Page 12 of Teased By My Roommate

I'm not sure why that made my rebellious streak kick in. While he was busy with his client, I told Lars, "I'm just going to the sandwich shop next door. Don't let him freak out."

Even though I didn't have much money, Hawk shouldn't be buying dinner every single night.

I couldn't explain to him that after having been coddled my entire life, being independent was part of the new identity I was trying to form. I was sure he would forgive me. Every man on the planet loved a great sandwich.

Hawk pretended to be upset that I "disobeyed the man of the house" on the way home, but honestly we couldn't stop laughing about it.

He insisted on carrying the take-out bag as we walked into our building, and as we were starting up the stairs, we ran into Dana, the downstairs neighbor.

After introducing Hawk, I realized that I hadn't really had a chance to speak to anyone about my instant relationship. I’d had to desert my mother-appointed friends when I left my family, and I hadn't made many friends besides Ashley and Brooke.

"Why don't you go ahead," I suggested. "Dana and I haven't had a chance to catch up for a while. "

"No problem, baby," he said, kissing the top of my head before bounding up the stairs.

Dana turned to me with wide eyes. "Baby? Apparently the shy little girl upstairs has been keeping secrets."

I quickly explained how Brooke had sublet the room to her cousin.

"And all that man just…showed up in your home?" Dana laughed with an expressive wave of her hand.

We had only hung out a handful of times, and gone out for drinks twice, but I really liked Dana. She was forthright, and gave great big sister advice when I needed it.

Her laughter faded away, and her expression turned serious. "Sweetie, no offense, but when you first moved in you seemed pretty sheltered. Now you're living with a weapons grade hottie? Are you okay with flipping from zero to sixty in a microsecond?"

I sighed, leaning back against the brick wall as I nodded. "I likely would have freaked out a few months ago. But now that my entire life is…" I certainly couldn't get into the details. "Let's just say, in flux…it feels like it's the right time for big changes, you know?"

Dana nodded, then looked me dead in the eye. "Is he sweet to you?"

"Definitely."

"Does he listen to you, and value your opinions?"

"Yes. And yes."

She grinned, twirling the purple tips of her shoulder length hair in her fingers. "Well then. You should definitely let loose and have as much fun as you want. Go for it. You deserve it."

"Thanks. I appreciate it." Dana always seemed to have such a positive energy that I truly valued her opinion.

She headed for the door, and I asked, "Where are you off to?"

"My friend's band is in town," she said. "They usually need somebody to work either the door or the merch table, so I'm going to show up and surprise them."

"Cool – have a great time!"

The quick chat made me feel a lot better. It was like I had a buddy's stamp of approval. It was hard not to second guess myself when I'd never been in a relationship before and had no idea what I was doing.

By the time I got upstairs, Hawk had set the sandwiches on the nicest pair of plates in our mismatched pile. He had even lit candles.

"Thanks, this is lovely."

Hawk scooped me up and set me on the couch. "It's the least I could do considering my girl didn't let me make her dinner," he grumbled, but his eyes were dancing.

"Right. I'm supposed to remember that you're the manly man of the house," I laughed.

"Damn straight."

As he sat close beside me, I realized I loved the ridiculous way he teased me. Then it hit me that there was a secret tucked inside that thought.

I loved Hawk.

Everything about him felt like it was lighting me up from the inside. I was already starting to envision this new life with him lasting a long time, which was both exhilarating and terrifying.

If he wasn't used to staying in one place for very long, I couldn't run the risk of scaring him away.

Would he still want me when he found out who I was?

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