“I’m not an animal, Jay,” I say, pretending to jot it down on an invisible notepad.
“Shoes off at the door.”
“Agreed.”
“No food in the bedroom.”
I look up from my fake notepad, raising an eyebrow. “Does that include your bedroom, which is now temporarily also the living area?”
He pauses, mouth opening then closing again, like he didn’t think that one through. “Okay, so… no eating on the sofa, either.”
My jaw drops, hand flying to my chest in mock outrage. “But—but movie nights. And popcorn. And M&M’s. You can’t do that to me.”
His lips twitch, and he tries to smother it with a stern look. “You can eat them in the kitchen.”
“Like some kind of heathen?” I gasp.
That half-smile breaks loose, softening his whole face. “Fine. Popcorn and candy are okay so long as my bedding isn’t on the sofa.”
“Like I said, bossy,” I mutter under my breath, scribbling an exaggerated note in the air before looking at him again. “But I kinda like it.”
His laugh is low, rumbling, like faraway thunder. “Last rule, then. If either of us brings someone home, the other gets a heads-up by text.”
I freeze, blinking at him. “Yeah… that’s not going to be a problem.”
One dark brow arches. “Meaning?”
“Meaning that will not be happening.” I wave my pen-less hand for emphasis. “I don’t bring dates back to my place anymore. This apartment is a strictly man-free zone. Except for you. Prepare to be my only eye candy for the foreseeable, Jay, you lucky thing.” I waggle my brows suggestively, and it earns me a short laugh from him.
“Good to know,” he says, and I don’t miss the roughness in his voice. “I don’t usually, I mean, I haven’t in a…” His jaw flexes, like he’s already regretting saying even that much. He clears histhroat and pushes on quickly. “Anyway.Ifit ever happens, we make sure the other knows, okay?”
I should let it slide, and I do… on the outside, I nod. But inside, my brain snags on that crack in his perfectly put-together exterior.Haven’t in a while.What does that mean, exactly? Girlfriend? Hookups? Or nothing at all? For a guy who makes competence look like second nature, the slip feels personal. Vulnerable, even. And yeah, I’m way too curious for my own good, and I need to rein it in. I decide to skim over that for now and change the subject because it’s none of my business.
“So, I was thinking of going bed shopping tomorrow, wanna come with? Could be a fun roomie bonding thing?”
He regards me for a second. “You only want my help because I’m stronger than Daph, right?”
I chuckle. “Got me admiring your physique again, Jay? How brazen of you.”
Getting his cheeks to color feels like I’ve won something, but I can’t be naive or needy enough to fall at the feet of the one person who’s helping me right now. So, I just enjoy that pink that I put there, and that’s it.
Chapter five
Jay
Mybackhurts.Mostlybecause I’m waking up on an old sofa bed that has springs. I’m used to pillowy foam, and that’s not what this is. I’m crumbling already.
Liv rounds the corner, rubbing at one eye, hair a tangled mess of waves. She’s wearing this tiny cotton pajama set—thin-strapped top and loose shorts that should be illegal before 8 a.m.—and for a moment, I forget I’m supposed to be put out by my temporary living situation. Especially when she looks as good as she does.
She blinks at me, then yawns, voice still sleep-rough. “You’re up early.”
“Couldn’t sleep in. That couch tried to murder me.” Standing with a stretch that clicks something somewhere, we walk into the kitchen together.
She bites back a smile, arms crossing over her chest. “You didn’thaveto take it, you know.”
I shoot her a look over my shoulder as I grab two mugs. “We’re not starting this again.”
She holds up her hands, surrendering. “Fine. I just hope you’re not expecting sympathy every morning.”
