Page 70 of Roommating

Adam’s eyes widen, but then his features smooth out again. “That was harsh. I’m sorry.”

I neither accept nor reject his apology.

“You still have plenty of time to find another roommate. Maybe there’s someone else like Marcia on that RoomBridge app.” His eyes sparkle with hope.

Except thereisno one else like Marcia. I can’t just replace her or duplicate our relationship with any random septuagenarian.

My stomach sinks as doubts fill my head. Am I being selfish? Is giving up my room the right thing to do? The last thing I want is to keep Marcia from her grandson. But I truly believe defending my right to live hereisbest, not only for me but for Marcia. My plan was to stay as long as she’ll have me. Sure, I hoped someday I’d move on—either because I was moving in with a partner or able to better afford being on my own—but that could be years from now! Everything I know about Adam screams that he makes rash decisions and then doesn’t follow through. It’s why his ex-girlfriend broke up with him! What if I move out and Adam changes his mind and decides he wants to become a flight attendant or volunteer for Habitat for Humanity like Audrina’s ex? Or what if he misses his life in Philadelphia? Where would that leave Marcia? I just don’t believe he’s capable of knowing what he wants, and I’m not going to uproot my own life for nothing.

I stand from the couch so I’m looking down at him. “Marcia made it pretty clear that she was talking about you leaving, not me.”

“I’m sure she’d be thrilled.”

This stops me momentarily as the doubt creeps back in. But I just don’t believe moving out and Adam taking my place would make either of them happy in the long run. Living with a woman who is young enough to be your granddaughter is a different dynamic than actually living with your granddaughter.

Adam’s still talking. “How about I ask her tomorrow?”

I shake my head. “If you suggest taking over the guest room while I still have several months on my lease, it’s just going to stress her out more because she knows I don’t want to leave and I’m not a good actress. You can’t tell her now.” My brain sparks with an idea. It’s bonkers but I go with it. “How about this?” I sit back down and cross my legs. “If you can prove to me in the next few months that you truly are the better roommate and make me believe that you’ll stick around, I will bow out gracefully when my lease expires.” I raise a finger when Adam opens his mouth to respond. “I’m not done.”

He blinks. “Go on. I’m intrigued.”

“But I’m also going to be the best roommateIcan be and if Marcia wants me to stay, you can’t argue.”

His eyes dance. “So like a contest?”

“More like a battle.”

“What are the rules?”

I tap a finger to my chin. “Marcia doesn’t get hurt.”

“That’s a given. Anything else?”

“I don’t think so.” I extend my hand. “Do we have a deal?” The risk of going through with this is that if Adam ends up the victor, I’ll have to follow through and give up the apartment gracefully. But the chances of him winning or even still wanting to stick around by the time we’re done are low. And if hedoeswin, it willmean that he’s the better roommate for Marcia and it’s for the best. I selfishly hope it doesn’t go that way.

When he takes my hand and gives it a firm shake, a bolt of electricity shoots through me. I know he feels it too because his eyes dilate and he holds it a beat too long. It’s a shame we’re in this position for many reasons, but one of them is that since we’re at war now, sex is most definitely off the table.

Chapter Thirty-One

What are you doing?”

I look up at Adam from where I’m crouched on the bathroom floor the next morning before work. He’s wearing sweatpants that ride low on his hips and a white T-shirt, possibly the same one he lent me the night we slept together for the first time. “Cleaning.” I brush a hair off my face. It’s damp because I’m sweating. Housework is strenuous exercise.

“With a toothbrush? I thought only Cinderella did that… and Annie and her fellow orphans.” He chuckles.

“It’s helping me target the hard-to-reach spaces.” After we shook on the deal last night, I made a PB&J sandwich for dinner and brought it to my room to strategize. This was the first item on my list. I go back to cleaning until my view of the floor is partially blocked by the gray of his sweatpants as he kneels next to me.

“This definitely qualifies as teacher’s pet–level extra credit, but if you’re going to put in the overtime, you might want to replace that.” He points at the Oral-B toothbrush in my hand. “It’s dirty, so you’re basically scrubbing the grime off just to put it back on.”

If I raise my head even slightly, I’ll be staring right at his dick, a temptation I don’t need, and so I steady my gaze on his thighs,which, let’s face it, are also tempting. “A cleaning expert, are you?” Being snarky with Adam comes surprisingly easy after months of getting along so well, and it seems to be mutual.

His teeth dig into his lips as if he’s holding in laughter. “Just trying to help.” He stands.

“I’ll take it under advisement, but maybe you should stop worrying about me and think about howyoucan prove you’re the better roommate. I haven’t seen you clean this room once since you moved in.” As far as I can tell, he hasn’t made any effort at all. Then again, it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours. I try to switch positions and wince. I’ve been sitting here way too long.

“I’ll take it under advisement,” he mimics.

I return to my scrubbing, expecting him to leave, but he hovers. “Do you need something?”

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