Page 57 of My Three Roommates

“You can’t bring your harem of guys or whatever it is to Rosalie’s wedding,” Nadine says. “Not just because no one’s bringing more than one date. Because she doesn’t want you there anymore.”

“Rosalie’s right. You shouldn’t come to her wedding. How can you celebrate her relationship if you aren’t in a normal one yourself?” Paige says.

“Hey,” Rosalie calls from across the room. “Come on over here, it’s time to start the games.” I trail behind Nadine and Paige, completely thrown.

In spite of all of my friends judging me, they didn’t exactly say anything wrong. Brad was always talking about our future together. Lately he hasn’t said a word. On top of that, he really did embrace the chance to get with Cody. It didn’t stay a one-time experiment either, not for a moment.

Now Tanner’s in the mix and Brad embraced him wholeheartedly. Also very quickly. Am I just getting in the way of what he really wants?

An even worse thought strikes me. Are the guys all just in it for each other? And not me?

Paige was speaking to me in the exact same way that we all did when Rosalie was with the first guy who lied to her about being single. She had no idea he was married. Even after she found out, she was talking about staying with him anyway.

Nadine and Paige and I confronted her in our own version of an intervention. At first Rosalie couldn’t let go, but we helped her get out. When she was in the middle of everything, she couldn’t see why it was wrong to stay with him very clearly.

Am I in the same position myself? Is this wrong and I just can’t see it? Paige’s very sharp. I trust her. How can I be right about this when all of my best friends think it’s wrong?

Brad kept his innermost desires from me, and only confessed once the other guys moved in with us. Why is he so okay with me being with them too?

He used to act a little jealous even over my friendship with Cody. Now it’s as if he’s pushing me towards him. What we’re doing can only work out if we’re all in it equally. I love Cody but it can’t be just him. And how could I ever be with Tanner without Brad?

Maybe it’s all too complicated, maybe it can’t work.

Quickly I check for Brad’s reply to a text I sent earlier. There’s not a word from him. We don’t text often, so he always replies right away.

My stomach sinks. Things have been changing with him and I’ve been too caught up to notice. Is that what he wants?

Rosalie gets everyone’s attention as she starts to explain how the wine tasting game’s going to work. Paige goes to stand beside her, glancing around and giving a smile to everyone in the crowd. Her face goes dark when she gets to me.

There’s a growing deep freeze in the room and it’s aimed right at me. It feels like everyone’s talking about me in low murmurs. I try to catch Rosalie’s eye. She won’t look at me. Same with Paige and Nadine.

Turning on my heel, I leave the room, fighting the urge to let the door slam behind me. I’m more upset than angry. I really believed our friendships were strong enough to withstand anything. We’re all supposed to be as close as sisters.

How wrong I was.

CHAPTER 32 KENNA

TEARS STING MY eyes as I stop just outside the room. I’m trying so hard to hold them back. I still have to walk through the entire restaurant before I’m free. I’ve just barely manage to steel myself to get through it when the door opens up behind me.

“Kenna. Don’t leave,” Paige says.

I whirl around to face her. “Why not? Aren’t you finished chewing me out yet? Aren’t you the one who said I shouldn’t be here in the first place?”

The bitterness seeping into my voice is palpable. “You’re supposed to be my friend. All of you are. You won’t even listen to a word I’m saying.”

“We did listen, Kenna,” she says evenly. “If you’ve got something more to say, that’s why I’m here. Go on.”

“You have to believe me,” I say as calmly as I can manage, which isn’t very calm at all. “Brad and I are good. With everything.”

“I guess I can believe that he knows about it, but not that he’s fine with it. Brad’s a good guy. Why would you risk losing him like this? It’s crazy, Kenna. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you’ve got to make things right. Stop whatever it is you’re doing with Cody. Make sure Brad wants to be with you. This isn’t the way. It’s bad enough that you always said Cody was gay. He wasn’t very gay when Nadine saw you with him, was he. She told us you two were acting like when you and Brad were first going out.”

“Cody’s not gay,” I say haltingly, continuing before she can speak. “I always thought he was too. He recently told me he’s actually bisexual and–.”

“Bisexual?” Paige cuts me off, her tone as incredulous as if I just revealed he’s a murderer. “So, Cody wouldn’t care if you were cheating on Brad with him. Don’t you think he’s probably cheating on you too?”

“Hey.” My misery ramps up into anger. “Being bi doesn’t automatically make someone a cheater. That’s such a stereotype. Cody’s always been a loyal friend to me. You know perfectly well that any guy can cheat. Jane’s fiancé wasn’t so faithful in the beginning, remember?”

That makes Paige pause, but only for a moment. “What you’re doing is still wrong. Why are you trying to get involved with another man when you’ve already got a great one? It doesn’t make sense.”

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