Page 67 of Tapped By My Roommate
“I should shower,” I mumbled, unable to look at him, naked in my bed, without giving away how much this was killing me. “Class soon.”
I made a hasty retreat, now immune to my modesty in favor of escape. As I went, I almost laughed at how I’d thought just yesterday that I could get anything I wanted if I had the courage. Rhett wasn’t attainable, no matter how bold I was. It wouldn’t change what he wanted, or what his heart felt for me—or didn’t feel.
I was an idiot to think I could do this with him and come out of it unscathed. I’d written the rules myself; our hookups were meant to be sex only, not romance.
But a set of rules couldn’t stop my heart from yearning for more.
18
RHETT
Icouldn’t focus on Algorithm Design and Analysis. I couldn’t even focus on making a simple cocktail, so advanced computer science was beyond me. More than usual, that was.
I sat in the backroom of Tracks, on my break, desperately trying to cram for a quiz coming up. It wasn’t your typical written quiz. Professor Crawford would be setting up a series of computer algo and software problems for us to solve hands-on. In one way, it’d be better than fumbling my way through a theoretical discussion of what would or would not be the best approach to a given problem. On the other, I’d havetoactually solvethe problem.
“Rhett?”
I glanced up to see Keri in the doorway. “Hmm?”
“Hal is here.”
I scrambled up, horrified to be busted studying on the job. She seemed to read my worry. “I told him you were taking inventory, but he’s in a hurry. Says you left him a message about some sort of event?”
My stomach twisted. I’d nearly forgotten that I’d pitched Ethan’s fundraiser idea to Hal. I didn’t know now if I wanted him to approve it or not. No, of course I did. The animal rescue meant a lot to Ethan—and I could never refuse to help him with something so meaningful. It was bound to be awkward to talk about plans for it. But then, what wasn’t awkward these days?
We’d gone back to trying to find our footing as roommates. It was better than those early days after the impulsive kiss. Ethan didn’t run from the room when I entered. He didn’t refuse to make eye contact. But things felt oddly formal between us, a little stilted, as if we were both reading lines for a role—trying our best to act as we thought we should.
It hurt to see Ethan and know that I couldn’t have him. I spent far too much time jerking off while replaying our intimate moments in my fantasies and wondering how long it would take Ethan to start dating someone. I’d considered asking him out, of course. Telling him that I wanted to try dating for real. But I didn’t want to rush into anything. I’d never had a boyfriend, and I still wasn’t sure if I’d be good enough for Ethan. I had a lot of responsibilities on my plate, and I’d hate for my boyfriend to feel as if he came last.
I also wanted to get a better feel for whether Ethan would even want that before I blurted out nonsense that might send us right back into a tense, untenable living situation.
Taking a little time was a good idea. It wasn’t easy, but it was right. We both needed a little separation from the hookup arrangement we’d set. Time to really figure out what we wanted and how to get it.
I set my books aside and hurried to the bar, where Hal was waiting impatiently. He was a large man with a terrible haircut and a bushy mustache that put me in mind of a walrus. He was mostly retired, beyond owning Tracks, but he was a smart businessman. He’d run the bar for decades as Hal’s Watering Hole, but at some point, he’d rebranded it to Tracks to take advantage of the college crowd and draw in more people with live music.
“Hey, sorry to keep you waiting,” I said.
He waved a hand. “So, this idea you mentioned about a trivia night…?”
“A fundraiser idea for Oasis Animal Rescue outside town. A friend of mine works there, and he said they’re looking for some events to draw in the college crowd.”
Hal nodded, looking thoughtful. “I’m not opposed, so long as I don’t have to foot the bill for the trivia equipment. Could be a good draw. We can do drink specials, draw in some new folks. I like it.”
“Okay, cool. I’ll let him know. I don’t think they’ve nailed down the details yet.”
Hal rapped his knuckles on the bar. “Good, good. You know, maybe we should start a trivia game night if it goes well. What do you think?”
“Um, yeah,” I said, surprised he was asking my opinion. “It could be fun.”
He nodded. “Food for thought. All right, I’ll let you get back to work. Try not to study too hard.”
“Oh, I was just—”
He chuckled, and I stopped short.
“Rhett, you’re the most reliable bartender I’ve had in ages. If you find time to crack the books when it’s slow, I don’t care, so long as you keep this place running smoothly, eh?”
I nodded once. “Thanks.”
