Page 283 of His Virgin Romance Series

“So... how’s the apartment hunt going?” she asked, sitting down at the table as I retrieved the packet of pasta.

“Not that great,” I admitted. “All the apartments I’ve seen are a little out of my price range… or else they’re really far from campus.”

“Well… beggars can’t be choosers.”

“Uh… I guess not,” I said, getting the impression that she was leading me somewhere.

“So… how come staying at your mother’s place didn’t work out?” Cory asked bluntly, and I realized she wanted to know why I was intruding on Seth and her when I could have been staying with Mom.

“Oh, well—”

I was about to mention that Mom’s new boyfriend was sleeping over most nights and that made it awkward for me because I was crashing on her couch. But then I remembered that Seth didn’t know about Cliff yet, and I had promised Mom that I wouldn’t tell him. I didn’t trust Cory not to tell Seth, so I was forced to backtrack.

“Well… her place is so small,” I said, realizing that Seth’s place was even smaller so that excuse didn’t make sense either, but I went on anyway. “She moved into this apartment when I moved out, and it’s really… small.”

“Smaller than this one?” Cory asked, with raised eyebrows.

“Uh… well, no, but… her couch is terrible compared with your couch,” I said. “Yours is wider and more comfortable.”

“Huh… I’m glad I spent so much on that couch so that you could enjoy it,” Cory said.

She gave me another passive-aggressive smile and headed out of the kitchen. I stared out after her and sighed. I would have to find someone place to stay sooner rather than later. Cory was right about one thing… beggars really could not afford to be choosers.

---