Page 49 of The Roommate Situation

“Thank you.” Rory gives a small smile, but I can tell he’s worried about his friend.

We leave shortly after that, and Rory stays behind as more people come through to view his work and congratulate him. It’s late by the time he gets back to the apartment and toes off his dress shoes. He looks exhausted.

I pat my leg and he lies on the couch with his head in my lap while I massage his scalp. He’s snoring only minutes later and I carry him to bed.

RORY

The following day we don’t have classes. We’re finished with finals and we leave tomorrow to go home for Christmas break. I’m beyond excited to see my family again and watch Ava and Addison get their green belts in martial arts, but I’ve also been pretty melancholy about the fact that I won’t see Parker for two weeks. No kisses, no hand holding, no cuddles, no sex.

I’ve finally had to admit to myself that I’m head over heels for him, but I’m scared it’s too soon and I don’t want to say anythingyet. I don’t know what the right timing is for this stuff. I just know he’s it for me.

We sleep in and then fuck in the shower. We pack and then fuck again. I feel like I can’t get enough of him knowing I’ll be dropping him off tomorrow and that he’ll be all the way in California. Will he want me to call him? Or will he be too busy having fun with his family to talk to me?

We eat dinner early and then head over to Lucy’s around eight. Parker is dressed in an ugly Christmas sweater and jeans and I’m wearing a red shirt with a green bow tie and black suspenders. I also have reindeer antlers on my head and of course, my earplugs.

Her apartment is about a ten minute drive and when we arrive we hear Christmas music playing from the other side of the door as we stand in the hallway. I knock and the door opens a moment later. It’s one of Lucy’s roommates and she smiles and ushers us inside. We join the rapidly growing crowd of people, chatting, laughing, and drinking. There’s several new faces. Jackson is here, as well as some classmates of Lucy’s and her roommate’s friends. Chris, Blake and Preston are here too. And I can’t help noticing how Preston and Jackson are staying on opposite ends of the room from each other, but glancing at the other constantly.

Parker and I head to the kitchen to grab a drink. We chat with Lucy for a minute before she gets whisked away by a girl with red hair and very ample breasts who’s dressed in what can only be described as a Santa Claus jumpsuit, and a headband with blinking Christmas lights on it.

Preston stumbles into the kitchen a second later with a drink in his hand. His face is slack and his lips are pressed into a thin line as he puts his cup down and loads up a plate with snacks.

“Hey, you okay?” Parker asks.

“Yeah, sure.” Preston’s reply is clipped and he shoves a chip in his mouth, crunching down on it hard.

I exchange a look with Parker and he shrugs. “How were finals?” he tries again.

“Great,” Preston says. “Amazing. Fucking fantastic.”

I hear a laugh from the next room that I know is Jackson, and Preston’s body tenses. He eats more. As I get a closer look at him I can see that he is definitely not okay. His eyes look red and bloodshot, like he hasn’t been sleeping, and I’ve never seen him this worked up before. He’s clearly pissed, and I have a feeling it’s at my best friend. What is going on with those two?

“Listen, I know we haven’t talked much lately,” Parker says to his friend. “But you know you can talk to me. About anything.”

Preston nods. He sounds more tired than upset when he says, “Yeah, thanks. I’m fine, though. Really.”

Parker squeezes his shoulder, and we make our way into the living room. There’s a makeshift dance area, and on the other side of the room there’s a group of people playing some sort of drinking game having to do with Christmas songs.

Parker and I dance for a little bit before we head back into the kitchen for a snack. It’s only a few seconds later that I hear Preston’s voice coming from the living room, and then a collective gasp. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Preston, calm down.” That’s Jackson’s voice. Parker and I hurry into the living room to see what’s going on. We get there in time to see Preston shove another guy, someone I don’t know but who was clearly getting friendly with Jackson.

“Get your fucking hands off him,” Preston snarls.

“What the hell?” Jackson says. “Preston, lay off. It’s none of your business.”

Preston’s face is filled with hurt. “Fuck you,” he retorts, the entire room staring at the scene in front of us. “I can’t do this anymore, Jackson. I’m fucking done. Have a nice life.”

He turns to Lucy. “I’m sorry,” he says, and he honestly looks like he might cry. Then he’s turning and heading for the door.

I look at Parker as the party resumes and then across the room at Jackson, who seems to be torn between staying and leaving as the guy Preston shoved moves back into Jackson’s space.

Jackson brushes him off and heads for the door, too. Jesus, what the hell? I look at Lucy and she shakes her head.

We don’t stay much longer because I’m exhausted and can’t handle the noise. But when we do get back to our apartment I text Jackson to ask if he’s okay.

There’s no reply.

SIXTEEN

---