Page 67 of Swiped
Nat didn’t care. “And feel free to take any sentimental objects as mementos, you know, if you even want to remember this place at all.”
Thom cleared his throat awkwardly.
Jax winced. “You said she was your ‘roommate,’ babe, not ‘ex-girlfriend,’” she said, scowling at Sara.
“Nat’s not my ex,” Sara replied, coolly, wrapping an arm around Jax’s waist. “She’s my friend.” Sara looked Nat square in the face, and her chocolatey eyes pleaded through their cat eye liner and sparkly shadow. “She’s my best friend, actually, and I’d really like to keep it that way.”
Sadness blurred tears into Nat’s vision, and she shook her head to clear it away. Sara was her best friend, too, and she wanted more than anything to hold onto that. It was just hard to feel secure when Sara’s things were packed in boxes all around her.
Nat took Thom’s hand. “It’s fine, we’re tired.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at Sara, but she managed to mumble something about seeing her in the morning as she led Thom down the hallway.
* * *
In her room, Nat pulled Thom into her bed like she’d done it a hundred times before. She nestled her backside against him as he curled around her. They fit together in exactly the way she would expect from a ninety-nine percent match — perfectly.
Then her phone buzzed and slipped out of her pocket.
“Really?” She grabbed it and sat up.
It was a text from Eric, her very first BeTwo date. She blinked in shock at the picture of his blurry, purpled dick.
Eric:U up?????
“Everything OK, beautiful?” said Thom, pushing pillows into shape. His voice was gravelly with sleep.
Nat set her phone on the floor. “Everything is perfect.”
Chapter 17
Rami padded into the kitchen in his pajamas. He stretched his arms over his head. The morning sun streamed into his apartment like the rays of Heaven itself. Was he whistling? He felt like he was whistling.
Ian hunched over their pour-over coffee maker. An array of tubs, jars, and bottles surrounded him, as he added spoonfuls of various powders to the coffee grounds.
“Good morning, my friend!” chirped Rami.
His tone broke Ian’s concentration. He frowned and looked up from his chemistry experiment. “You got home late. Did you get lucky in the carnal and-or cosmic sense?”
“You know what? Itwascosmic.” Rami dropped a tea bag into his favorite mug. “I met this incredibly nice girl. Finally. And I met her like a normal person, just sitting down to brunch, andpoof!”
Ian sipped his steaming dishwater-colored brew. He placed an approving hand on Rami’s shoulder. “I’m proud of you, analog polliwog. What’s she like?”
“As I said, she’s nice.” Rami poured hot water over his tea. “And she’s totally perfect to bring to the BuzzFill party this week, and win Nat’s stupid bet.”
Ian hoisted himself onto a seat on the counter. His long legs still dangled nearly to the floor. He shook his head sadly. “Oh no, this isn’t good.”
“The fact that your ass is currently where we make our food? Yes, it is very, very wrong.”
Ian was unfazed. “I was afraid this might happen.”
As always, Rami couldn’t help but take the bait. “What are you talking about? Everything is finally working out!”
“You spent all day with this young woman, correct?”
“Her name is Allison, and yes.”
“And yet all you can tell me about Allison is that she is ‘nice,’ and she’s a good way to beat Nat.” Ian said this more like a question, when it was, in actuality, a fact.
Rami balked. “That’s all I saidso far!”
