Page 66 of My Roommate from Hell
This is the big one, the one I haven’t even told Ashley about. I am very thankful this crush has faded. I can still remember how strong those emotions were, but the crush itself is pretty much gone. I tried so many things last year when it was at its peak, but it seems moving has been the thing to finally kill it.
“I’ve never told anyone about this one,” I say. “And if you meet my best friend Ashley you have to promise that you won’t tell her.”
“I’d never,” he says. “We’re really racking up the secrets, huh?”
“A while ago my best friend started dating this guy named Jackson,” I say. “And he’s the sweetest guy I’ve ever met. And not in a fake, cloying kind of way. He was just so obviously smitten with her. We all started spending a lot of time together, and it was really important to her that we be friends, so we started hanging out all the time and…”
I let my silence answer the rest.
Zarmenus’s mouth drops open. Seems like he’s not the only one at this table capable of surprises.
“You got a crush on your best friend’s boyfriend?” He laughs. “Man, you humans are wild.”
“I didn’t mean to,” I say. “I never acted on it.”
“But you wanted to.”
“No, I didn’t. I hated that I felt that way. But the more I wanted to get rid of the crush, the worse it got.”
“Did you tell Ashley?”
“No,” I say. “Do you think I should’ve?”
“That’s tough,” he says. “I know you can’t control crushes. But how genuine can you be if you’re hiding how you really feel?”
“I know. Trust me, I know.”
“So what happened with him?” he asks. “Are he and your friend still together?”
“Yeah, she got pregnant, so she stayed in Bakersfield. She was supposed to be here with me, but, you know. Life happened.”
“Wow,” he says. “You’ve got a lot going on in that head of yours.”
“You have no idea.”
My phone vibrates. I check it, something I probably wouldn’t do if this were real. It’s a message from Tyrell.
Hey, all good if not but would you be free tomorrow for an interview? We could meet up at Northside if you’d like? Or anywhere you want really, my treat if you want somewhere that doesn’t accept meal plans?
“What’s wrong?” asks Zarmenus.
“Tyrell wants to interview me about what it’s like living with you.”
“You can’t tell him we’re faking,” he says, keeping his voice low. “If we’re going to do this we have to keep this a secret from everyone. Seriously, Dad will kill me if they find out I’m lying. We have to make everyone believe it’s real.”
“I won’t.”
“Don’t you think it’s risky?” he asks.
“Yeah, but I already said I would. It’s too early to tell him we’re dating, he won’t believe it. But I’ll start dropping hints. He already knows I think you’re hot.”
I realize what I just said and go bright red.
“You think I’m hot?”
“Yeah, I saw one of your thirst traps, it’s an objective fact.”
“Thanks, Greene. You’re hot, too.”
