Page 2 of Screwed By My Roommate

“Absolutely,” he says.

I think about it for a minute and purse my lips. “I don’t wanna sleep in your bed. That’s fucking weird.”

“Like I’d let you sleep in my bed. Roman moved out, you can have his room. Bring in your girly shit and make it your own,” he says.

I look around at the mess in my room and for the first time all day a genuine smile takes over my face. The thought of not having to live with my parents and deal with my mom makes it sound like the ideal situation.

Henry is giving me the opportunity to find a job, save money, and still live my life how I want to live it.

I feel the tears of relief and gratitude swimming in my eyes. “I don’t even know what to say. I appreciate this invitation so much, Henry.”

“What are big brothers for? You don’t have to say anything. Just pack your shit and I’ll even come help you move it in.”

I truly do have the best big brother. He’s always there when I need someone. He listens without judgment and accepts me for who I am. Even when I was a kid and I followed him around, he never got annoyed. Someone else did though and that has me fall back onto the bed.

“What about Jace? Is he going to be alright with me moving in there?”

Jace Riggs.

The man who I compare all others to. The man who I’ve wanted since I was old enough to realize how damn sexy he is. The man who makes my heart race and my body tremble. The man who lives in every fantasy I have.

My brother’s best friend.

The man who I’ll never have.

Not that he’d want me. He can barely stand to be in the same room as me.

I’m not sure he’ll like the idea of sharing his apartment with me since Henry and Jace live together.

“Jace will love the idea. You’re as much his sister as you are mine.”

Ouch.

If there’s anything in this world I don’t want, it’s for Jace Riggs to see me as his little sister.

Actually, being seen as his little sister would be a step up. He used to love when I hung around. He would even come into my room and drag me downstairs for movies or to hang out at the pool with them. But one day it all changed. The fun-loving, carefree guy that I knew was gone and replaced by an asshole.

When I walk into a room, he gets pissed. When I try to have a conversation, he grunts. When I try to hang out with them, he leaves.

One night they were all drinking, and I went into the backyard to confront him. It was my senior year of high school, and they were home on spring break. I’ll never forget that night.

He was drunk and I stepped right in front of him. His carefree smile disappeared, replaced by the scowl that is always there when he looks at me.

“What the fuck is your problem? Why do you suddenly hate me so much?” I asked.

A sinister smile took over his face and I felt chills when he moved a little closer. “My problem is you, Penny Brown. You want to continue playing like we’re kids. But that shit is long over. Your presence is not needed, wanted, or welcome. You are a constant irritant. A thorn in my side that should’ve been removed long ago. I’m your brother’s friend, not yours. Not. Yours. Understand?” He looks over my body and shakes his head. “Put some fucking clothes on.”

I snap out of my thoughts and the ache I felt that night returns. I never told Henry and for the last few years, Jace and I have managed to be civil in front of my family. Even though part of me wants to cry and part of me wants to punch him.

He’s not going to like the idea of me living with him, but that’s on him. He’ll either need to tell my brother he hates me, or he’ll need to suffer.

And I hope he chooses the latter.

“Penny?”

Shit. “You sure about this?”

“Hell yes. Jace just walked in. I’m gonna talk to him and we’ll both be there this weekend. Go enjoy your last few days of college life before you get yourself a new roommate,” he says laughing.

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