Page 146 of Burn Bright
His expression turns heady at the mere insinuation of sex, and I feel his palm slide from my cheek to the back of my neck. It’s a sexy move that has my body tingling.
“We can’t. See, if you fail this test because of me, I would judgemyself.” He backs away from me, but there’s a gnarled sound in his throat when he does. He returns to the book. “I’m going to need your help after you ace this thing.”
“With what?” I ask eagerly. He’s so quick to assist me in anything, and for someone who has all doors opened for him, it’s hard to find big opportunities to lend a helping hand.
“I can’t live with my brothers anymore,” he explains. “I need to find a new place to stay. Like STAT.”
It hits me that if he wants to leave his apartment asap, then his brothers must be failing at seducing him toward loving New York.
This is not good. The words taste bitter in my mouth, but I say them anyway. “Yeah, I can help.”
34
BEN COBALT
Ihave to slyly check Harriet’s text message in the bathroom since I’m currently at the Cobalt Estate. Wednesdays, unfailingly, bring me back to my childhood home. She sent me another roommate listing from the Valley Boards. I click into the link.$500 for a blow-up mattress in the living room.Jesus.
I text Harriet.
Ben Cobalt
Out of my budget
She’s quick to reply.
Harriet Fisher
What is your budget?
I don’t need to pop open my bank account to know what I can afford. I skate a hand through my hair, while I sit on the toilet lid.
Ben Cobalt
like a hundred bucks.
Harriet Fisher
Bad news, you’d probably have to toss in nudes to make that work.
I laugh and smear a hand down my chin in surprise. Seriously, I haven’t laughed in days. Living with my brothers since Charlie and Beckett’s birthday feels a lot like sleeping on a bed of nails. Stress compounds every night, and I’m just trying to find a reasonable solution. One that doesn’t include cashing in a favor with a random friend. I’d rather not stay for free with someone I vaguely know and use my last name as a bargaining chip. It could add more problems.
Harriet would be my first choice. But she’s already asked her roommate if I could crash on their couch, even for just a few days, and Harriet said it was “the most awkward interaction yet.”
Apparently, Eden reminded her, “You sleep on the couch.” To which Harriet had to say, “Yeah, he’d be sleeping with me, but notwith me,with me. We won’t fool around or anything…we’re just friends.”
Eden got uncomfortable and said, “I don’t want to walk in on anything.” It’s understandable. If I spend the night with Harriet again, I honestly can’t guarantee I won’t touch her. I already succumbed to the temptation with my brothers feet away in their bedrooms.
Harriet was bummed her place is out of contention. But I lovethis—apartment hunting with her. It’s been the best part of this whole issue, and honestly, I’m hoping it doesn’t end too fast.
I text her back.
Ben Cobalt
I hear blow jobs are effective bargaining chips.
Harriet Fisher
AHFA. Against Harriet Fisher’s Advice.
