I peel at the label of the bottle. “Yeah. I mean, he’s this tiny little thing, but his personality is already starting to come out. Is he going to be like me? More like his mom?”
“What were you like in high school?”
That has laughter bursting out of me. “God, I was terrible. I think I gave Gran more gray hairs my junior year than she’s gotten her entire life.”
“I can see it.”
“Hey. I can’t imagine little Stevie was a saint back then.”
“I was.” She waggles her eyebrows at me. “I couldn’t stand the thought of getting yelled at, so I never got into trouble. Never broke curfew. Never drank. I was an angel.”
“Of course you were. I’m picturing you in the library during school, doing your studying and getting ahead on homework.”
“There was nothing wrong with trying,” she defends. “I was never a great student, so I had to work. I hated school.”
“Is that why you’re an aesthetician now?”
“More or less. I enjoy what I do.”
“Tell me about it.” Shifting in my chair, I turn to meet her gaze.
“I like people. I like getting to work with them and help them if they’re having trouble with their skin. I want to help them feel beautiful.”
“I’m sure you are good at that. And what makes you feel beautiful?” The words are spilling from my lips before I can stop them. I can see the question catching her off guard.
“Right. I should probably get to bed. I have an early day tomorrow.” Stevie grabs her empty beer bottles and hops out of the chair like it lit her on fire.
“You don’t have to go.” I jump up, trying to stop her but she’s faster. She’s scurrying inside before I can convince her to stay.
Damn it.
The night air is choking now, so thick I can see it. Just when I thought we were having a real conversation, she runs off.
I want to know all about this woman. Every scrap. Every seed. Anything she’ll give me.
How can I be so taken with one woman I barely know?
Sighing, I gather up the remaining beer bottles and head inside. After spending this little time with Stevie, I realize I have to take my time with her. Something has scared her off, and I want to know what that is.
I will figure out my roommate if it’s the last thing I do.
ChapterTen
STEVIE
Coward.
That word is on repeat in my head as I walk inside the building that houses the spa.
The minute things started to get too comfortable with Bode last night, I fled.
We were having fun, talking about things that didn’t matter. But the second it turned personal? I tucked my tail between my legs and ran. Because I didn’t want to delve into anything too personal about me.
Bode is too much. Too sexy, too much man, too much everything for me to spill my secrets to. One shred of who I am and he would go running in the opposite direction.
That’s the last thing I want.
Right now, staying with him is keeping me together. It’s giving me a semblance of a life. Like I’m a real adult. I don’t want to do anything to rock the boat.
