Page 23 of Tapped By My Roommate
“Oh, I’m not…” He glanced down at his phone. “Shoot, Iamrunning late.”
“Go then,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’ll catch you next time our ships pass in the night.”
He looked uncertain. “Right, okay. Bye, Ethan.”
Hearing my name on his lips shouldn’t have sent a shot of electricity through me. He’d said my name countless times before. But it was different now.
I was different now.
And if I ever wanted to understand just what that meant for me, I had to be bolder than I’d ever been before. I had to be brave, like Rhett.
I was going to sign up for Thrust—and finally figure out if my reaction to that kiss meant what I thought it did.
* * *
RHETT
When business slowed, I ducked into the backroom for a moment of quiet. The music was ear-splitting tonight, but my guilty conscience still drowned it out.
When I’d come out of the shower to find Ethan in the hallway today, shame had unfurled in my gut even as the desire to reach out and touch him had been almost overpowering. Fourteen days. That’s how long it had been since I’d impulsively kissed him. Two full weeks since we’d had a normal interaction.
All my fault.
I shouldn’t have kissed him. And I damn sure shouldn’t have bailed when I did. If I’d owned up to my actions right then, maybe things would be easier now. As it was, I couldn’t get that kiss out of my mind. And Ethan seemed determined to avoid ever talking about it. Which was all well and good—except things were weird, and I didn’t know how to fix them.
And with all of that cluttering my brain, I’d still been unable to resist thinking about him while I was in the shower. I’d had dirty thoughts about a guy who was barely speaking to me. My straight roommate, who would probably be embarrassed by my fantasies, if not repulsed. It’d beenyearssince I’d fantasized about a real person. I could hook up with guys any time I wanted. Who needed fantasies when an orgasm was just the click of a button away?
Ethan was proving to be the exception, and I needed to get over my attraction to him.
I popped a couple of Tylenol and guzzled them down with water before taking a seat on a box and checking my phone in search of a distraction.
Cary, Audrey, and I texted regularly. If we didn’t have anything to say, we shot each other silly memes to stay connected. Their message stream was always my first stop when I had a few minutes to spare.
Cary had sent me a pic of himself in the new cleats he’d gotten with my help. He looked so damn grown up. It was still hard to believe my baby brother was in high school.
Audrey had commented on the pic:Cary thinks he’s cool. Isn’t that funny?
Cary had responded with a series of rude GIFs. I laughed at the images of dog butts. I counted six before Cary ran out of energy—or dog butt images. Either was possible.
Audrey then launched into her campaign to get me to give her driving lessons. She’d been pleading with me for weeks. Mom was uncomfortable with Audrey driving her car, despite her learner’s permit, because she didn’t have full coverage insurance. I didn’t either, but unlike Mom, I struggled to say no.
And now Audrey was bringing out the big guns.
You helped Cary out. I’m not even asking for money. You’re going to make me think you don’t love me as much as him.
Cary:He doesn’t love you because you’re adopted. Oops. That was a secret, wasn’t it?
Audrey:Oh, shut up, dork. I look just like Mom. But you…you really don’t resembleanyonein the family, do you?
Cary:Ha-ha. Kiss my…
He posted another dog butt.
I rolled my eyes. Guess he hadn’t run out of pictures, after all. They might keep this sibling rivalry BS going all night if I didn’t jump in.
Rhett:I love you both. You’re both dorks. I saw Mom get preggers with you both, so knock it off.
Rhett: And fine. I’ll give you driving lessons, Aud, but if you wreck my car, Cary will be my favorite sibling.
