“It’s a fifteen-minute walk,” I protested.
“That’s a whole quarter, Red.” Ash tutted in disapproval.
“Do you know that the average NFL game takes about three hours to play, and on average, only eleven minutes of that time isactualplaying?”
Ash stopped at the bottom of the stairs as we reached home and looked at me with wide eyes. “Oh shit, really? Wow, I never knew that.”
“Shut up,” I muttered at him as I unlocked the door. When I walked in, I was still amazed at the changes. Okay, it was furniture and some kitchen cupboards removed, but still, it was a shock to see the larger sofa, and it still annoyed me that they had done this tomyhome.
Ash looked around and whistled through his teeth as he took in the sofa and the TV. “Nice.”
“Bit ostentatious, no?”
“Size matters, never let anyone persuade you differently, Red.” His eyes danced with laughter as he unpacked his food haul into the fridge, leaving two containers out.
“You’re hungry?” I asked in slight disbelief.
“Snacks, for the game,” he said easily as he walked past me to switch the TV on. He stood in front of it for a moment, making sure he’d missed nothing, and then he disappeared down the hallway. I heard his cry of appreciation at the new bed, and as I poured myself a glass of water, I heard him talking to someone.
Hesitating, I wondered if I should listen. Ash took the indecision from me as he came back into the living room, his chest bare, his feet bare, and only wearing his jeans.
“No, dude, I’m saying it’s good. Yeah, I totally appreciate it, man. I was dreading asking her for a massage.”
Ash picked up his two containers with his snacks, and seeing my glass of water, he placed the phone between his ear and his shoulder and picked it up.
“Thanks. No, not you, was talking to the roomie.” Ash grinned at whatever was said before he laughed out loud.
In stunned wonder, I watched him settle onto the brand-new sofa, half naked, with my water, and open one of his boxes. Hethen proceeded to eat some kind of lettuce wrap with his hands as he spoke and turned the volume of the TV up.
Checking my own phone, I looked at the time. He’d been in the apartment for nine minutes.Nine minutes. How was he so at ease, like he was . . . home?
“Yo, Red,” he called as I turned in a daze to get another glass of water. “Can you hand me a paper towel?”
Numbly, I walked over and handed him two sheets of paper towels. Finally filling my glass, I hesitated for a moment, watching him, but his full attention was split between the phone call and the game.
Walking to my room, I closed the door firmly behind me and slowly sank onto my bed. Reaching over to my nightstand, placing my water on it, I shrugged off my jacket as I still tried to comprehend what had just happened. Lying back, I stared at the ceiling to process before turning onto my side, and I realized I could smell him on my pillow.
I could feel my temper rising, but I pushed it down. I knew why we were doing this, and I knew once they realized they were not in some form of imminent danger, normality would return. Until then, I just needed to keep my temper and not let little things bother me.
Little things being six-foot-four men who had left their smell all over my sheets and pillows. With a groan, I stood and stripped the bed. I wanted to be a better, more mature person; I did. But all the heavenly angels couldn’t stop me from dumping my sheets at his bedroom door before I closed myself in my room.
After changing into yoga pants and a T-shirt, I pulled my class notes out and looked at the assignment that was due for one of the classes I shared with Ash.
My wooden lectern was calling to me, and my inner soul was screaming for some meditation. The best way for me to relax was to sing.
I could hear the low hum of the TV, and I knew Goliath was happy in his new space.
Rolling my neck on my shoulders, I forced myself to loosen up. Picking one of my favorite songs, a hymn, I first practiced my scales. When I felt that I was ready, I opened my mouth to sing.
A knock on the door cut me off, and I snapped my mouth shut as I glared at it.
“What?”
He didn’t even wait, just opened the door and poked his head in my room. “You got that assignment for me to look at?”
He looked genuinely interested. The longish light brown hair, the open face, the dark blue eyes, he was mouth-watering to look at. The fact that his six-pack was showing didn’t hurt him either. “Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
Ash looked down at himself in confusion. “Should I be?”
