We don’t even have to double-park when we finally make our way to Brooklyn; there’s a spot open on the street just in front of the brownstone. I take it as a sign from the parking gods above that this move was meant to be.
Nick whistles as he steps out of the van and crosses to the back toopen the hatch. “Shit, Sadie. It all makes sense now. Even I’d move to Brooklyn for this.”
“Twenty bucks says he’ll move to Brooklyn within six months,” Gemma mutters in my ear.
“Not dumb enough to take that bet.”
Nick talks a big Manhattan game, but he loves us too much to be a whole borough away from all his best gals.
Pulling my new key from my back pocket, I bound up the front steps. I push open the front door, calling out, “Honey, I’m home!” in a way louder voice than necessary since Jack’s standing right inside the entryway. “Oh, hi.”
He gives me a tight-lipped smile. “I heard the van pull up.”
Gemma and Harley greet Jack as they come in, each of them bearing a potted plant. They already know where my room is, so I wave them up the stairs.
Nick comes in carrying the biggest box from the van, his muscles straining against the sleeves of his definitely-too-tight T-shirt, and oh-so-casually sets it on the kitchen peninsula before crossing to Jack and sticking out his hand, keeping those muscles flexed the entire time. “You must be Jack. I’m Nick.” Pretty sure his voice just dropped an octave or two.
I purse my lips as I watch this exchange. Nick squeezes Jack’s hand so hard I’m surprised I don’t hear bones popping, but Jack doesn’t back down. And now that I see the two of them next to each other, Jack is actually taller than I would’ve thought him to be. Nick’s definitely broader and more built while Jack is lean, but height-wise, they almost stand even.
“Nice to meet you, Nick.” Jack gestures to the stairs leading to the basement. “Did you want to check out the place?”
Nick shrugs, but I can tell he’s dying to explore. I nod for him to go ahead, and he practically leaps down the stairs. I’m turning to head out for another box when I hear him exclaim, “Oh shit, did you know there’s a pool table down here, Sade?”
I roll my eyes, not bothering to respond. Back out at the van, I grab an armful of clothes before turning around and running straight into Jack. “Oh fuck. Sorry. I didn’t know you were coming out. Is it cool to park here?”
Jack grabs a box from the truck. “Of course.”
“Oh, you don’t have to help unload, really, there’s not much anyway, and we got it covered. Between the four of us, someone is moving every few months, so we’ve got our routines down.” I start the short walk back to the house, Jack following behind me.
“Like I’m just going to stand around watching you all move stuff and not help?” Jack checks the label on the box and takes it over to the kitchen. “Wait,woulda new roommate stand around and not help?”
I pause before heading up to my room, my foot on the lowest step. “Well, no, but you can certainly go about whatever your plans were for today.” I climb up one step and pause again. “Have you never had a roommate before?”
“What? Sorry, didn’t hear you,” he calls over his shoulder, heading back to the truck.
And I thought I was the master of deflection.
But I’m not one to say no to free labor, so not only is the truck unloaded within an hour, by the time dinner rolls around, I’ve alsomanaged to unpack my entire room. I wash my hands in my gorgeous new bathroom before heading downstairs to see if everyone is ready for pizza.
Harley and Gemma are sitting at the peninsula, beers already in hand.
“Where are the boys?”
They share a smirk, and Gemma nods toward the basement. “I think Nick’s in love.”
“With the basement or my new roommate?” Opening the fridge and pulling out a beer of my own, I lean both elbows on the counter opposite them. If I sit down, I know I won’t be able to get back up.
“Both,” they answer in unison.
I chug half my beer in one gulp. “You guys want your usual pizza?”
They nod, and Gemma hops up to grab them another round of beers.
I walk to the top of the basement stairs. “Boys, I’m going out for pizza. Jack, what kind of toppings do you like?”
A second later, there’s a pounding on the steps. Jack runs halfway up, just enough so he can see me and not have to shout. “I already ordered. Hope that’s okay. Nick told me what you guys like.”
Smirking at this full-force bromance, I cross my arms over my chest. “You didn’t have to do that, I was planning to treat everyone.”
