Page 11 of The Roommate Situation

“So what are you allergic to?” he asks as he dishes some bacon onto a plate and sets it down in front of me. I snatch a piece up and take a bite. “Oh, everything,” I say. “Trees, grass, mold, dust, you name it.”

“Wow, that’s rough. You try allergy shots? My mom did those for a while and they seemed to help a lot with her allergies.”

“Uh, no, I don’t handle needles very well,” I say, just the thought making me nauseous.

“Oh, yeah, that would make it harder, huh?” He gives me a grin as he sets a waffle down in front of me with syrup, and my dairy free butter. Then he’s back with fresh fruit and dairy free whipped topping.

“I didn’t buy that,” I tell him. He flushes.

“I did. This morning. There’s a King Soopers just down the way. I also picked up some gluten free flour and almond milk.”

My cheeks heat. “You did all that for me?”

He shrugs. “It’s no big deal. I wanted waffles and I wanted you to be able to eat them. They’re gluten, dairy and egg free.”

Wow, I think I might cry. “I’ll pay you back for the food. You shouldn’t have to spend your money on things that are for me.”

He shakes his head. “Nope, I wanted to do it, and I’ll use it, too. Now eat up. I’m gonna go get dressed. I have class soon.”

I gobble down the waffles and fruit, then snatch another piece of bacon, before making my way to the bathroom to shower.

Once I’m dressed in my usual pants, dress shirt and this time a lime green bow tie and suspenders, I head to my morning classes, then my afternoon shift at the bookstore. It’s fairly slow so I’m able to get some reading done for one of my classes while I’m there. When my phone buzzes in my pocket I take it out, and can’t help the smile that crosses my face when I see a text from Parker.

Parker: hey, take a look at this and let me know if it sounds good for dinner.Then there’s a link that I click on and it takes me to a website where I see a gluten and dairy free lasagna. I can’t believe this guy is researching meals for me and offering to do the cooking because I told him I hate it. Damn, my heart is fluttering.

Me: it looks great, but I’m buying the ingredients this time. I’ll head to the store after I’m finished with work.Probably be home around 7ish?

Parker:you got it, little rabbit! See you then. Smiley face emoji

I’m about to reply with my own emoji when I hear an all too familiar voice and look up to see Zach standing there with his arm around some guy, a wicked grin on his face.

“Hey, Rory, how’s it going?” he says. “You haven’t been responding to my texts so I thought I would drop by. This is Chad, by the way. He’s the guy I was fucking when you walked in on us.” My cheeks flame and it only gets worse when he leans closer and says, in a voice that is intentionally not a whisper, “I fucked him every night this week, and he took it so well, Rory. He didn’t complain that I was too rough. And he didn’t sound like a bitch in heat, either. I came in him so fucking hard every single time. God he milked my cock so well. Better than your ass ever could.”

My cheeks are so warm I must look like a tomato and I have to keep the tears from stinging at the corners of my eyes. What has he been telling everyone about me? What has he told Chad about me?

To add insult to injury he leans over the counter and knocks into my coffee cup, making it topple and spill all over the counter and my book, even getting some on my pants as he says, “Oops, so clumsy,” and cackles along with Chad as they stroll away.

I do my best to wipe up the mess, but it takes more time than I would like since I have to run to the nearest bathroom for paper towels. I have tears sliding down my cheeks as I dry off my book, but when I try to separate the pages they tear like tissue paper. Fuck. This wasn’t a cheap book, either, and now I’ll have to buy a new one, and I hate asking Mom and Dad for more money. They aren’t poor by any means but they’re already doing so much for me. Plus I can’t say Zach ruined it. I still haven’t told them what happened.

“Hey, freckles, I didn’t know you worked here,” I hear and look up to see Parker standing there as I wipe my pants off, concern written all over his face. “What happened?”

“My ex happened,” I tell him, sniffling. “He’s a real sweetheart.”

“Really? Sounds kind of like an asshole to me,” he replies and I look up at him, his face completely stoic. Is he for real?

“No, he is,” I say. “I was being facetious.”

His mouth opens in an “O” and I can’t help smiling a little at the image of a lightbulb going off over his head. “Right, yeah, that makes sense. You okay?”

“I will be,” I tell him, though Zach’s words are still running on repeat through my head and I can’t get rid of the sick feeling in my stomach.

“Anything I can do?”

“No,” I sigh, “but thanks for asking. I’m just gonna finish up here and then go home to change before I head to the store.”

“Can I get you to ring this up for me?” he asks, and I realize he is holding a pair of sweats with the school’s name on it. Right, of course he came in here for a reason.

“Yeah, sorry,” I say. “Just let me wash my hands really quick?” He nods and I scurry off. When I get back he’s waiting for me, and I ring his purchase up before he waves goodbye and heads out the door.

---