Page 18 of Legally Binding
“Why?” She watches me curiously, but I’m not sure why. Ciara has never given a crap about what I was up to before now.
“I’m going to stay with a friend for a few days.” I’m purposely vague because I don’t want to tell her about Landon. I don't know why, but for some reason, it feels like he’s mine. Thinking this way is dangerous, so I shake that strange thought from my head. It’s ridiculous. I barely know the man, even if it doesn’t feel that way.
“You still owe for rent. You can’t just dip out.”
“I’ll pay my share.” I always pay on time. In fact, I have had to cover her a few times until she could get the money together.
“Why are you staying with a friend? Are you going on a trip and don’t want me to know? Because if you are, then you can afford more than the rent you’re already paying. And we need to talk about the cable being split three ways.”
“What?” I stop packing to turn and face her. “Cable?” I don’t have a clue what she is talking about.
“Yes, cable.” Ciara throws her hands up like we’ve talked about this before. I’d recall if we had because we never talk. If anything, we mostly text, but only when needed.
“I don’t want cable. I don’t even have a TV.” Do people still use cable?
"Whatever," she huffs but lingers in the doorway. "Who is this friend?"
Okay, this conversation is strange. She never asks me about my life or what I’m doing.
"It's work-related. They need a house sitter." Her questions are so odd that it makes me not want to give her specifics. I’m not sure why, but I have the feeling that I should keep the details to myself.
"When will you be back?"
"Does it matter?"
"Why are you being difficult? You know I—" A loud knock echoes through the small apartment before I hear the creak of the door opening. Ciara must not have put the chain back on, and if it was our other roommate, she wouldn't have knocked.
“Piper?” When I hear Landon call my name, my stomach dips. There’s a flutter of excitement filling me before it immediately crashes. I don’t want him to see this place.
“Who’s that?” Ciara steps back to stare down the hallway. Her brows lift before a rare smile overtakes her face.
At that moment, I realize how little clothing she has on. She’s wearing a pair of tiny sleep shorts that highlight her killer legs and a thin sports bra. Which I doubt would provide adequate support for any actual sport.
"Piper?" He calls out my name again, and this time, his tone carries a hint of an edge to it.
"I'm here." I go to step out of my room, but Ciara is blocking the way.
"And who are you?" Ciara folds her arms under her chest, causing her breasts to push up and nearly spill out of her bra.
"I’m Piper's."
At least I think that’s what he says, but I’m probably mistaken.
"Yours?" Ciara asks.
"Can you move?" he says and then shifts until his eyes are on me. Something like relief washes over his handsome face. "Can you move?" he repeats to her, but this time with a bark of authority. It almost makes me want to move too.
Ciara steps out of the way, and Landon shifts past her, making sure he doesn't touch her in the process.
"You're here," I say stupidly. Yeah, he's here, Piper. You can literally see him.
"You should have waited for me. I would’ve come with you. Are you getting all your stuff?" He glances over the top of my head into my bedroom.
“I thought I should grab a few things.”
“A few?”
“Yeah, until your house manager gets back or whatever.” I shift on my feet.
