Page 65 of Landlord Wars
“What do you think this place is, Elise?” Jack said sharply.
“Shit.” I sat up and covered my breasts.
For a split second, Max frowned at the absence of the view, and then he looked toward the door. “Were you expecting your sister?”
“No. Though I offered to let her study here while I was working last night. But that was yesterday.”
“I was invited,” came Elise’s sharp response.
I reached for my bra and top and wrangled them on before handing Max his shirt. “We should go out there.”
He pulled the T-shirt over his head. “Did something happen?”
“She slept with Jack the night we went to the bar, and she’s been acting weird ever since.”
Max’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I buttoned the fly I hadn’t realized he’d craftily undone. “Do you want to know who my sister sleeps with?”
He cringed. “Absolutely not, but I do if it’s my best friend. That falls in theboyfriend needs to knowterritory.”
I grinned, because he just called me his girlfriend, in so many words, and it never got old. And then an angry growl of the feminine variety floated back, and I braced for what was to come.
“Where is she?” Elise shouted.
Max and I rushed out of my room right as Elise was making her way down the hall.
Her face was flushed, and she was wearing denim and a fitted top, an upgrade from her normal college-leisure sweatshirt. “There you are.” She huffed out an angry breath. “Your bulldog of a roommate wouldn’t let me in.”
An exaggeration, since she was already inside said apartment. I glanced past Elise to Jack, who stood in the living room, arms crossed and with an angry look on his face. Beside him was some random guy with longish hair and a book bag on one broad shoulder.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Elise waved behind her. “Todd and I swung by to study, like you offered.” She emphasized the last part, though her eyes were cagey.
“Right,” I said. “Let’s assume I believe that’s the only reason you brought a guy over. If so, why are you and Jack yelling at each other?”
Jack joined us in the crowded hallway and glared at Elise. “She can’t bring over random men.”
His comment came across more jealous guy than annoyed roommate.
I looked at Max, who shrugged. “Sorry about that, Jack,” I said. “I’ll be sure to check in with you first. I think Elise and Todd are only here to study. Elise didn’t know I had company.” Was my face red? It felt red. If anyone stopped to think, they’d know what Max and I had been up to.
Jack urged me and Max down the hallway and away from prying eyes. “Your sister is welcome to come here, but not men she’s dating,” he said in a low, tense voice.
I glanced at Todd. He was tall and decent-looking, but I didn’t think my sister was dating him or I would have heard.Pretendingto date him, absolutely. “I don’t think they’re dating. But…would that be a problem?” I knew Elise’s feelings when it came to Jack, but not how Jack felt about Elise. Now was my chance.
Jack looked away and shook his head. “I just don’t like it. This isn’t a way station.”
Jack wasn’t immune to Elise spending time with another guy, that much was clear. But I felt awful because Jack was clearly upset.
“I’m sorry. I should have checked in with you before inviting her.”
He let out a low, tense sigh. “It’s not your fault, Sophia. It’s—” He glared at Elise. “Your sister drives me crazy.”
Max and I exchanged another shocked look.
Then Max draped his arm around Jack’s shoulders, pulling him down the hallway toward Jack’s bedroom. “I got this, Sophia. Go check on your sister.”
