Page 71 of Bad Pucking Roommate

“I mean, he wouldn’t know if your husband wasn’t looking for my replacement, but he knows enough to put two and two together,” I scoff at her.

“Jesus, Luca. Do you hear yourself? I’m not replacing anyone, you know that,” Charlie snaps.

“Then what are you doing with my—” I stop myself and swallow thickly. “Teammate. What are you doing with my teammate?”

Charlie arches a knowing brow in my direction. “Oh, I get it,” he says.

“Get what?” Jessie’s eyes dart between Charlie and me.

“I think Charles is right, and we should talk about this somewhere else,” Justus suggests with an anxious look, although I’m too riled to pay it much notice.

“Charles?” I lift my brows as I look at my old friend.

“That’s what he said his name is. Which makes you Jessie, right?” Justus turns to her, palm extended, still trying to play mediator.

“Oh, I think I’m gonna be sick.” Jessie puts a shaky hand over her stomach.

“Don’t worry, Justus won’t say anything,” I huff impatiently.

“That’s not why she’s gonna get sick asshole.” Charlie glares at me before looking at Jessie, and when the position of her hand registers my own stomach sinks a little bit.

“You’re pregnant,” I whisper.

“Congratulations.” Justus tries to lighten the mood.

I lick my lips and look at Charlie. “You, uh. You weren’t propositioning Justus?”

“No, I wasn’t trying to make a move on your new audience candidate.”

“That’s not what he is,” I warn through clenched teeth.

“Hey, uh. I think we can be straight with them under the circumstances.” Justus blushes a deep red and catches my eye with a look that says,‘play along.’ “You’re right. I’m the new audience. Luca’s just trying to protect me from any backlash, but I assume that can stay between the four of us, right?”

Everyone looks aroundthe circle at each other until I finally blow out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, we’re all fine. Right?”

Charlie regards me with a wary look—probably deserved under the circumstances—but nods his head. In an effort to move us past the awkward tension, I turn to Jessie. “So, what was it you dragged me over here to talk to Charlie about? Before I assumed you were preying on Justus.”

“Yeah, we’re gonna come back to that.” She gives me one of her‘don’t fuck with me’looks. “We were—”

“Maybe this isn’t the right time,” Charlie interrupts her.

“I said I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t actually,” Charlie corrects me.

“Oh. Well, I meant to. I am.”

When Charlie doesn’t respond Justus claps him on the shoulder. “You know Luca thinks one thing and says another when he’s feeling vulnerable. I’m sure he really did think he apologized.”

“I do no—" I sigh heavily. “Yeah, okay. I might sometimes say shit, or not, before I get it straight in my head. I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions.”

Charlie and Jessie exchange a look, but neither say anything, just give me a cautious nod.

“Meet up after this thing is done? Your place?” I suggest.

“We’ll see you there.” Charlie puts his arm around Jessie’s waist and leads her to their table, leaving Justus and I to make our way to ours.

“How bad is it?” I mumble as we go.

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