Page 56 of Roommate Wars
So he may be using pop vernacular, but he hadn’t lost all dignity due to reality TV.
We finished the rest of the episode in relative silence, except for my dad and Elise’s dueling commentary.
“He did not just say that,” Elise said.
My dad shook his head. “Doghouse for that boy.”
I found their camaraderie more entertaining than the show and had to put effort into watching the TV and not the two of them.
When the episode was finally over, I stood. “We should get going, Elise.”
She checked her phone and sighed. “Yeah, probably a good idea.” She leaned over and hugged my dad. “Same time next week?”
“You better believe it.” My dad grinned, thrilled at his new friend. You’d think he’d won the lottery, he was beaming so wide.
After locking up the place, I walked Elise to my car and opened the door. She yawned and sank into the passenger seat.
On our way back to the apartment, I glanced over. “Thank you for taking care of my dad.”
She tilted her head against the passenger seat headrest, and another yawn escaped. “It was no trouble. Anytime.”
Once we got back to our place, Elise went into autopilot. She toed off her shoes in the entry, dumped her purse onto the counter, and walked to her bedroom, eyes half-lidded. “Night, night, Jackson.”
She was cute when she was tired. I grinned and locked the front door, then grabbed a glass of water before heading to bed. I’d just checked my phone alarm and closed my eyes when I felt a dip in the mattress.
A second later, a small, warm body pressed against mine.
Am I dreaming?
I carefully rolled over to find Elise curled on her side, her hands tucked under her cheek, sound asleep. She’d sleepwalked into my bedroom.
The first time Elise had done this, it ended in a one-night stand, after which she ditched me by leaving via the fire escape from Sophia’s then-bedroom across the hall. I’d learned later that Elise was a notorious sleepwalker. But even though she’d wandered into my room asleep, she hadn’t remained that way. She’d woken, realized where she was, and then kissed me. I’d been lusting after Elise for months by that point. Her kiss had been all the encouragement I needed to reciprocate.
I brushed a lock of hair from her eye, wondering if she’d wake the way she had that night and how I’d respond. Probably the same—eagerly.
But tonight, she only slept. And was snuggly. She scooched closer at my touch.
This should be awkward, but it wasn’t. It was amazing.
I stared up at the ceiling and sighed. How was I going to keep up my end of the bargain and let Elise go in a week? I was falling for her, and I didn’t want her to leave.
On that thought, I pulled her closer and breathed in her scent, soaking it in while I could and hoping it wouldn’t be the last time.
* * *
When my alarmwent off at seven, I woke to déjà vu of the night Elise and I had slept together months ago. Because she was gone.
Had I dreamed she’d come into my bed last night? The tent I was pitching this morning said she’d been here.
I picked up the pillow she’d laid her head on and smelled it: buttercream and strawberries and something floral. The scent did nothing to chill my erection. Elise had definitely been here.
My chest tightened. Had she left without saying goodbye?
I reached for my phone and saw a note scribbled on the back of a grocery receipt.
Sorry about the sleepwalking! Geez! My subconscious likes your bed. I’ll make up for it tonight with dinner. Make sure you come home hungry.
Elise
