Page 47 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

“The basement is going to be better than any hotel. Plus, it’s free.”

I know Jake’s wanting to be a good friend, but he doesn’t realize the situation he’s putting me in. Not only am I sleeping with his sister, but he’s now wanting to house me under the same roof as her. The temptation is always strong, but being in such close proximity to her all the time would snap my last restraint to not out myself to Jake.

Eve enters the kitchen, wiping the back of her hand over her forehead before collapsing into the stool next to me.

“Moving sucks. Remind me never to do this again. Or at least moving halfway across the country. Because I certainly don’t intend on living with my brother for the rest of my life.”

“Good to know,” Jake says. “Speaking of living arrangements, Lach will stay in the basement until he can figure out a new place to live.”

“You know what, I think that’s an excellent idea.” She swings her gaze to mine. Something brushes over my ankle. Glancing down, Eve slides her sock-covered toes over my jeans. I snap myhead up and meet her eyes. Luckily, the island is blocking Jake’s view.

“We get to be roomies.” Her plump lips curve into the sexiest smile.

I’m definitely fucked.

TWENTY-FIVE

YOU HAVE TO BE QUIET

Lach

Jake leads me toward the back entrance of the house where the basement door is located. I’ve been downstairs on many occasions but never slept. He flips on the light, and a single light bulb illuminates the white stairwell. When he lands on the bottom step, he turns on another set of lights that fill the open space. Stud partitions create the bones of rooms, and the insulation on the exterior walls but no sheetrock gives it a half-dressed look. In the bar corner is a small bar in front of a pool table. To the right is a long couch with a TV sitting on top of an entertainment center.

“For the most part, you’ll have the entire space to yourself.” He waves his hand to the other side of the room where a chest freezer and washer and dryer sit.

“This is perfect.”

“And the couch pulls out to a bed.”

I huff out a laugh. “I remember helping you move that thing down here. That was a bitch.”

“And this is probably where it’s staying. Feel free to move things around how you see fit. I have extra pillows and blanketsupstairs I’ll bring down for you. This might be a good reason to put that second bathroom in.”

“I don’t have plans to stay that long.”

He clasps my shoulder. “Stay as long as you need.”

“Thanks. Since it’s still light out, I’m going to drive past my apartment and check out the damage.”

He digs in his pocket, pulls out a key, and passes it to me. “Since you’re staying here.”

I nod. Shit. Maybe this whole secret relationship isn’t a good idea.

Since I left my truck at Jake’s house when we left for Knoxville, I jump inside. A few minutes later, I’m on the west side of town and pulling into the parking lot of my apartment. It’s mostly empty except for a few abandoned vehicles and a couple of work trucks parked near the front entrance that’s covered in yellow caution tape. The acrid stench of burned plastic wafts through the air. Even as the sun shines down, it does nothing to curb the chill in the air. For the most part, the building looks normal. Nothing fancy. A brick, three-story rectangular building.

My shoes crunch on the leaves scattered on the ground as I make my way to the back of the building, which tells a different story. The windows on the north side are shattered. Black streaks climb to the roof, staining the brick. My side of the building looks untouched.

When I approach the front of the building again, my landlord and a couple of other people step through the door and over the tape. When he’s finished, I wave to get his attention. He tells me the structural engineer is still determining whether it’s safe to enter and collect any belongings. He’ll call me in a couple of days with an answer.

I have a few toiletries and clothes from the trip, but I’ll need more in case it’s longer than two days or if everything is ruined.At the store, I shop for essentials—socks, underwear, toiletries. I’ll snag a few Porter’s shirts from Jake. Something to get me by until I can get my things.

When I arrive back at Jake’s, it’s quiet. I dump the shopping bags in the basement, grab the bottle of shampoo and bar of soap, and head upstairs to jump in the shower. Turning on the hot water, steam billows from the top and fills the small room. I strip out of my clothes and peel the curtain back. Climbing in, the water beats down on my tense muscles and rolls down my body. It’s been one hell of a day already.

If anyone deserves an Asshole of the Year award, it’s me. Jake was at my side, lifting me up when I hit rock bottom and showed me my life doesn’t have to be the dumpster fire it was becoming. I owe him my life, and how do I repay him? I fuck his sister. My shoulders sag as I lift my face to the water raining down on me. The droplets sting my skin. I’m torn between happiness and my best friend, and it’s the worst fucking place to be. After running the bar of soap over my body and shampoo through my hair, I rinse. Slowly, I turn the faucet handle until the water turns icy. The frigid temperature reminds me this is real. I really need to figure out this shit with Jake so I can stop being an asshole friend. I finish turning the handle until the water stops. I step out and grab the last towel from the rack. I’ll have to ask Jake where he keeps the extras. The coarse fibers scrape against my body. Shit. I didn’t bring a change of clothes with me. Normally, I don’t need to worry about it, but now I have roommates. After I finish drying, I wrap the towel around my waist and forgo dressing in my dirty clothes. A cloud of steam billows out behind me as I open the door. I’m only a few steps down the hallway when a door swings open, and I’m yanked inside.

“Jesus.” My back slams against the door, closing it with a click. My jeans and T-shirt fall to the floor with a thud. Instantly,Eve’s lips are on mine in a bruising kiss. She pulls away; her warm fingertips caress the edge of the towel that rests on my hips.

“I really think this roommate situation is going to work out great.”

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