Page 136 of Messy Strokes (Wrecked Roommates)

I can’t do this.

I need to tell him the truth––thewholetruth––and all its ugliness.

I’m a liar. A manipulator. A thief for stealing his trust and living under this roof. For taking the job at his work when I know for a fact if he ever found out about everything I’ve done, he’d never want to see me again.

My lips form a small ‘o’ as I breathe out slowly, letting go of all the oxygen and insecurities harbored inside of me.

“Listen…I need to tell you something,” I whisper.

“What is it?” He pushes my hair away from my face and tucks it behind my ear, his mouth pulling into a frown. “What’s wrong, Mads?”

“I––”

“Hey, do you have any more diapers?” Jake demands from the doorway, tugging at the top button of his white collared shirt without giving a crap he’s completely interrupted our conversation. “Bree said Penny pooped.”

“I’ll change her,” I offer, trying to shake myself out of whatever the hell’s going on inside me, but I still feel like I’m drowning.

“No worries. Bree’s got it. She likes kids.”

“She seems nice,” I return with a tight smile. “I think it’s sweet she organized her trip so she and Derrick could make it to Milo’s opening night.”

“Or diabolical,” Milo mutters, his gaze flicking toward Jake.

“She’s a damn hurricane,” Jake volleys back, his shoulder pressed against the bathroom’s doorjamb. “Remember, if she makes a fool out of you tonight”––he points to Milo––“it’s your own fault.”

“You’re just pissed I’m not the only one who realized you were distancing yourself from everyone,” Milo counters.

“Youcalledher.”

“I had no choice,” Milo barks. “Not that it matters, but I’m not the only one who’s noticed you spiraling.”

“I’m not––”

“Bullshit. You ready for finals? Or are you gonna blow them off like you’ve been blowing everything else off?”

“Don’t ruin the night by starting a fight,” Jake warns him.

“If it’ll get you to wake the hell up and get your head out of your ass, I think it’s worth it.”

Jake’s jaw tightens. “I’m not doing this––”

“Of course, you aren’t. You’re not doing anything anymore. Look, I’m sorry it didn’t work out with my sister.”

“It didn’t work because you never gave me a chance to make it work!”

“I didn’t even know you had a thing for her!”

“Because I respected you enough as a friend not to overstep my bounds, asshole. Turns out, you didn’t give a shit about boundaries because you gave Riv your blessing without even batting an eye, didn’t you?”

Milo jerks back as if he’s been sucker punched. “You’re mad because I mended my friendship with Riv?”

“I’m mad that I respected our friendship enough not to cross the line with your sister, but it didn’t give me shit.”

Scrubbing his hand over his face, a defeated Milo argues, “I can’t go back and give you the green light to date Reese.”

With a dark laugh, Jake shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter, ‘cause she wouldn’t have wanted me, anyway.”

Milo hangs his head. “Jake…”

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