Page 53 of Always a Roommate
“Yes.” He flipped the French toast onto a plate, where another batch sat waiting.
“And is making breakfast for the roommate you enjoy kissing part of said rules?”
He opened his mouth to speak, but I shoved a piece of bacon in it.
“And don’t try to refute the whole enjoying kissing business.”
He swallowed the food, his intense gaze boring into mine. “Maybe it should be part of our rules.”
I couldn’t help laughing at how serious he was when he said that. “There are no rules to kissing, Shane. Well, there are two. It must be consensual. Trust me, we have no issue with that. And it needs to be fun.”
“Fun.”
I nodded. “Tell me, Shane Kelly, are you having fun?”
His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t give me an answer other than to lean down and press his lips to mine. When I pulled away, he had a smear of lipstick on the corner of his mouth. I wiped it away. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
We carried the food to the island counter, where two stools sat at the ledge that was our only dining table. As soon as I bit into the French toast, I moaned.
Shane smiled, and then it was gone.
“I have to get going soon,” I said. “I promised Trevor I’d pick up Cane at the school again. He’s coming with me to Drew’s house today.”
“Does Drew know you’re bringing a stray dog into what I’m assuming is a very nice house?”
My fork froze halfway to my mouth. “I didn’t really think it through.”
“Do you ever think anything through?” There was a teasing note in his voice, so I didn’t take offense.
“No.” I leaned over, letting my fingers trail up his arm. “That’s why I’m doing this, isn’t it?”
He frowned at that and took another bite. “I took a personal day today, but I’ll still be out all morning.”
“A personal day?” I leaned back. “Everything okay?”
He waved my worries away. “Yeah, of course. Just the house inspection.”
A weight dropped to the pit of my stomach. “Right, the inspection.” Because he was moving out. We hadn’t been able to stand living together, and now he was leaving.
The truth sat between us for the rest of breakfast, and by the time I left, my mood matched the dark skies.
Trevor was waiting for me at the mouth of the student parking lot. He waved goodbye after Cane climbed into the back seat, already looking mangy again, even though he’d had a bath.
I glanced at Cane in my rearview mirror, seeing him watch Trevor disappear out the back windshield. “This arrangement can’t last forever, dog.” I’d never been a pet person. It seemed like too much work, despite the fact that I wanted a baby, which was the ultimate amount of work.
But something about having Cane at my side all day long, having that companionship, it was comforting. Especially considering I’d soon have that house to myself, the one that had always seemed so small and now suddenly felt too big.
I hadn’t lived on my own since Finley moved in with me years ago. When she left, I was prepared for it, even if I worried about affording rent. When Shane’s rental sold and he needed a place, I almost said no. I’d come so close, knowing it would never work out.
And now, he was buying a house, and I would once again be on my own. At least I could afford it this time. If I didn’t mess this wedding up.
If my business exploded like I expected, I could even consider buying a house, owning something for once in my life. Maybe I’d even hire someone to plant beautiful gardens. Because let’s face it, I wouldn’t plant them myself. I loved flowers but hated gardening. Always had.
Thoughts of a future home were still with me when I entered the code Drew had given me to get into the most exclusive neighborhood in Gulf City. I understood why he lived here. It offered the security a celebrity would need.
But I had never felt so out of place.
“We aren’t in Kansas anymore, Toto.”
