“I’ll see you tomorrow, pipsqueak,” he vows.
A vice tightens around my chest.Too many emotions barrel through me.
I tuck tail and run, exiting out onto the sidewalk before I even register moving, and don’t stop until after I shove open my apartment door and lock it behind me.With my lungs burning and my head spinning, I toe off my shoes, hook my fingers into the laces, and dart across the living room to disappear into my room, but screech to a halt when I reach a trail of clothing.
I lift my head and gasp.
So much flesh.
Horror spears through me as I recall my roommate’s texts before I left.
I drop my chin to my chest and skirt around the discarded clothing.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.Pretend I wasn’t here.I saw nothing,” I mutter as I sidestep into my room.
I cringe at the lewd sound of my roommate’s mouth popping off his guest’s dick.
“You said it was okay if I brought him over because you’d be gone for a few hours,” Peter accuses.
“I know.I did.Really, pretend I’m not here and that I saw noth—”
“She’s cute.Why don’t we let her watch?Maybe even join in?”
My stomach lurches at the interest in the stranger’s voice.
Peter and I suffered under a few of the same bullies in high school—him for being gay and me for being a pariah—so after shared trauma and slowly learning to trust each other, we made a pact to stay together until one of us found a lifelong partner.
When we realized we’d need housing in the same area after graduating high school, we agreed to share an apartment.I was only fifteen at the time, but my parents were so preoccupied with my father’s health and our family’s financial struggles they never doubted my story when I told them my scholarship included dorm and food allowances.Peter was eighteen—old enough to sign the lease without involving his parents.Peter and I have lived peacefully together as roommates for twelve years, but one ill-fated run in with Sebastian Sterling and I’m committing the worst snafu imaginable.
A phone alarm blares.Peter’s guest sighs.
“That’s the alert for my boss.I need to answer it.”
I reach for my bedroom doorknob.
“Hang on, Pen.Wait,” Peter says.
Ignoring the sound of rustling fabric, I move out of my doorway, but Peter blocks me from swinging the door closed.To my relief, his robe covers his legs.
“I’m sorry.I’ll tell him that wasn’t appropriate,” he says.
The panic in his tone pierces into my chest.I lift my gaze, avoiding his body by looking down the hall, and meet his clear green eyes.His flushed, freckled cheeks and swollen lips are proof of his arousal, but although he’s handsome, there’s no attraction between us.
He’s the brother I wish I’d had from birth.The thought fills me with guilt.Even though I avoid Samuel—the brother I grew up with—like the plague now, once upon a time, before I started advancing in school, he was my rock.Bullheaded and annoying, but always ready to jump in and help me.I treasure the simple, honest relationship we had as kids, but that ended the moment he ignored me when I needed him most.
“It’s not your fault.I should have gone to the café instead of barging in like that, but I honestly forgot.I’m sorry,” I say.
“What’s wrong?”he demands.
I stiffen.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
“You look like you saw a ghost.”
I curl my hand tighter around the doorknob.Peter’s gaze shifts beyond my shoulder to my finger.
“Where’s your ring?”
