Page 17 of Tapped By My Roommate
That explained the feeling in the pit of my stomach. Rhett had taken the night off work, helped me confront Tess, and comforted me. And I’d repaid him by asking him if I was sexy? Practically demanding that he tell me I was. While wearing my stupid fucking bowtie.
And then he’d…kissed me.
I lifted two fingers to my lips. They buzzed, as if the kiss had just happened, rather than eight hours before. It had been good. Electrifying. My stomach fluttered a little at the memory.
Rhett was objectively attractive, of course. I’d noticed that the day we met. He was athletic, had a great smile, and his hair did what it was supposed to do, falling in appealing sun-streaked waves instead of tumbling rumpled and messy like mine. But it was probably his confidence that made him really stand out. He was comfortable in his skin, and it showed in the way he moved, the way he spoke.
Even the way he kissed.
I threw back the blankets and climbed out of bed. My eyes caught sight of the trouble-making bowtie, neatly returned to the coat tree. Last night, after Rhett had rushed out, I’d numbly changed into a T-shirt and pajama bottoms, gone to the bathroom to drink a glass of water, and climbed into bed. The whole situation had been too surreal to process at the time. I’d fallen asleep after promising myself I’d think about what that kiss meant the next morning.
But whatdidit mean? I hadn’t woken with the answer. My subconscious had worked no magic while I slept.
I crossed the room, opening the door. The hallway was empty. Rhett typically slept later than me. I went to his bedroom door. I knew it was weird, but I needed to see him. Needed to see with my own eyes the guy who’d kissed me. The guy whose lips had felt so good against mine.
Maybe I’ll know when I see him. I’ll know how I feel…
Stomach tied in knots, I eased open his door. Peeked in, careful to be quiet so as not to wake him. But I needn’t have bothered.
His bed was empty. Rhett was gone.
A floorboard creaked behind me. A syrupy-sweet female voice said, “What are you doing?”
I jumped with a startled yelp and whirled. Linh smirked as I flailed.
Today, her hair was piled in a messy bun on top of her head. She wore a giant gray sweatshirt that went nearly to her knees, hot pink tights, and high-heeled boots. I’d once asked her why she always wore heels. Linh said, “You try life at four-foot-six and then get back to me.”
I placed a hand over my racing heart. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”
She shrugged. “I wasn’t trying to sneak. Really, Ethan, you’d besoeasy to kill.”
Comforting thought. Linh was full of grim truths like that one, though. I wasn’t even surprised.
I also wasn’t surprised she was in the apartment, even though we locked the door at night. Maybe Rhett had left it unlocked when he left. Maybe Linh knew how to pick locks. Both options seemed equally plausible.
Keeping her fed and happy seemed wise.
“Want breakfast?” I asked.
“Only if you have sugary cereal that’s as addictive as a drug.”
“I’ve got Frosted Flakes.”
She considered. “Good enough. But next time buy some Cinnamon Toast Crunch. You know that’s my favorite.”
“I’ll be sure to consult you before I do my next grocery run,” I said dryly.
Linh followed me to the kitchen and watched me pour her cereal and add milk. When I handed her the bowl, she took a big bite, then said, while crunching obnoxiously, “So?”
“So what?”
She chewed some more, then swallowed. “So, tell me what happened last night.”
My heart nearly leapt out of my chest. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“With the ex! Didn’t you go?”
Oh, right. Tess.That had happened yesterday too, hadn’t it? Rhett’s kiss had eclipsed everything else in my mind.
