Laurel

 

While fixing lunch, I hear a knock on the door, so I walk to the living room to answer it.

Jason–again.

“Angie and Sabrina aren’t here.” Having forgotten I’m still braless in my pajamas, I cross my arms.

“Actually, I’m here to see you. I have a proposition.”

“The answers are no and no.”

“To what?”

“No, I don’t want to participate in one of your threesomes, and no, I don’t want to have sex with you period.”

“Damn, you were quick to throw that out there. It sounds like I’ve been on your mind again.”

“No, I had this traumatic flashback of you and my roommates naked in this very room.”

He frowns. “Most chicks enjoy seeing me naked. Look, I don’t want to have sex with you, either. One, it’s counter-productive to my proposition, and two, you’re not my type. Like, at all. Oh, and three, I never try that hard for sex. You’d be way too much work.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine, let’s hear this proposition.”

“Can I come in?”

Sighing, I step aside for him to enter, and I can’t fathom what he wishes to discuss.

He strolls over to the recliner and takes a seat. He uses the handle to flip it back, and geez, why doesn’t he just make himself at home?

“Can I get you a beer and some chips while I’m up?”

He gives me a boyish grin. “That’d be perfect, babe.”

I don’t want to smile at him, but I can’t resist. Unable to stare at his gorgeous face a second longer, I avert my gaze and sit on the couch at the end farthest away from the chair he’s made his own.

Staring at his alluring eyes, I wait for him to speak.

“I want to know if you’d let me move in here. I’d pay rent of course.”

My eyes widen.

No, they bug out.

Round as ever.

“You’re honestly asking me if you can move in with Sabrina and Angie? I’m not running a brothel here.”

He laughs. “They’re moving out, and they told me you can’t afford to live here on your own.”

“What? They haven’t said a word to me about moving.”

“I know. They asked me to break the news. I think they’re a little scared of you.”

“Where the hell are they going?”

“There’s another chick they want to live with who they claim is more fun and less up their asses about everything. Sorry, their words.”

“Nice.” I glance away, upset that what they think bothers me.

“I can’t keep living with my friend Colton. He’s in a serious relationship with my baby sister, and it’s killing me to share space with them.

“He doesn’t like to be in her dorm room, so Summer’s always at our place. After you walked in on me with your roomies, I went back home only to find my sister riding him on our couch.”

Covering my mouth, I giggle.

“It’s not funny. Talk about Karma…” He shakes his head, seeming to wish away the image in his mind. “Anyway, long story short, I need out of there.”

“Can’t you find a buddy to move in with?”

“No. Everyone’s settled for the year.”

“How does this benefit me? You’ll have all these girls over, and that’ll be no better than the living situation I’m in now.”

“I’ll keep it in the bedroom.”

“Not gonna work. These walls are paper thin.”

“OK, I won’t have anyone over if you’re here.”

“My schedule changes. I don’t want to feel like I can’t come home.”

“We could text each other. If you have a change of plans, I’ll throw them out.”

“Wow, you’re such a gentleman.”

“Look, my parents agreed to pay for med school. I can’t ask them to pay the entire rent on a place, too, and I don’t have time to work. I’m taking a full course load.”

“Maybe you could work if you spent less time on your extracurriculars.”

He huffs. “I had to set my pride aside to ask you this, so could you at least consider it? How much are you paying to live here?”

“$400.”

“It’s costing you that much after splitting the rent three ways?”

“I pay the bulk of it. I rented this place on my own, and then something happened, and I couldn’t afford it any longer, so I had to get roommates.

“Angie and Sabrina wouldn’t pay more than $200 a month each, and I couldn’t find anyone else, so I had to accept their offer. After electric and water are added, it costs that much.”

“Why did you get a three-bedroom in the first place?”

“It was all I could find, and I could afford it at the time.” I hold my hands up in front of me. “You know, none of that matters. I don’t want to live with you.”

“You pay $250, and I’ll cover the rest.”

“How is that a savings for you?”

“I pay $650 for my apartment.” He shrugs. “It’s a newer place.”

$150 extra a month would make a huge difference for me, but this is crazy. I can’t let him live here. He’d never stick to the rules.

“I’ll think about it, but I’m leaning toward a no.” I stand up and adjust my cream pajamas that have bright-colored stacks of books printed on them. Thinking of the librarian nickname he gave me, I cross my arms again.

“Come on. Help me out here. It’s only until May, and then I’ll find another roommate for med school.”

“Is this why you were helping me out last night?”

Seeming genuinely wounded by my words, he grimaces.

“No, and I wish you’d stop thinking I have some ulterior motive.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that after you helped me with Chloe.”

“Is she OK?”

“Yeah, still sleeping it off in my bed.” Biting my lip, I stare at him. Fuck, he’s good-looking in his hoodie as he sits stretched out in my chair, his jeans snug over his runner thighs. Yes, I’ve noticed him running on campus before.

His blond hair is mussed-up, probably like mine. Shit, my crazy hair. Looking away, I try to straighten it. Lord, I only see trouble by allowing Jason to live here.

He’s the last guy I should develop a crush on, and I suspect it’d be easy for it to happen, even if he doesn’t deserve it.

But, I can’t afford to live alone, and what if I couldn’t find another roommate? “I’ll seriously consider it.”

Flipping the chair back to its upright position, he stands.

“Thank you. You’ve got my number, so text me as soon as you decide.”

“I will.”

Once he reaches the door, Jason turns back and brandishes a crooked grin.

“I’m diggin’ the pajamas, by the way, but you should wear something sexier when you’re going to have a man in your bed.”

“I’m not looking for a man. Now, go before I change my mind about you being my roomie.”

His eyes widen. “It’s a yes then?”

Letting my head fall back, I stare up at the ceiling, flustered by him and all his charm.

“No, I meant before I change my mind about considering it.”

He strolls out the door with swagger.

“I’ll be waiting for your yes!” he yells with his back to me as I stare at his ass in jeans. His fine ass in jeans… Shit, I’m screwed.