Page 53 of The Roommate Situation

I hear voices inside and can’t help laughing when someone, not Parker, says, “Because I told you to, dick face, and I’m older. Move it.”

The door opens and Parker is standing there mumbling, “That doesn’t even make any sense,” when he sees me. His eyes widen and his mouth gapes.

“Little rabbit?” he says, and my chest squeezes.

“Hi.”

The next thing I know he’s got his arms around me and my feet are off the ground as he squeezes me so tightly I think I feel a couple of ribs cracking. I wrap my legs around him and hold on as his grip on me loosens enough for me to breathe again. Then we’re staring at each other, and I can’t believe how fucking happy I am.

“Is it really you?” he says, and I nod.

“I can’t believe you're here. God, I’ve missed you so much. I–” he stops short and swallows and I can’t wait any longer.

“I love you,” I blurt. Then my nerves catch up with me when he just stares and I word vomit. “I hope that’s not super awkward when we’re not even technically dating, or maybe we are, but I don’t know for sure. We’ve never actually been on a date, unless you count those parties at school, and I don’t really count that, but if you want to that’s fine. And if you don’t feel the same, that's fine, too. I don’t want to pressure you. And now I’m realizing maybe I should stop talking but I’m super scared thatif I stop you’ll tell me something I don’t want to hear so I’m just gonna keep going until–”

His lips crash against mine and I grunt as he kisses me hard, holding me tighter again. I tighten my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, kissing him back.

“I love you, too,” he says, when he pulls away. “God, little rabbit, I’m so fucking in love with you.”

I can’t stop smiling and he kisses me again. “And we are dating,” he tells me when we’ve finally pulled back for air.

I giggle. “Okay.”

“I would carry you inside but someone should get your suitcase,” he says, and I let him set me down. He takes my luggage in one hand and my hand in the other and we step inside. “I’m afraid it’s not the quietest environment. My family doesn’t really do quiet, but we can go up to my room for some privacy. I should probably introduce you to everyone first, though. My sisters and Mom are at the movies, but you can meet Archer, Aaron and Dad.”

I nod, clinging to his hand tightly.

“Hey, you gonna let us meet the boyfriend?!” someone hollers from further inside the house.

Parker flushes but grins at me, and tugs me past the entryway and down the hall. He stops at a large open living area and kitchen where three men sit watching ESPN. The man who I’m assuming is his dad sits in a leather recliner. He looks how I imagine Parker will in about thirty years. Tall, muscular, but with a bit of spare tire around his middle, and thick hair that’s got more gray in it than brown. He’s wearing glasses and a kind smile.

“Hey, there he is,” he says, reaching his hand out for me to shake. “I’m Roger. We’ve heard a lot about you, Rory. It’s nice to meet you.” Out of the corner of my eye I see one of the twinsthrowing popcorn at the other, who is doing his best to ignore his brother.

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too. Thanks for letting me stay.” The brother who is being attacked by the popcorn turns and gives the other brother a wet willie and that one shouts in protest before reaching over and tweaking the nipple of the other one. I’m so distracted by it all, but Parker and Roger aren’t even looking at them, like they’re completely used to this behavior, which I suppose they are.

“Of course. The more the merrier.” He turns back to the tv like his sons aren’t practically wrestling on the couch now, one with the other in a headlock.

Even though I’ve already sort of met Archer, I can’t tell them apart to save my life.

“Say it,” the one giving the headlock says.

“No,” the other protests, and I look at Parker.

“Are they always like this?”

“Oh, this is nothing,” he tells me. “This is them being calm.”

I laugh and then laugh even more when the one giving the headlock repeats, “Say it.”

“Dude, I’m not telling you you’re prettier than me. We’re fucking identical twins. Now get your hands off me.”

Parker shakes his head but there’s a smile on his face when he grips my waist and hauls me up again. I let out an “eep” but smile and cling to him like a koala as he carries me towards the stairs. “They could be at that for a while. You can meet them officially later.”

“What about the suitcase?”

“It can wait,” he tells me with a grin. He makes his way up the stairs with relative ease, grinning at me more as we pass a bathroom and two more bedrooms on the way to his room. When we’re finally inside, Parker shoves the door closed with his foot and tosses me on the bed.

I squeak in surprise as I land on the mattress and then smile widely as he climbs on and hovers over me. “I can’t believe you’re here,” he says, his thumb brushing against my bottom lip and his hazel eyes fixed on mine. “God, I was going crazy missing you.”

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