Page 17 of The Reality of Us
This could work.
Alice paused in the hall.
“Wait, what? A roommate? Since when?” a deep voice asked. Teddy, obviously.
“Shhhhhh,” Owen hissed. “Alice’s in her room.”
“She’s already here? And what do you mean ‘her room’?”
She crept backwards when she heard footsteps, pretending to inspect the wardrobe. Damn thing shrank every time she looked at it.
“First, you scare the shit out of me by waiting outside the bathroom—”
“I said ‘hey’ when you opened the door.”
“—and then you tell me a stranger’s moving in with me.”
“Alice needs somewhere to live, and I don’t want to hear it, okay? I know what you’re going to say.”
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She was letting someone else solve her problems for her. Again.
“Fine,” Teddy grumbled. “But you have a problem.”
Owen’s heavy sigh seeped through the apartment, and Alice snuck outside, her curiosity piqued by the mention of his mysterious problem.
“Just don’t let on that she’s living here, okay? Frankie almost wet her pants with excitement.”
Teddy sniggered. “Sure she wasn’t looking at you? You should’ve heard her at trivia. Banging on about how she’d like to play boss and naughty secretary. Although, from what Mum said, she’ll have to get in line. When is dinner with …” Teddy’s voice faded, but it sounded an awful lot like he said, ‘Horse Face’. Alice’s stomach twisted, and she was abnormally disappointed to learn Owen was like every other guy out there.
She stomped down the hallway.
The brothers spun around in unison. Aside from their brown eyes, there really weren’t any similarities between them. Owen was the picture of professionalism in his grey suit and navy tie. His brother, however, was wearing light blue jeans and a sage shirt with ‘Wattle Junction Hotel’ printed on the front. He had a deep tan and a beard her brother and Rico would write poetry about.
“Alice, great. This is Teddy. Teddy, Alice,” Owen said.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she said, shaking his hand. “I think I’ve seen you at the pub?” It was hard not to notice the mega-tall bartender who looked like a Viking.
Teddy smiled. “Likewise. And speaking of the pub, I’d better get going. My shift starts in ten. When are you moving in?”
“As soon as possible? But what’s with the mattress in the room?” She’d have to figure out how to get her stuff from Melbourne.
“That’s Owen’s old one. He’ll get rid of it for you.”
“Would you mind if I borrowed it? Until I can get my stuff here?”
“That’s fine,” Owen said at the same time Teddy said, “It’s practically brand new. Never saw any action, did it, little fella?”
Owen mostly ignored his brother’s jibe, an exasperated expression anyone with a sibling would recognise settling on his face. She’d never seen him look so … normal. How could a smile so small change the entire structure of his face? Light shone from his eyes, and his lips curled softly. A desire to make him laugh struck her. A big belly laugh that made tears spring to his eyes and his cheeks hurt. She’d bet he didn’t give those away often. He’d make people work for them, but oh boy, it’d be worth it if she could make it happen.
“Maybe Alice will get to live here alone,” Owen said.
And what? A joke? The teasing lilt to his voice was so charming it should be illegal.
She ducked her head, her long blonde hair falling across her face like a curtain, her lips pulling into a grin. Her chest tightened. Also, God, she missed Dougie and Rico. Moving out of the pub would mean they could visit her.
“Please. He’s all talk. I’m his favourite brother. Make yourself at home,” Teddy said, slipping his phone into his pocket and grabbing a set of keys off a little hook next to the door.
His heavy footsteps clattered down the stairs.
