Page 104 of Damn Roommate

“Scar,” I whisper. “Stay, please.”

I take a step towards her to hold her back, but she steps back. I stop and beg her with my eyes. She just shakes her head, then leaves too, rolling a suitcase against the floor of the apartment, then slams the front door behind her. My heart stops beating at the same time.

“Let them go, Nolan. They just need time.”

Leo’s voice isn’t accusatory, and when I look into his eyes, I see a compassion I didn’t expect to see.

“They will never forgive me.”

“When we love, we forgive. And the Martins love you. Both in their own way.”

He approaches and puts a hand on my shoulder before leaving the room. Standing in the middle of the empty room, perfumed by a familiar smell that turns my guts, I stare at the keys on the piece of furniture and understand that if I stay here, I will never getthemback. So, I drag myself to my room, open my closet, and stuff some things into a gym bag. The phone stuck to my ear, I let the tones ring out until a familiar voice answers me, “Hello.”

“Can I sleep at your place?”

“Did it get that bad?” Milo asks.

I sigh, tucking the leather strap over my shoulder. “I can’t stay here.”

“Come on, man. It’s home for as long as you need.”

My heart tightens. “Thank you, Milo.”

37

Scarlett

“Hey, Scar!”

I turn to the familiar voice and come face to face with Leo. By reflex, I look to see if my brother and Nolan are behind him. I’ve been keeping my distance from both of them, and I don’t wish to be taken by surprise at their appearance.

“They’re not with me.”

Leo smiles at me as he tilts his head to the side, looking embarrassed, and I breathe a sigh of relief. My hand stays on my backpack and I swallow hard. It feels so strange to see him. Usually, he’s never alone like that, and knowing that he is today just shows me of the state of their friendship.

“I’m sorry,” I can’t help but say. “For everything.”

He shakes his head and bites the inside of his cheek. “You don’t have to apologize, you know, I’m not on any side. You have my full support.”

“You lost your friends because of me,” I say.

He shrugs. “They’re still my friends. Edgar is just pouting, and Nolan has taken refuge at Milo’s.”

My heart squeezes when I hear my brother’s name, but it’s nothing compared to the reaction it has at the mere mention of Nolan’s. I close my eyes and sigh.

Fifteen days.

“Do you remember the time Edgar got into that accident with Nolan’s car? They were at each other’s throats for a month.”

I frown and Leo laughs.

“Okay, it was a car, but all that to tell you that they can’t be separated for long. Even if this time it is different, I know that they’ll get together again.”

“How’s Edgar?” I ask.

“Don’t you hear from him at all?”

I shake my head and he rolls his eyes.

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