Page 4 of Always a Roommate
I wanted to kick him for being rude to Mariana, the woman who owned the bakery, but it wasn’t her who walked toward us with a coffee pot and mug.
Pulling a chair over, I lowered myself onto it. “Cole.”
He shot me a grin. “Mom is letting me help out today.” The kid was only about ten, but if being a teacher taught me anything, it was the thing kids appreciated most was being trusted. Even if it was with something as small as pouring coffee.
I ruffled his hair. “Thanks, bud.”
He practically hopped back to the counter with an energy I wished I could replicate. I took a long drink and sighed.
Tanner and Johnny shared a look.
“What?”
Tanner set his coffee down. “Shane, we’re worried about you.”
Johnny nodded seriously.
I narrowed my eyes. If my brothers were truly worried, they’d kidnap me and take me to the diner for milkshakes. We weren’t exactly the intervention kind of family.
Johnny reached across the table, taking my hand. “We know this is hard on you, but we’re here for you.”
“What are you two talking about?”
Tanner tried very hard to suppress a smile. “You’ve lived a long time like this.”
“Like what?”
Johnny removed his hand and met my gaze. “We know it’s hard to find out you’re not who you think you are.”
Tanner nodded. “Especially when the truth is…” He sucked in a breath. “That you’re more ape than man.”
The two of them, children both, broke out into laughter.
“Ha ha, douchebags.” It was no secret I wasn’t built like the rest of my family. Tanner and Johnny were both rather lean, probably from all the time spent surfing.
I was built more like a linebacker from my years playing football and hockey. Even now, I lifted weights frequently because it took my mind off the rest of the world.
When their laughter died down, Tanner turned serious, a feat for him. “How was Rae this morning?”
“How should I know?”
Johnny snorted. “Dude, you live with her.”
Not by my own choice. It had been that or move in with Mom and Dad until I found an apartment. “She’s fine, I guess.”
“Really?” Tanner didn’t look convinced. “I talked to her last night, and she was freaking out about this meeting.”
Of course he’d talked to her. Tanner and Rae were close, something I’d never managed. I could hardly find the words to be nice to her, let alone actually be friends. “She seemed okay when she left.”
“Rae always seems okay.”
I knew that too. She never let anyone see when she was rattled or when she doubted herself. It was like she thought vulnerability was weakness. I’d never even seen her without her hair and makeup done in the weeks I’d lived with her. She aimed for perfection in everything she did, even her appearance.
“The truth is, I don’t know if us living together was a good idea.” I rubbed my eyes.
Tanner raised a brow, but Johnny beat him to the punch. “We could have told you that, bro.”
“We just… don’t get each other.”
