Page 69 of Tapped By My Roommate
“Heck yeah. I’m the lizard king.”
I’d spent enough of my childhood decorating notebooks and folders that I could draw a lizard in my sleep.
Linh shot me a dubious look as I grabbed a marker to start drawing.
“That sounded better in my head,” I admitted.
“I bet a lot of things do,” she said, without a hint of sarcasm.
I finished my first lizard and started on a second. I was debating whether to draw something more elaborate than the simpler lizard body when Linh scrunched up her face and hummed.
“Are you sure that’s a lizard? It looks too short.”
I gasped. “Shut your mouth!”
Linh snatched up a glitter tube and pointed it at me. “Don’t make me use this!”
We both broke into laughter—which is how Rhett found us. Giggling over a half-finished posterboard, surrounded by art supplies, with Linh threatening me.
“What’s going on?”
He didn’t sound thrilled. We’d made a mess of the living room, and there was the eminent threat of never-ending glitter consequences. I could hardly blame him—even if I did wish he looked a bit happier to see me. Man, I was selfish. Rhett looked worn out, and he generally liked to decompress before work.
“Sorry. We were just working on my proposal for the fundraiser project, but we can clear it out if you want to watch TV.”
Linh frowned at me. “We’re not finished.”
“We can go to your place—” I started.
“It’s fine,” Rhett interrupted before we could bicker further. He crossed the room to look down at the poster’s progress. “What are you doing with this exactly?”
“It’s just to help sell my boss on the scavenger hunt and trivia idea,” I said. “I wrote a report too, giving her fundraising projections and data about similar events across the country.”
Rhett smiled at me, making my heart flutter. “Of course you did. You wouldn’t be Ethan unless you were writing reports or checking off lists.”
His smile slipped, and I wondered if he was thinking of another checklist. One I wish I’d never made. I’d updated it that night, after Rhett was sleeping, because I was just so damn thrilled by what we’d done. I’d wanted an official record of it. It was a milestone for me. I checked off items on the list, but I could have just as easily written inbest sex ever. And maybe…keep doing this forever.
That wouldn’t have scared Rhett away at all.
Now, I wish I’d left the notebook tucked away instead. Maybe Rhett wouldn’t have seen it. Maybe he wouldn’t have reviewed the rules and realized that our time was up. Even if I’d only gotten a few more days, that would have beensomething.
I cleared my throat. “Anyway, um, Linh thought my presentation could use some flair.”
Rhett nodded thoughtfully. “Cool. My boss came in yesterday, and I talked to him about this idea.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s a go, if your boss goes for it.”
“Oh, that’s great!” I beamed at him, unable to ignore the warmth that spread through my body. Rhett had helped me, even with things being a little strange with us. He was still my friend. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I pushed to my feet and hugged him—my body flashing hot the second we connected. Rhett went stiff, and I started to withdraw, but then he tightened his arms, pulling me in. For a long second, I let myself lean against him. I knew I shouldn’t take advantage of the simple gesture, but Ineededto feel him.
“I’m happy to help you,” he murmured. “Anytime.”
A lump formed in my throat. It was a reminder that Rhett was a nice guy who put others first. He’d put me first the entire time I’d explored sex with a guy. But he’d been helping me, not himself.
