Page 104 of The Jerk in Apartment 1B

“So how’s the job search going?” she asks.

“I haven’t really been looking. I don’t think I want to go back to being an assistant, spending my day running errands and getting coffee.”

“What about being a buyer? I know it’s not designing, but you still get to work with clothes.”

“It’s something I’d consider, but I haven’t seen any job openings.”

“So for now, are you going to keep working at the grocery store?”

“Yeah, I actually don’t mind it. And I’m still helping Scott organize his storage room.”

We’ve been working on it for three weeks and should’ve been done by now. But when we’re in that small room together, just the two of us, we end up kissing, which leads to doing otherthings. When Scott said we weren’t having sex again after we did it in my apartment, I really thought he meant it. But the next day, I went over to his place for breakfast and we ended up in his bed. Ever since then, we can’t get enough of each other.

“You two spend a lot of time together,” Sara says, smiling a little. “Is there something going on there? Something you haven’t told me?”

“No,” I say, but I’m not at all convincing. I can’t help but smile when I talk about Scott.

“Liar,” she says with a laugh. “When did this happen? I thought you hated the guy.”

“I didn’t hate him. I just didn’t like him, but then I got to know him and found that he’s actually a nice guy.”

“Does this mean you’re dating him?”

“Scott doesn’t date. We’re just… hanging out.”

“So it’s just sex. And you’re okay with that?”

“For now, yeah. I was with Asher for years. I’m not looking to get into another relationship.”

“Do you guys go out and do stuff?”

“We do stuff all the time. We go out to dinner. Go to museums. Take walks in the park. Oh, and he took me to that fashion photography exhibit. I still can’t believe he got tickets.”

“He sounds more like a boyfriend than a hookup. If you’re not careful, you’re going to start having feelings for him.”

“Scott’s made it very clear he doesn’t want a girlfriend. I knew that going into this.”

“Yeah, but you can’t always control how you feel. Just hearing you talk, I can tell you feel something for him.”

She’s right, but I don’t want to admit that to her, or anyone else, especially Scott. He’d end our arrangement if he knew how I felt about him. He’d say he told me so, that he knew I couldn’t just have casual sex and not get my feelings involved. But it’s notjust the sex making me feel this way. It’s Scott, and all the time we spend together. I feel like we’re dating even though we’re not.

There’s a knock on the door. “Trina, it’s me.”

I jump up and go open the door.

Scott smiles when he sees me and gives me a kiss. “Are you ready to get started? I got more labels for the boxes.”

“I’ll be up there later. Sara’s here.” I look back at her. “She’s the one who found me this place.”

“Yeah, I remember.” Scott smiles at her. “Hey, Sara. How’s it going?”

“Good. Hey, did you hear Jenna got engaged?”

“Yeah, she sent me a text last week. I’m happy for her.”

“She’s really excited. She’s already started working on the wedding plans.”

I feel sad hearing her say that because it reminds me of my own wedding, the one that never happened. If Asher and I hadn’t broken up, I’d be planning our wedding. Finding a dress. Picking out flowers. Now I’m wondering if I’ll ever get married. What if I keep finding guys like Scott? Guys I really like that don’t want to commit?

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