Page 1 of My Three Roommates

CHAPTER 1 KENNA

WANT TO GET together? Need to talk, I’ve got something to tell you.

Cody doesn’t usually sound so serious. I tap out a reply quickly.

Can’t right now, I’m at our new place. Tanner’s moving in today.

Cody’s response of a bunch of eye rolls draws a reluctant laugh from my lips. He and Tanner have never become friends, although they’ve known each other for years.

I start to reply but Brad’s arms circle around me, his lips grazing my neck in that way he knows makes me unravel.

“Who are you texting?” he murmurs against my skin. “You look so happy. Should I be worried about another man?”

I tilt my head to gaze into his eyes, emerald green and glittering with mirth. “It’s Cody.”

My boyfriend hugs me tighter. “So the answer’s yes. I should be.”

“You’re right. We’re making plans about how I’m going to leave you for him.” I give him a playful swat. I enjoy teasing him about Cody. Brad knows there’s nothing behind it, since my best friend’s gay.

Brad kisses me, slow and deep. “Okay, but you can’t actually leave. He’s going to need to move in here. I won’t be able to afford this place by myself.”

His lips trail down to my neck, sending fire racing through my veins. I want to tear his clothes off but I don’t want us to get caught in the middle of something. “Do you know when Tanner’s supposed to be here? It’s soon, right?”

Brad glances at his phone. “He’s on his way. Still stuck in traffic right outside of the city. He texted just a few minutes ago.” Brad’s hands skim lower, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “We still have time.”

I try halfheartedly to bat his big, warm hands away, my breath catching. “Not that much, do we?”

“I think there’s enough.” Brad nuzzles into my hair, his voice low and deep. “Come on, Kenna. This is the last time we’ll have our brand new house to ourselves before our roommate gets here.”

If any man can make me toss caution aside, it’s Brad. I’ve missed him this week. Our long hours and exhaustion made us both collapse into bed every single night, falling asleep in seconds until the alarm drags us up again with no time for anything else.

Maybe living together won’t be so bad. It’s sooner than I would like. Between the economy and both of our rents going up so much, we had no choice. We just couldn’t afford to live separately or stay in Manhattan. It’s just soon. So soon.

My last relationship imploded and I really think living together was a huge part of it ending. I decided that when I met the right guy, I’d wait to live together until we were married. I’m sure Brad’s the right guy for me. I don’t want anything to go wrong now.

Brad runs his fingertips over my head, massaging lightly. I close my eyes with a soft moan. He knows I can’t resist this. He’s lulling me partly into a very relaxed state. Mostly turning me on.

“Come on.” Brad kisses the tender spot below my ear, his breath hot on my skin. “We haven’t had nearly enough time to break in our new bedroom. Let’s take advantage of our one final chance before this is no longer just our place.”

“Okay.”

He grins, bending to lift me into his arms, when the doorbell suddenly splits the silence. I jump, my heart racing.

“Christ,” Brad mutters. “Tanner got here a lot faster than I thought.”

“I’ll get it.” Now that I’ve got all of this sexual energy coursing through me, I need to walk it off. I hurry to the front door. “Hey there,” I say as I swing it open. My eyes widen. It’s not Tanner.

Before I know it, I’m being swept up into a bear hug. “There you are,” Cody says. “I missed you.”

I clutch at him as he spins me around, laughing into his shoulder. “We got together just last weekend.”

“That’s way too long ago.” Cody sets me down, holding me at arm’s length. His eyes, as deep and fathomless as the night sky, gaze into mine. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” I admit. “What’re you doing here?”

“I’ve come by to make everything better. You don’t have to miss me anymore.”

“What’re you talking about?” I ask, my curiosity piquing as I search his eyes for answers.

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