Page 1 of Loud Hot Roomie
Derek
What was I thinking moving into the townhouse right across from my ex?
That’s right. Iwasn’tthinking. I’d been so desperate to live anywhere than under my parents’ roof, I took the only affordable place for rent in this godforsaken city. And it’s notthataffordable if I’m being honest with myself.
How did I let my life unravel so much?
It’s hard to believe not even two years ago, I was fairly happy with my ex, Casey, and our simple life. Was it exciting? No. Did I love her? Yes. Was I happy? No. When she’d gotten pregnant, I’d allowed myself to hope for a little growth in the happiness department by way of a baby. Casey was ecstatic which trickled down to me.
But then she lost it.
That started the final corrosion of our already deteriorating relationship. Ultimately, it led to the end of it. I moved out and in with my parents, had to replace my stupid truck, and am finally living on my own again, even if it’s really too expensive for me and the view is of Casey’s backyard.
I scrub a palm over my face and scan the sparse space. Mom and Dad had pity on me. They updated their own living room and bedroom furniture, passing down their old stuff to their nearly forty-year-old son who can’t seem to get his shit together.
It could be worse, I suppose.
Not much, though. I’m pretty close to rock bottom.
Unable to keep myself from the kitchen window, I prowl over to it, telling myself I’m going to load the dishwasher rather than spy on my neighbors. Well, one in particular.
And, like every afternoon around this time, Casey is out on her walk with her best friend, Clara. The part that’s new is the stroller Casey is pushing.
She has a baby now and it’s not mine.
I’m still a little mind blown she married our landlord’s son. He’s so fucking young, but even I can admit he treats her a helluva lot better than I ever did. Doesn’t mean I’m not harboring a little jealousy, though. He has the life I wanted, but somehow never could nurture and grow to life.
It’s pretty stalkerish for me to watch her walk by, and even creepier to try and look at her baby. But, I do. I gawk at them like they’re exotic animals in the wild. Casey looks great. She’s been walking religiously with Clara and her ass looks good in her leggings. It was always my favorite part about her. My cock twitches at the reminder of seeing her naked. God, I miss the sex.
Get it together, man.
Lusting after another man’s wife is not fucking cool at all.
I force myself away from the window when I hear my phone buzz on the coffee table in the living room. It’s probably the dating app. I created it just to take a peek at what was out there, but opened a can of worms in doing so. Every woman who contacts me through that app compliments my body and boldly asks to take it for a ride in some form or another. And, as much as I really need to get laid, there’s an urgency and coldness about their proposed hookups that turns me off. I don’t answer any of them.
There are notifications from the app, but there’s also a text from my landlord and friend.
Reid: Me and Cole are going for a run in the morning. Now that you gave up the smokes, you coming with us? Great stress reliever.
He’s been trying to get me out of my townhouse ever since I moved in a couple of weeks ago. I always find an excuse, but I can only put him off for so long. Eventually he’ll drag me out of my house by my collar.
Me: Sure, man.
I know they go really fucking early, but that works with my job. There’s no way I could do it after work. By the time I drive all around in my big brown truck and deliver packages to the entire damn town, I’m beat with exhaustion.
All that work and you still don’t make enough to make ends meet…
Sourness churns in my gut. I’m on the final countdown to get a roommate. Two more weeks and I’ll owe rent again. I’d saved enough to get through the first month’s rent, but I’m going to need assistance going forward.
So far, no serious bites on my ad.
The roommate search continues.
A knock on my door startles me and I nearly drop my phone. Frowning, I stride over to the door and peek out through the peephole. Reid grins back at me and holds up a case of beer.
I’m not in an entertaining mood, tired as fuck from work, but I open the door anyway.
“Hey,” I mutter as I step away so he can come through.
