Page 19 of The Roommates

Thank God.

Daria clucked. “I just… Okay, I guess.”

“Why do you seem so surprised?” Tanner asked.

She shrugged. “I figure that’s your chance to taste it all, why would you pass it up?”

“Wouldyoutake the chance for a taste of everything?” I was curious.

Daria nodded. “Yes.”

“Men. Women?” Now Tanner was the one who sounded skeptical.

“Yes,” Daria repeated.

Tanner’s eyes grew wide. “You’re bi?”

She laughed lightly. “Feeling a bit like a broken record—that’s a large vinyl plate with grooves in it, by the way—and yes.”

“We know what a record is.” And now I liked her even more.

“No way to tell who knows what these days.Really,Tanner?” She leaned into the question. “Never even tempted once? All that hot, sexy meat, and no guy even turned your head.”

I swore Tanner glanced at me.

“Not a single man in the Olympic village made me want to kiss him,” Tanner said.

“I’m just saying you should try it at least once.” Daria wasn’t leaving this alone. What was her deal?

I didn’t want to be doing this; it was time to end the conversation.

Tanner stared at her, brow furrowed. “I should just walk up to some random guy and say “Hey, kiss me so I can see what it’s like.”

“You’d do it with a woman. Maybe with a line likeyou look delicious enough to have for lunch.”

Tanner coughed. “Not again.”

“Besides,” Daria said. “You don’t have to do it with a random stranger. You know a guy who’d help you out so you could say you’ve done it. Come on. Make tonight a night of firsts.”

Lord kill me now. Why couldn’t I find my voice to stop this ridiculous conversation?

“Oh my God. Are you trying to get us to kiss?” Tanner sounded scandalized, but not as bothered as I feared. Not really bothered at all.

“What?” Daria held Tanner’s gaze. “I practically heard you get an erection when I said I’d been with other women.”

I was terrified by every next sentence in this conversation, but now I was fascinated as well. And more hopeful than I wanted to be. I was supposed to be getting over Tanner. “This all seems like a bad idea. We’re roommates. Business partners. Best friends.”

“True.” Daria chewed her bottom lip as she turned her attention to me. “I’d never want to see your friendship damaged. The two of you really are great together.”

As friends. Yes. I got it.

Tanner had gone strangely quiet.

Fuck it. I was getting this out of the way so I could move on—so we all could. I stood, tugged Tanner to his feet, and did something I’d wanted to do for more than a decade: I crushed my mouth to his.

Tanner froze, his lips firm and unyielding against mine.

My gut twisted in on itself. What was I doing?

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