Page 51 of Run, Run, Roommates
“She could use a guy like you. Someone to protect her. I hope she never loses that spark of innocence.”
I’m not sure if Eva knew about Brin being a virgin, but she fixes me with a firm look. “If I have to protect her from you, I’m going to take every single aspect of your life down and you’ll be forced to flee my city, do you understand?” Eva’s glaring at me now.
I swallow, fifty percent glad that Brin has someone else who will watch her back, and fifty percent terrified.
“I understand.”
“Good.” Eva leans back on the couch and we watch someone pick up my gift and unwrap it—a book titled The Fart that Changed the World.
Eva cackles, and Brin returns from the bathroom to push her aside and sit between us. “Oh good, your gift was opened.”
Brin goes a few turns later and steals the flower toilet seat. Someone steals that and then she unwraps a life-sized ceramic hissing duck.
We stay at the party long after the gift exchange is over. The food is good, the group is loud, and I’ve never seen Brin laugh so much.
It’s no longer Christmas when we leave the party, hugging Eva goodbye. She makes sure we leave with our gifts—a box of penis pasta for me and the miniature rubber ducks for Brin—which both fit in a wine gift bag.
I wrap an arm around Brin as we walk toward the subway.
She leans her head on my chest. “Thanks for coming with me.”
I kiss the top of her head.
“I wouldn’t have had as much fun if I had to think about you being home alone.”
“This was definitely better than being home alone.” I pause for a moment. “Actually, I think this is the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
Brin stops in her tracks and looks up at me. She’s tipsy and tired, swaying on her feet. But her eyes are clear when she reaches up on her tiptoes and kisses me.
I don’t let the kiss get too deep—we are standing on the sidewalk, people passing us occasionally and everything tinged in red from the stoplight at the corner.
“Come on,” I say when I pull back. “Let’s get home.”
We ride the subway back to our stop and are home a few minutes later. We take turns in the bathroom, and when Brin slips back into the room, I hold my covers up. She smiles and slips in, reaching to turn out the light before I pull her back into my arms. How many nights will it take of Brin sleeping in bed with me before we get rid of the futon? With her soft body next to me, I want it to be now.
“How are you feeling?” I ask instead.
She hums and turns slightly toward me. “I took some Midol after my shower.”
“Cramps?” I ask, lowering my hand to her belly.
“Lower back pain.”
I push her, turning her gently away. She lies on her stomach and turns her head toward me. I kiss her shoulder and run my palm down her back to where her cotton shirt meets her pajama pants and dip my hand underneath to the small of her back.
She hums in pleasure when I knead first one side and then the other with my thumb. All it takes is a few minutes and Brin’s breathing evens out, deepening.
Leaving me in the dark, wondering how I could have fallen so hard for my roommate.
27
Brin
“Tell me everything,” Eva greets me when I walk into the restaurant for my shift. I’m working the lunch shift on our first day open after the holidays, so I had to get up with a (relatively) early alarm. I woke up alone in Marco’s bed, him clearly having left for a run already. He wasn’t back by the time I rushed out the door, so I haven’t seen him yet today.
I flush and Eva laughs. She draws closer so as to not be overheard while we walk back to the employee locker room. “We barely had a moment by ourselves at the party. I have to know; tell me everything about you and Marco!”
I instantly blush.
