Page 49 of Roommate Wars
“Thalia, stay out of my personal life.” My tone was low, a warning.
“All I’m saying, Jack,” she continued, ignoring the veiled threat, “is that you and your roommate are different. You’re one of the most successful businessmen in San Francisco, and she’s—what, a student?”
My chest burned. I hated the insinuation that Elise wasless than. “She has a master’s and is a nurse epidemiologist for the city. She’s one of the unnamed public servants helping keep people like you and me safe.”
“Right.” She sent me a sad little smile. “You see my point, don’t you?”
Unbelievable.“Not particularly.”
“She doesn’t—well, I’m just going to be blunt—she doesn’t fit in with your personal and professional trajectory.”
Elise shopped at Target and grabbed my ass in front of a roomful of San Francisco’s high society. She liked to kick her pretty feet up on my coffee table and eat corn chips like a baseball player with a bag of sunflower seeds. She was feisty, yet could be incredibly kind, like when she’d entertained my father until I got home. And for unknown reasons, she got under my skin. A smile pulled at the corners of my mouth.
“Jack?” Thalia’s tone was filled with irritation. She likely thought I wasn’t listening to her, and a part of me wasn’t.
It was twilight—the view of the Ferry Building and its clock tower indicating the hour—with shades of pastel painting the beige buildings. “You know what they say about opposites.” I turned and strode toward the door. I stopped before exiting the office and caught Thalia’s open-mouthed look of surprise. “They attract.”
I left the building. It was time I got home to my new girlfriend.
Jack: Where are you?
Hot Stuff: Soph’s shop. Came here after work to help out.
Jack: Have you eaten dinner? Need any food?
Hot Stuff: Are you trying to woo me?
I grinned.
Jack: Just putting in my boyfriend duties.
Knowing Elise, she’d skipped lunch and only eaten corn chips since breakfast.
Hot Stuff: In that case, yes, please. Bring sustenance. Sophia says she’s craving enchiladas with extra cheese. Also, I haven’t eaten in a while, and we might have a hangry situation going on.
For some reason, this only made me happy. Because she needed me, and I wanted to take care of her, if only for a short time. Like, say, two weeks.
Jack: Understood. Coming soon.
When I arrived at Sophia’s shop, Max was there too—and it was mild mayhem.
“Sophia!” Elise reached for the phone Sophia was holding away from her. “That’s my job.”
Sophia put her hands on her hips, clutching the receiver. “You’re scaring the clients.” She turned to Max. “Can you get her a cracker or something? Her blood sugar is low.”
Elise’s face was bright red, and she had a crazed look in her eyes. She glanced up and saw me.
I lifted the large takeout bag I’d picked up, displaying the goods.
Sophia followed Elise’s gaze and let out a deep sigh. “Thank God.”
Elise snorted at her sister and speed-walked toward me. “You act as if you don’t get hungry,” she said to her sister, all casual, but she was reaching for the bag like a vulture.
I held it above my head and turned to the side so the family jewels were less vulnerable in case Elise’s knee decided to snap out.
She glared. “Boyfriend, do you have a death wish?”
Thisnickname I could handle, though even Jackson was growing on me. Because only Elise called me that. “I don’t trust you with the food. You won’t share.”
