Page 15 of Loud Hot Roomie
He cracks up laughing and leans over to playfully punch my arm. “I actually have a thing for older men. It’s gotten me in so much trouble over the years. I really should date my own age.”
I turn fully so I can look at him. Riko’s definitely hot. I’m able to admit that and am kind of proud of myself. If only he was some random guy and not my roommate. Feeling attraction toward him isn’t ideal, but it’s there anyway.
“What kind of trouble?”
He flexes his pectoral muscles and my gaze drops to the smooth flesh there. “Using my body to get what I want with men I had no business wanting. I got them and they were ruined in the process.”
“You say that like it was all your fault.”
His shoulders lift. “I started it. I pursued them.”
“But they wanted it?”
“Fuck yeah they did,” he says, flashing me a filthy grin. “They wanted it so bad it made them crazy for me.”
A fire burns inside me, the temperature rising with each passing second. I can understand the spell Riko put them under. There’s something magical and alluring about him.
“Nobody worth keeping around?” I ask with a lifted eyebrow.
A shadow darkens his eyes. “Nah. Both were toxic situations.”
Guilt tightens his features and I’m starting to piece together what he’s not fully saying. Considering his age and his preference for older men, I’m guessing this has been going on for a while which would’ve likely put him in high school. He pursued men who had no business being with someone who was possibly underage at the time.
“You deserve better than toxic,” I say, swallowing down the irrational anger toward these strangers I don’t know. “I barely know you and can see that.”
“If you say so.”
“I know so.” I motion to his thigh. “How’s the leg?”
“Numb. I’m good with being numb. Beats throbbing pain.”
This pleases me that I was able to help him. “Good. Now, are you ready to tell this old fuck what you want to do with your life since your daddy won’t listen?”
Riko stares straight at the television for so long I think maybe he’s ignoring me, but then he nods as if he’s finally deciding to do just that. “Private coaching. Kind of like what I did with Eloise and Topher. For parents who are wanting their kids to go on and play high school and college ball. But, like, for regular kids. My parents could afford the high-dollar coaches, but most people can’t.”
Interesting.
“Seems like a good job to me,” I say slowly. “So why aren’t you doing it?”
He whips his head over to me. “What?”
“The coaching. It’s what you want to do, right? You’re going to get tired of binging on energy drinks and video games soon. You need a plan for after.”
“It’s probably stupid.”
“That’s what your dad thinks,” I say, pinning him with a hard stare. “You don’t. This is your life. Tomorrow, after work, I want to see your plan.”
“You’re fucking for real right now?”
I smile at him, secretly loving how his cheeks turn pink. “Be a good boy and do as I say. I’ll bring you more cookies.”
Riko
Iscratch out a line in my notebook and groan in frustration. Time is ticking away until Derek gets home from work, but I still don’t have a plan in hand. It doesn’t help that I’ve been in a lot of pain today.
And now I’m waiting for a heaping helping of it.
“Riko,” Drew says as he walks to the reception area of the physical therapy clinic he owns. “Casey’s ready for you.” Then, to his wife who’s sitting at the front desk, he says, “You’d know that if this one actually did her job for once.”
