The Roommate, Kiersten Modglin [best books for 20 year olds .txt] 📗

concrete proof to the contrary. “We love her.”

“Yeah,” she said sadly. “That we do…”

“If you want to leave, if you want to go back to our old neighborhood, to your old job, let’s just do it. Let’s just go.”

She gave me a wary look. “My position’s been filled—”

“So, we’ll find you a new position.”

“And we’d have to sell the house first—”

“We’d have offers by tomorrow.”

She smiled at me, reaching her hand across the counter to clasp mine where it rested. She squeezed my hand gently, brushing her fingers across mine and, for just a moment, I felt her lose herself in my gaze, just as I was doing in hers. There we were. The people I remembered: The couple from prom night. From graduation. The husband and wife bringing their baby into the world, their entire lives in front of them. The couple blissfully in love not so long ago.

She let out a long exhale. “Let’s not talk about that. Let’s just be here, okay? I’m exhausted. I don’t want to think anymore.”

“Okay,” I said, buzzing from her touch. I didn’t want the moment to end.

It was as if nothing and everything had changed all at once. The moment was reminiscent of our early years together, when we could find the spare time to just sit and talk for as long as we had.

Every evening, we'd spent so much time together. Just being in each other's presence. Talking, laughing, existing.

It felt like it had been so long since that had happened, and I suppose it had.

"How was your day?" she asked, interrupting my thoughts and pulling her hand back slowly, almost regrettably.

"Pretty great, actually," I told her, thinking back over the day.

"Oh, yeah? What happened?"

Just as I was about to tell her, the dryer buzzed, letting me know my clothes were done. We looked down the hall in unison, toward the laundry room.

I looked at my coffee, still steaming hot. "That'll be my clothes. Should I…get going?"

She seemed to think for a moment, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Do you want to?”

My head shook before I’d meant for it to, giving my answer for me. “I never want to leave you, Addy.”

Her eyes glimmered, and I watched as they traveled to my lips and back up to meet my gaze. She leaned in slightly, without warning, and for just a brief moment, I thought she was going to kiss me. My chest swelled, my heart thumping loudly in preparation.

All too quickly, she leaned back, seeming to realize what was happening, but the warmth of her smile never left her lips. Finally, she let out a breath through her nose and lifted her mug to her mouth. "Stay for a while. I'm in no hurry."

And so, I stayed.

Chapter Twelve

When I arrived home that night, it was late, and I practically floated into the apartment, still high on my time with my wife. Nothing had happened in particular, but she'd let me stay, we'd had coffee, we'd laughed. She'd helped me fold my clothes, we'd talked more about our days, and, for the first time in so long, we hadn't fought about a single thing.

I was a changed man. Forever in awe of what could happen when I put my mind to it. I'd said I would fix things, and tonight I'd seen in Addy's eyes the first signs that I was actually doing it.

Elias was already in bed, and I set my bag of laundry down and walked across the quiet apartment, making my way to the refrigerator in search of a bottle of water to take to bed with me. I wasn't really tired, my body buzzing with adrenaline, but I knew I needed to at least lie down and attempt to sleep before work in the morning.

I grabbed a bottle of water and shut the fridge, glancing at the open trash can as I noticed the to-go box from Elias' dinner sitting there, the untouched burger on top. I leaned down closer, trying to be sure I was seeing correctly.

"You're back." The voice behind me caused me to jolt, letting out a strained squeal. I looked over my shoulder to where Elias stood, just behind me, outside of his bedroom door.

I put a hand to my chest, releasing a shaky breath. "Jesus. I didn't hear you coming." He was eerily quiet. Was that on purpose? I'd never met anyone who moved so stealthily.

"I heard the door open, and I wanted to be sure it was you. You can never be too careful."

Oh, great. Creepy Elias was back. I smiled, though he didn't reciprocate. "Well, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I figured you were already in bed."

"I was waiting up to make sure you got home okay."

My shoulders fell. "Oh. Elias, you didn't need to do that. I'm an adult. I can take care of myself." I tried to say it lightly. I knew he was disappointed that I'd had to ditch him.

"Did you not like your burger?" I asked, jutting a thumb toward the trash. "I guess I should've asked what you preferred, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise."

"Oh, it wasn't that. I just don't eat meat."

I let what he'd said process. "What?"

"Yeah, I'm a vegetarian, so I ate the fries, but I couldn't eat the burger. I really appreciate the gesture, though."

"But…" I felt like I was going mad. "You ate lamb with me the other night. And meat lover's pizza. How can you be a vegetarian?"

"I've always been a vegetarian," he said simply. "You must be confused."

"No, I'm not. I watched you."

"You couldn't have," he said forcefully, though there was still a light tone to his carefree voice. "I don't eat meat. Not since I was a teenager. It’s murder."

I shook my head. It couldn't be true. I'd watched him eat the lamb. I knew he'd eaten the pizza. Still, it didn't seem worth arguing with him. "Okay, I must just be confused then."

"Must be," he said. "No worries.