Page 37 of My Ex's Roommates
“Are you watching?!”
Danny’s voice was full of joy. “Fuck yeah, we’re watching! I don’t know what happened to your boys, Little Harpoon, but they’re fucking alive today!”
I jumped up and down, proving why I couldn’t watch football with anyone else. “Do you see Dylan? He’s throwing like he’s a freaking Manning! He’s relaxed out there!”
“Silas nailed a fifty-seven-yard field goal! Like it was nothing!” Jay came on the line and laughed. “They’re all playing like they’ve got money on the game. It’s amazing.”
Matt, having played tight end during his time playing the game, spoke up to celebrate Carter. “Hayes showed up to win, too. Did you see that block on seventy-two?”
“Are you kidding me? Yeah, I saw it! I helped work out the play!” I couldn’t sit still. “They used my play notes and it fucking killed!”
Danny came back. “We’ll call back after the game, kid. We’re proud of you. I’m about to go tell everyone that you helped with that play.”
I said goodbye with emotion clogging my throat. Making them proud was always the best feeling in the world.
The rest of the game proved that the first half wasn’t a fluke. Our team dominated and I gleefully listened to the sportscasters eat their words and sing my guys’ praises. I’d never been so excited during a game when Jake played. Ever. By the time the game ended I’d lost most of my voice from screaming at the TV but when my brothers called, I still answered like a lunatic, going over the best plays with them.
When we all settled down some, Danny redirected the conversation. “Are you celebrating tonight?”
I answered without thinking. “No, the guys aren’t coming home tonight. We’ll celebrate together when they get home in the morning.”
Danny made a noise that I couldn’t decipher. “What kind of celebration?”
I’d been raised by my brothers. They knew me better than I knew myself. I also knew them pretty damn well and I knew that Danny was scenting out what was happening in my house. I could tell by the tone in his voice that he was suspicious. I neverlied to them. They deserved more than that from me so I decided I wasn’t going to start lying then.
“I can hear you thinking, Harper. Just spit it out.”
I sighed. “I’m sort of seeing my roommates.”
Danny was silent. Too silent.
“It just happened and I don’t know how to explain it in a way that you’ll understand, Danny, but-”
“Are you happy?” His voice was strained. “Answer me honestly, Harper. Are you happy?”
I sat on the edge of the couch and struggled to not cry at the idea of upsetting him. “Yes. They make me happy. At first I wanted to kill them but something changed. They listened to me about the play, Danny. Jake would’ve laughed in my face. They’re not like him. They’re good guys.”
After a few seconds Danny let out a deep sigh. “Okay.”
“What do you mean, okay? Are you mad? I don’t want you to be upset with me, Danny. I-”
“I’m not upset with you, kid. I love you. All that matters to me, and to Jay and Matt, is that you’re happy. Whatever makes you happy, we’ll adjust and go with it.” He made an unhappy sound. “I’m still going to threaten their lives when I get a chance to talk to them. They’re dealing with the most precious thing in the world. If they ding you, I ding them. That’s how it goes.”
“I love you, Danny.” I sniffed. “I miss y’all more every day. I’m ready to watch a game with y’all and talk about stuff like this in person.”
“I know, Little Harpoon. Not too much longer now. Just hang in there for us.” His voice was full of emotion so I wasn’t surprised when he said what he said next. “Alright, kid. We have to go. We love you.”
“I love you guys more.”
34.
***Harper***
Having the house to myself for the night and feeling a little sad about missing my brothers, I ventured into Dylan’s precious, precious kitchen and I took advantage of him being gone. I found a recipe for brownies and then I went through the kitchen pulling out everything I needed. I was impressed that he had everything but I shouldn’t have been surprised.
I didn’t like the house being so silent so I’d put on a playlist and was forcing myself to not pout. I danced around the island, smiling to myself about how much Dylan would’ve lost his mind if he could’ve seen the state of the kitchen. I wasn’t a neat baker. I made a mess of the room I was in and of myself. It was just the way I worked and was the reason I didn’t do it more often. Especially in Dylan’s kitchen.
I’d just slid the brownies into the oven when a throat cleared behind me and I got the fright of my life. I screamed and spun around, heart lodged somewhere in my throat. Standing at the other side of the kitchen were Dylan, Carter, and Silas. I went from scared to horrified at being caught in the blink of an eye and when Dylan hit the button to turn off the playlist, the silence just made everything worse. I’d left the kitchen sink running without realizing it because I hadn’t been able to hear it.
