to getting a job because she majored in sociology and minored in psychology, neither of which qualified her for much after graduation besides more school. She worked reception and office-manager jobs for little pay and then stayed home when we were first born. But when our dad left, his shark of a divorce lawyer got him the minimum alimony and child support payments, which he barely paid.”

“He’s as bad as mine.”

I shrug. My dad is a nonentity in my life, not worthy of discussion. Audrina has tried to track him down with social media, but I already have too many regrets about the way I treated Nana Lena to waste more energy on him. Considering how little time I had withhim, it’s easy to forget I evenhavea father sometimes, and also better for my mental health not to dwell on it. “Anyway, my mom did what she had to do and that meant working her ass off.”

Adam studies me. “I bet she’s a great mom.”

I nod. “Not in a television sitcom way, but I think so. I remember her coming home from working late just in time to tuck me into bed. Sometimes I’d be mostly asleep but would feel her kiss me goodnight. She always sounded so tired, but I could feel the love in the kiss she left on my forehead and the way she pulled the blanket up to my chin before leaving the room.” I smile at the memory. “She worked so hard to raise me and Audrina. She paid for our college educations on her own. She’s helping Audrina out again and that’s enough. I want her to be able to retire soon and giving me handouts will make it that much harder. I’d definitely ask if I really needed the money, and Iknowshe’d help me out. But I don’t think a girlfriend trip to Europe qualifies as a necessity.”

Adam’s eyebrows knit together. “I guess it depends on your definition ofnecessity. Maybe you should let your mom decide.”

“Thanks, Aunty Karen.” I don’t bother to disguise the snark in my voice in response to the unsolicited advice.

He raises his hands in surrender. “Sorry. You obviously know your mom better than me.”

“I just wish my tastes ran to a higher-paying career because the thought of being poor for the rest of my life makes me want to slap my younger self for being all, ‘Libraries are thebest! I want to work at a library when I grow up!’” I contort my face in an expression of disappointment at teenage Sabrina’s choices.

Adam chews and swallows. “Careers that pay well are overrated.”

I picture him at one of his previous corporate jobs. I’m positive he didn’t wear the tattered although extremely well-fitted jeans andT-shirt he’s wearing now when he worked at the bank and probably not at the cruise headquarters or beer distributor either. I’m also fully familiar with the pathetic salary of a library page. “You say that so casually. I assume you took a huge pay cut to work here. That must be hard.”

He shrugs. “I was always relatively entry level from switching industries, but yeah, the pay was higher. Not that I have much savings to show for it since it went almost entirely to my rent in Philly. But money seems like a worthy sacrifice for not dreading going to work every day. Then again, it’s easy for me to say that while sleeping rent-free on my grandma’s couch.”

I smirk. “You said it, not me.”

He smiles sheepishly. “But what you do is meaningful. Libraries have so much more soul than a commercial building on Market Street in Philly. They’re crucial to the community. Maybe that older woman who comes in a few days a week to play solitaire doesn’t have a computer at home or just needs a reason to leave the house. And what about the people who are clearly homeless and just need a warm place to sit for a few hours? They don’t bother anyone, and we keep them safe.” He lifts his chin. “Think about that next time you start doubting your career choices.”

His face is positively earnest, and it has the effect of pulling on my heartstrings and my ovaries in equal measure. My throat thickens and I touch two fingers to my mouth to keep my lips from trembling. Adam gets it. He’s one of us. When I’m sure I’m not going to cry, I open my mouth to tell him so. What comes out instead is, “I’m so turned on right now, I could climb you like the diving board at the town pool.”

Adam’s eyes darken. “What’s stopping you, Sabrina Finkelstein?”

I clench my thighs. I don’t know where the sweet, library-lovingboy went but those words in that deep timbre ofthisguy are downright scandalous, anddefinitelyin the sexyBridgertonway. But I attempt to play it cool. “Because we’re in alibrary, Adam Haber. Atwork.”

“Excuses.” He laughs.

It’s not the charming giggle I’ve heard before. It’s dangerous and so hot I crave a hand fan and might need a fainting couch.

“We have about ten minutes until my lunch break is over. I was thinking of taking an elevator ride first. Would you want to come?” He stares at me unblinking.

I’m momentarily confused since the main portion of the library is only two floors and I always use the stairs to move between them. Then it sinks in and I pulse between my legs. “I’d definitely like to come.”

The elevator door closes behind us. We’re alone. Adam’s hands cup my face, and he presses his lips to mine hungrily. I grasp his shoulders and walk backward a few steps until I hit the wall. I register a sharp pain in the small of my back, but I don’t care. Adam pulls my arms over my head and holds them up against the wall. Then he kisses me right there like he’s been waiting to kiss me his entire life.

He lowers his right hand and slides it into the back of my jeans. I suck in a breath at the contact.Snapgoes the flap of the white bodysuit I’m wearing under a hot pink blazer. Or should I say “unsnap”? His fingers trace the slickness between my legs for just a second. “You’re so wet,” he says before slipping his hand out of my pants way too soon. I press my body against his and grind against his rock-solid thigh instead.

The door opens and we jolt apart. My chest heaves. Is this what a heart attack feels like? There’s no one there. I let out a breath. Sodoes Adam. He reaches out his left hand and I’m sure he’s going to close the door again to continue what we started, but he presses two. We’re currently on the first floor. Disappointment hits me everywhere.

“Thanks for the ride, I guess?” I straighten my blazer, grateful it’s long enough to cover the back of my jeans in case it’s obvious my bodysuit is unfastened.

“Lunch break is over.” He stares straight ahead until the door opens again and turns to me. “After you.”

As I pass him, he whispers, “You’re such a bad girl, Sabrina. This is alibrary.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

When I walk into the apartment after class almost a week later, Adam’s on the couch. “My grandma has a date tonight,” he says in greeting.

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