Page 49 of Roommating

“Same as it ever was.” Audrina takes a sip of her wine. “Mom still keeps the house ridiculously cold, and I have to turn up the heat when she’s not watching.”

I chuckle. No matter how much money Mom earns from her various promotions, she treats money like it could be taken away from her at any moment. Case in point, keeping the thermostat just high enough to avoid frostbite.

“She still leaves early for work and gets home late, so I rarely see her. Only now, I don’t have Nana Lena skulking around or my little sister following me like a puppy.”

I kick her foot with mine. “Can you believe what she said about Nana? I had no idea she felt guilty.”

She frowns. “Me neither.”

“The whole ‘Nana Lena Remembrance Day’ was her idea. Maybe she’s mellowing in her old age.”

We ponder the possibility in silence for a moment then collectively say, “Na!”

“And don’t let her hear you call herold. She prefers ‘middle-aged.’” Audrina smirks.

I bring my glass to my mouth. “Does Bob stay over?” Mom didn’t meet him until after Nana died and I was already out of the house.

“Not since I moved in.” She wrinkles her nose. “Do you think they fuck?”

I’m mid sip and wine dribbles out of my nose. “Gross.” I shake my head to erase the visual. “Although even one of Marcia’s reasons for wanting to meet someone is because she misses sex.”

“Respect. I hope I’m still horny at seventy.” She waggles her eyebrows. “What about you? Getting any?”

I want to deny it but can feel the heat rush to my face and a goofy smile slip out at the memory of my almost-fuck with Adam.

Audrina shoots up. “Don’t you dare hold out on me! I need to live vicariously through you. Who is he?”

“Adam. We didn’t have sex… but we kissed.”

“Just kissed? You’re blushing awfully hard over a kiss.”

“Kissed with some light petting.”

Audrina raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.

“Fine, we dry humped the fuck out of each other on the couch in plain sight and almost got busted by Marcia when she returned home early from her first date.”

Audrina howls, her glass of wine shaking in her hand. I join her.

My sister stops laughing and pins her eyes on me all thoughtful-like. “You like him, don’t you?”

I scratch my fingers up and down the blanket. “Even if I do, it’s too complicated with us living together and him being Marcia’s grandson. We already agreed it was a one-time slipup.”

Audrina lies back down and tugs her end of the blanket up to her chin. “That’s too bad. It’s tough out there. What’s a more convenient way to find your person than him sleeping in your living room? Aside from work, and he’s there too.” She kicks my foot. “All that proximity. You sure it won’t happen again?”

The truth is that I’mnotsure it won’t happen again. I’m definitelynot sure I don’t want it to. But I’ve hit a wall in terms of thinking about Adam. It’s time to move on. “Enough about me. How’s your job? Have you heard from Kevin lately? Should I even ask?”

She grins. “The job is great. Glenn Close and Justin Long came into the spa last week—separately, but two famous people in the same week was exciting.” Her face turns serious. “As for Kevin, we spoke a few months ago. I miss him, but we’re legally separated and he’s not ready to come home. Maybe I’ll try dating again. If Marcia can do it, so can I.”

“You should!”

“So should you. Since you’re determined to stay away from Adam and everything.”

She’s right. Ishould. But I’m pretty certain I won’t.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The following week, I’m on a folding chair at the library leading my first-ever story time while a dozen or so tiny humans sit crisscross applesauce at my feet on a bright multicolor rug.

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