Page 28 of Run, Run, Roommates
Epically good.
I have fooled around with guys before—I’m a virgin, but I’m not completely inexperienced—but how is it possible that a quick makeout sesh with Marco is better than anything I’ve done, period?
I think Marco knows exactly what I’m thinking about because his gaze has shifted. He’s looking at me with curiosity and something else . . .
I straighten, letting my hands drop and step back, looking at the apartment around us. I didn’t pay attention when we came in because I was half-asleep being dragged by Marco, but holy shit, this place is amazing.
It’s still decorated for Christmas, even though William isn’t here. There’s evergreen garland everywhere—the real stuff, not the plastic and wires of my childhood. It smells like a pine forest, and it looks a bit like one too. There are trees of multiple sizes scattered throughout the place. Everything that isn’t evergreen shines: the glass ornaments, the ribbons, the candles. It’s extra and over the top and I love it.
“Wow.”
Marco glances up at me from the floor, where he had bent down to clean the broken vase. I walk over to the nearest tree, decorated with strings of pearls and a fine, silken golden ribbon. “Did you do all this?”
Marco snorts. “No. We hired a designer who picked everything out. I just made sure the execution went off without a hitch.”
“Why is it still here?”
“William’s not home, but you know how mercurial he is. He might call me up tomorrow and be over St. Barts, on his way back here. Plus the designer has events all week; they don’t have time to break things down. It can wait until later. Although they did take the expensive stuff.”
My eyes widen. “The expensive stuff? This isn’t the expensive stuff?”
Marco comes to stand beside me and tugs on a ribbon. “The gold is gone. Anything crystal, too. Things that needed washing—linens and dishes—are gone. Probably already at some other event.”
“And so, what? The trees are going to sit here, dying?”
“Yes.” Marco goes back to the dustpan and sweeps the last of the ceramic dust into it. He comes to his feet and picks up the garbage can to put it back.
“Wow,” I say. “Rich people.”
I’m instantly fighting back bitterness. If I had a fraction of the wealth Billy Bob did, maybe I would have met Marco in a completely different situation. What if I’d had a nice apartment with responsible roommates? What if I didn’t have to work outrageous hours to pay for my mistakes and had the time to date? What if Marco saw me not as someone who needed rescuing, but as a grown, confident woman, someone who he might even be attracted to?
I guess I’ll never know.
15
Brin
When we get back to our apartment, I shed my coat and sit cross-legged on the couch, pulling up the list of activities we can do today.
Our phones ding at the same time—a Discord notice.
@everyone: Santa’s elves have more work to do. There’s a stack of presents waiting for every team at the hotel. Today’s pile is worth six points. See you soon!
Marco comes in holding his bowl of oats and settles into the chair across from me. He’s wearing a black shirt and his gray sweatpants—delicious. I wasn’t awake enough to enjoy them earlier.
“I’m going to go get the presents,” I announce.
Marco frowns. “Don’t worry about it. I can get them after I finish eating. You should nap, you’ve hardly had any sleep.”
“I’m fine. I could use the walk.” I move to stand and Marco straightens, stopping me with a hand on my arm.
“Brin, seriously. I’ll do it.”
“No, don’t. Relax, I’ll be back before you know it.” Marco can use that time to process this morning’s fight with Ash.
Marco studies me for a moment, and then puts his head in his hands, his fingers gripping his hair. “I’m being an ass, aren’t I?”
“Well . . . kinda. We could take a minute to breathe, you know? And I’m awake now. I think we should tackle some of the things worth more points today. Maybe something that’s actually fun?” I wriggle my eyebrows at him.
