Page 37 of Loud Hot Roomie
As I devour my sandwich, I say around chewing my food, “I notice you forgot my present.”
“I’ll get you more cookies tomorrow to make up for it,” he promises. “I had to make a stop somewhere else on the way home.”
He’s being cryptic and avoids my stare.
Interesting.
What’s he hiding?
“What will we do for dessert?” I ask, imploring him to look my way.
He finally pins his gaze on me. “I know what I’m eating.”
I arch a brow at him. “Yeah? What’s that?”
“A certain good boy’s sexy ass.”
“You watch too much porn,” I say jokingly. “It’s supposed to be for your enjoyment, not a how-to guide.”
He smirks at me. “Two things can be true at the same time.”
“You’re really going to eat my ass.” I chuckle and shake my head. “You truly are something, Dere-Dere.”
“You’ve been teasing me about it and it got me curious. Now that I’ve watched them do it, I’m pretty confident I can do it too.”
“Is this about your ego or…” I grin wickedly at him.
“It’s aboutyou. I want to taste and learn every part ofyou. I want to makeyouhappy.”
Our teasing always turns so intense. I believe every word out of his mouth. Derek is obsessed with me. I fucking love it but it also scares me. Not the obsession, but my worthiness. What makes me so special? What if one day he wakes up and finds me obnoxious again?
“You do make me happy.” I reach across the table and he takes my hand. “And if eating ass is going to earn me a dimpled smile, who am I to stop you?”
He flashes me a smile and I’m rewarded with his adorable dimples. I love that I see them multiple times a day now. It’s actual evidence for me that I make him happy too.
“So, I want to give you something,” he says, grip tightening on my hand, “but I’m lowkey worried you’re going to hate it.”
This piques my interest. “I’m a pretty easygoing guy. I don’t hate much.”
“You hate losing on your video game, getting up early, moths, and Miracle Whip.”
Mouth agape, I scoff. “First of all, who gave you permission to know all those things? Everyone hates losing, only freaks enjoy getting up early, moths are terrifying, and I’ll gag just thinking about the last one.”
He laughs and it warms my heart. “Point is, you do hate stuff. You may hate this.”
The nerves return and he averts his gaze. It’s then I realize he’s fidgeting with his other hand in his pocket. Now I’m overly curious. What in the hell does he have in his pocket?
“Previously,” he says, voice gruff, “I was bad with commitment. It wasn’t something I wanted but always gave in for the other person. Looking back, it was shitty to go along with something I wasn’t a hundred-percent feeling.”
“With your ex?”
“Especially with her. It was one of our biggest points of contention. She always wanted more from me and I didn’t have it to give to her. Our relationship felt out of balance.”
Since Derek doesn’t go into much detail about his ex and the baby, I try not to push. This feels like a breakthrough or something. Like we’re leveling up together.
“But with me?” I implore, arching an eyebrow. “It’s different?”
“So different.” His eyes burn into mine as if he’s trying to give me a direct line of vision into his brain. I wish I could see how his mind works.
