Page 12 of Roommate Wars
“I was working and moving. You went through the same thing not that long ago. You know how hard it can be.”
Her expression softened into one of disappointment. “But I could have helped. You didn’t need to do it all on your own.”
Which was why I hadn’t called her. My sister had mothering issues.
I loved Sophia dearly, and she was my best friend, but sometimes her nurturing went too far. Especially when I wanted to stand on my own.
Though, I had to admit, I could use her help if I was to make it to work on time. “Well, now’s your chance. Can I borrow a pair of pants?”
ChapterSix
Elise
I returned home laterthat afternoon to find Jack hanging out with Max, each wearing virtual reality goggles. The two of them were walking around the living room like tourists admiring architecture.
This wasn’t an unfamiliar scenario. I’d tried out VR goggles when Sophia lived here. At the time, I’d checked out a video game Jack designed, and it had been super fun. Though whatever game they were playing now seemed tamer than the last one, which had involved swords.
I closed the front door, and Jack must have had the volume set to low, because he lifted his headset and turned to me. “You’re home?” He checked the time on his phone, and his eyes rounded. “Wow, I didn’t realize it was this late.”
Max pulled off his headset and set it on the coffee table. “I should get going,” he said. But instead of leaving, he reached for a handful of cheese crackers from a bowl and jammed them in his mouth, taking his sweet time.
Jack’s gaze dipped to my pants before he snickered and looked away. “I see Sophia hooked you up. She’s shorter than you, right?”
My mouth compressed. Must he trigger me at every turn? Jack was the reason I had no clothes! “She’s five foot five,” I pointed out, defending my current fashion look.
“And you’re, what? Five-eight.”
It was smooth that he knew that right off the bat. “Yes.”
“Which explains the flood situation you have going on.”
I clenched my hands together and closed my eyes. “Do you know how embarrassing it was walking around like this?”
He shrugged. “The shirt looks good.”
The shirt was his, the ass. And yes, it was pretty cute, rolled up at the sleeves and unbuttoned at the top with a camisole underneath. But the pants were another story. “These pants are skinners, showing every line of my underwear”—was that a blush from Jackson?—“and yes, there is a flood in the house, and not in a cute, fashionable way. The pants are pencil style. They look ridiculous stopping halfway up my calves.”
He turned to Max, who’d been silently watching our exchange. “Thoughts?”
Max grabbed another handful of crackers and made his way to the door. “I make no comments about my girlfriend’s wardrobe because she looks incredible in everything.”
Jack and I exchanged a revolted look. Probably the only thing we agreed on was how nauseating Sophia and Max were together.
“I need my clothes back.” I swung my head in Max’s direction. “Any chance I can get a lift to my old apartment?”
“Hell no,” Jack said and moved in front of me. “Let’s go, Elise. We’re getting you something to wear.”
* * *
“What do you think of this?”I asked Jack, holding up black slacks from the sale rack.
After a bit of bickering in the car, I’d convinced him I needed to go to Target and not a mall. He’d seemed confused, but he hadn’t seen the balance in my savings account.
He looked at the pants and shrugged lightly. “They look okay.” He glanced around, his brow furrowed. “Why do I feel like I’ve done this before?”
“Shopping at Target?” I asked as I checked the price tag.
“No.” He waved his hand choppily. “I’ve done this before—bought women’s clothes. Only with your sister when she lived in the apartment.” He pouted adorably. “I am not a personal shopper.”
