“Wait—you mean one of those giant rat-like things?”
“He’s a marsupial, actually, but yes. And I didn’t adopt him at the humane society or anything. Zonk came with the place.”
“Zonk?” She blinked. “You named him?”
I shrugged. “What else was I supposed to do?”
“Hire an exterminator,” she said, half-laughing, half-horrified. “Oh, my god, Scott.” She jabbed me in the ribs. “I let you kiss me.”
“So… the drive-in, then?” I asked.
She weighed her options. I prayed I’d done enough to scare her off the idea of going back to my place for a meet-and-greet with my beady-eyed roommate.
But then she let out a long, dramatic sigh. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… take me to your master.”
17
MICHELLE: TEARS FOR FEARS
The reason I’d asked to see his place wasn’t curiosity; it was hope. Some small, desperate part of me wanted to know if I could actually make it work with him. Could I fit into his world, even a little?
He opened the door and flipped on the light.
I stepped inside…
The place was barely an apartment. One room. Low ceiling. A hot plate sat on the counter where a stove should’ve been, and a toaster oven stood in for everything else. A toilet and sink, yes, but no shower or even a bathroom door.
I stayed where I was, taking it in. Trying to adjust. Telling myself this didn’t change anything. That Scott mattered more than square footage… and warm, running water.
That was when he casually called out:
“Zonk. Come here, buddy. Don’t be scared. She won’t bite.”
Oh god. I’d almost forgotten about the opossum. I immediately hiked my dress up and leapt onto his back for protection. “Where is he?”
“Don’t know. Sometimes he’s gone for a day or two. We’renearing the end of mating season, so he’s probably getting his final fucks in.”
He said it so matter-of-factly that I buried my face in his neck, laughing until my ribs hurt. “You’re insane.”
“There are no free rides here, Babe,” he said, carrying me toward the couch, then tipping me backward in an attempt to shake me off. “Dismount.”
“No. Absolutely not.” I tightened my grip, my limbs feeling like solid steel. “I’m not setting foot on your floor until proper introductions have been made.”
“Well, you can’t stay on my back forever.” Scott’s voice went mischievous as he spun us in a wild circle.
“Scott, stop!” I squealed, breathless with laughter, clinging to him like my life depended on it. This ridiculousness was everything I loved about him. Wild and reckless and so stupidly, irresistibly fun. Then his footing slipped and we crashed into the arm of the couch, collapsing in a heap. His deep chuckle rumbled through me, pressing me into the cushions, and for a heartbeat, we just lay there, our breaths mingling in shared warmth.
Then the laughter vanished, replaced by something raw and hungry. He hovered over me, one hand braced on the back of the couch, the other pressing into the cushion beside my hip as if he were anchoring himself to me. His breath hit my mouth in hot bursts, each exhale stirring a new fire in me. His gaze flicked from my eyes to my lips and back again, a silent question echoing between us. My heart pounded hard enough to betray me. The memory of last night—how he made it feel—rose up, begging for a repeat.
“Hi,” I whispered, my voice trembling in that charged silence.
Scott leaned in, his fingers tracing the line of my jaw as hismouth hovered just above mine, leaving the choice suspended between us.
“Hi,” he breathed back.
God, he was irresistible. I grabbed fistfuls of his hair, drawing him closer, his lips colliding with mine. He tasted like defiance, like every line I’d sworn I wouldn’t cross. We kissed like it was the end of everything, my nails slipping under his shirt and dragging up his bare back. A low sound rumbled from his throat as he pressed harder against my thigh.
He broke the kiss, both of us breathing unevenly. When I opened my eyes, he was watching me. And I couldn’t help but wonder… Did he know?
