“And just so we’re clear.” Jocelyn’s eyes remain on her laptop as she speaks softly. “You have my support. But you better not tell her that.”
Had they already talked about me? This got more and more interesting by the minute. I took a swig of the water but then abandoned the pretense, heading to Violet’s door to knock.
“Come in,” she responds.
I creak the door open, but just like Jocelyn, Violet’s hyper-focused on her laptop. I wish I could have that kind of focus on something besides football. Especially now when I may need the backup plan.
“Am I interrupting?” I ask.
Her eyes snap up to me, and it’s obvious I’m not who she’s expecting. I could tell this “new roommate” thing was still in the early adjustment period for her.
“No, it’s fine.” She presses the lid down and sets the laptop aside.
She looks less intimidating now, her dark brown hair out of her bun pooling messily around her shoulders. The prim outfit she’d had on before replaced by shorts, a hoodie and knee-high socks. She looks more like one of the girls I’d find in the dorms than the intimidating force she normally is, and I think I might like it almost as much.
“I just wanted to check in and make sure it’s all right that I’m staying here.”
“Of course! Nora told me you’re going through it right now.” She frowns a little, and the furrow of her brow deepens.
Fuck. Not her too. I really couldn’t deal with disappointing anyone else right now. And it’s the last thing I want to talk about. Dinner here, laughing with them, thinking about old times is the distraction I need. Something to get my mind off freaking out about football.
“Yeah, something like that.” I shrug.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She sits up a little, her voice a bit more serious than before. I can tell I’m about to get the big sister act, and I do not want it.
“About the way you were looking at me earlier? I thought maybe we should... I mean, I know it could be awkward having a thing for your roommate.” I give her a wide smile.
Dick move. I know, but I am desperate to change the subject and even more desperate to explore the depths of this whole—Violet actually noticing me—situation.
Her jaw drops. Literally drops. She hops up and sits on the edge of the ottoman and points to the door behind me.
“Get out!” There’s a teasing tone to her voice still, like she’s amused, but also not brooking any bullshit from me.
“I mean, I just think we need to talk about your attraction to me if we’re going to be roommates. You know, boundaries and all that.” I hold my hands open like we need to have a frank discussion about it, and I can’t help but laugh as she launches a pillow squarely at my face.
“I am NOT attracted to you. Good god!” She huffs.
“Then what was the comment about liking the view earlier?”
“I was being a smart-ass when I thought you were some hookup of Jocelyn’s so I could run you out of the place.”
“And the way you were looking at me?” I inch a little closer to her.
“The way I was looking at you? What are you… Your ego… Can you hear yourself?” She sounds indignant but there’s the slightest hint of pink to her cheeks, and her eyes flick over my chest like she’s remembering what she saw before.
“I mean it’s okay. I just think we should talk about it,” I tease.
“There’s nothing to talk about.” She crosses her arms.
“Come on now, be honest. We’re old friends. You can tell me.” I pause to give her a chance to confess, but she continues to stare at me like I have five heads.
She glowers at me. And then I realize the perfect way to get a confession out of her as I lunge forward and wrap my hands around her ankle.
“Or I could just tickle you until you cave.”
Shehatesbeing tickled, and it was my favorite way to torture her when we were younger. One, because it always put her into fits of rolling laughter no matter what mood she was in, and two, it gave me an excuse to touch her without admitting how much I wanted to.
“Benjamin Thomas Fucking Lawton, you will NOT.” Her eyes are threatening murder.
