Chapter 30
Blakely
I'm dancing around the kitchen, feeling silly and happy. Goddamn – I'm in love!
Yes, I'm in love with my roommate.
We're so good together. He's got to feel it too, right? I'm not the only one feeling all this, am I? I think about the way he touched me last night, the way he looked at me...Yeh, he feels it.
And I know it isn’t what we agreed to. He agreed to be my sex tutor, nothing more. But things are different now. We’re on the same page, I just know.
I sing along to the Ed Sheernan song in my head as I toss a handful of berries into the blender. I image that it's Nicholas saying those words to me, telling me how much he loves my body. I giggle at the thought.
Shaking my booty, I hit 'frappé' and watch my fruits transform into a creamy breakfast smoothie. I pop the top off of the cup and take a hearty swallow. Mmm...a smoothie has never tasted this good. It could be the dried plums that I threw in. Or it could be the fact that I'm in L-O-V-E.
God, I'm corny.
But it doesn't matter because Nicholas likes me just the way I am. At least I think so.
And this love thing is really good for my writing business, too. I woke up in the middle of the night and realized that he'd crept out of bed. I grabbed my laptop and started typing. The words just flew off of the tips of my fingers. I'm confident that Taken by my Bad Boy Roommate is my best work yet. Everything thing in my life just flows now. Everything is good.
Nicholas pads into the kitchen, wearing jogging shorts low on his hips, his carved torso on glorious display, his hair a tussled mess. "Hey," he says as he tosses his t-shirt over the back of a chair.
"Hey!" I chirp as he leans into the fridge and grabs the orange juice. "No, here," I say as I intercept the juice box, setting it on the table. I slide the smoothie into his hand. "Try this."
He pauses and gives me a look I can't interpret before taking the smoothie with a sigh. He takes a sip as though it's a great big chore. The crease between his brows, the tension in his jaw. What’s up with the moodiness, Handsome?
I try to ignore his sullen demeanor, still riding my love-high. "Tell me that isn't the best smoothie you've ever had," I dare him with a great, big smile.
He just shrugs a shoulder and shoves the drink back my way. "It's all right. I don’t like the dried plums."
Okay, now he's managed to deflate my bubble and uneasiness is beginning to build in my bones. "You okay?" I ask, examining him closely.
He gives me his back as he grabs a glass from the cupboard. "A little tired. That's all." His shoulders are bunched tight and tension pinches his back muscles.
I run a hand over his shoulder as he pours out his juice. "Y'know, I'm really good at massages," I offer, "My sister taught me a few things at the spa."
Did he just flinch or am I imagining things?
"I don't need a massage," he says, sounding defensive. He steps out of my reach and chugs down his juice. He doesn’t even look at me.
"Okay..." I drag the word out, completely confused by his behavior. Last night, he was all over me. Now, this? I'm aching for that connection, to feel close to him again. His weird attitude is starting to sting. "Hey, we should get out of the house tonight. Wanna go catch a movie after work?" I say hesitantly. I hate being so needy but I'm just looking for a way back in with him.
He practically chucks his empty glass into the sink. "Not in the mood." Before I can get another word in (and make an even bigger fool of myself), he grabs his t-shirt and stomps out of the kitchen. “Going for a run.”
My stupid heart aches when I hear him slam his front door behind him.