Page 19 of Teased By My Roommate

HAWK

Adeep surge of happiness washed over me as I drove Lila to work Tuesday morning. Everything felt solid. I could start to imagine what our lives would be like when we were married. There was no doubt in my mind that would be happening soon.

Her sunny smile as I dropped her off was a great sign that she felt the same way. It was difficult to only give her the tiniest kiss goodbye, but her coworkers might be watching.

I had just parked the truck beside the tattoo shop when my phone rang.

Dammit.What a way to ruin a perfect morning. "Hey, Dad. What's up?"

"I have to be brief, Michael. We'll be needing you Thursday evening. You haven't moved again, have you?"

"No, I'm still here. But I already have plans, Dad. I can't—"

"You'll cancel them." There was no mistaking the tone of his voice. This was not up for debate. "It's the Burrell and Van der Hoff engagement party. There must be a representative of our family there."

"What about Kyle?"

Dad snorted. "He took off to Monte Carlo with that little…what’s her name? Jessie?"

"Jasmine," I corrected him. "They've been together for nearly a year now."

"Right. Well, he's away, and your mother and I are in France. So it's up to you."

"Little last minute, don't you think?" I hoped that he could hear the tension in my voice. I had agreed to put in a few appearances a year but only if they were life and death. Well, according to their scale.

"It's a rushed wedding, I believe," he said, lowering his voice. "Your mother believes that it's a shotgun situation."

"I'll be sure to mention that over cocktails," I muttered, pacing in the gravel by my truck.

"You're on the list plus one," Dad said, ignoring my crack. "Your mother is in the process of finding you an acceptable date."

I stood up straighter, thrilled that for the first time, I had an answer. "Actually, I already have one."

He paused. "Michael, this event is important. Your mother almost dragged us back so we could attend."

"Don't worry," I told him. "She's gorgeous, classy, and a bit quiet. We'll make the rounds, be seen, and disappear."

"Fine." I could picture Dad's glower. "I'll need her name for the RSVP."

"Lila…" Oh my god. How could I be head over heels for a woman and not even know her last name? Holding the phone away from my ear, I called out, "Okay, I'll be right there."

"Well?" Dad asked impatiently.

"Gotta go – text me the details tonight." I disconnected the call, then paced around the truck one more time.

How strange that I still didn't know such a basic detail about my precious girl. I was so caught up in getting to know the important things, like how she took her coffee, and what her sweet laugh sounded like when I teased her.

I had to assume that Lila wasn't very well off, since she was living with two roommates in a weird drafty warehouse loft. To me, the apartment was amazing, and more importantly, I had been able to move in immediately to help Brooke out.

Thank goodness I’d kept in touch with Mom's side of the family, even if she herself hadn't.

Many people go through a midlife crisis and buy a sports car or get plastic surgery. My mother decided to do a deep dive into class snobbery. I didn't understand it, or want to have anything to do with it. But now that she was trying to climb the social ladder, she ignored anyone she considered poor or lower class, like my sweet cousin Brooke, and my darling girl.

No matter. Wherever Lila came from, I knew that I wanted her. I didn't care if her parents were rich or poor, brain surgeons or coal miners.

I knew her heart.

And that we belonged together no matter what ridiculous reaction my mother had when she found out Lila was from a family she'd never heard of.

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