Page 47 of Roommate Wars
Her brow was furrowed as she studied a to-do list with at least sixty bullet points. “Jack’s dad? I’ve never met him.” She pursed her lips. “Max spent a lot of time at Jack’s place in high school, but that’s all I know. Why?”
Sophia was confirming my suspicion that Jack hadn’t told Max about his father’s health problems.
I didn’t know why that bothered me, but it just felt wrong. People should rely on their friends and family when deep shit was happening. If Jack hadn’t told his best friend about his dad, who was he leaning on during hard times?
“Oh, nothing,” I said. “Just wondering where Jack got his penchant for bottling up his emotions.”
Sophia looked up. “Does he do that? He always seems easygoing and sweet.”
I made a sound in the back of my throat. “That’s a ruse. He’s very grumpy.”
Sophia shifted her mouth in thought. “He’s never been grumpy around me, but you do seem to bring it out in him.”
“I’m special,” I said drolly.
She stared for a long moment, and I grew nervous. Did she suspect something was going on between me and Jack? I had no idea when the dating would begin, but Soph could not find out about our arrangement. That would cause a verbal lashing from my sister I’d never hear the end of.
I ran my tongue over my teeth. “Do I have spinach caught in my tooth or something? Why are you staring?”
“No, I was just wondering if you and Jack are doing okay. You guys aren’t fighting, are you?”
We were talking about sleeping together. Or I was talking about sleeping together. Jack was talking about “hanging out” and “going on dates.” Meanwhile, all I could think about was whether or not we’d have sex and if that would be a bad thing.
“We’re getting along fine,” I said. “Though he did kick out my date last night.”
“Really? Why would he do that?”
“Jack saw the guy making out with one of our neighbors.”
“No!”
“Yes.”
“Well, at least he’s looking out for you.” She scrutinized her list and crossed off a couple of items. “It makes me feel better that I allowed you to live with him.”
I shook my head. “Right, because that’s how it happened.”
She looked up in annoyance. “Elise Marie…”
I rolled my eyes. Here we went with the sister-mothering.
“The only reason I let you live with Jack is because he’s a good guy. You think I’d allow you to stay with some dirtbag?”
“Yes,” I said, “because you have no say. But I like to keep the dirtbags to a minimum.”
Her cheeks pulled back tightly, and she seemed to be weighing how much to argue with me on this one. “Speaking of dirtbags, who was the neighbor your date hooked up with? Anyone I know?”
We discussed the hot wife across the street and whether she and her husband had split. Neither of us knew.
“I know you can handle yourself,” Soph said, “but it makes me feel better knowing Jack is around and keeping an eye on the men you’re dating.”
I nearly choked on a sip of my chai latte. “A little too much. He’s like a testosterone barometer.”
“Good,” Soph said. “Men are savages.”
“Is Max a savage?”
“Only in the bedroom.” She winked.
