Page 26 of Pucking My Grumpy Roommate
“Now you sound like her.” He nudged me with his elbow. “So? What happened when you figured it out?”
I shrugged. “We talked about it.”
“Talked? That’s it?” Dennis looked deeply disappointed. “Stone, my man, when the universe hands you this kind of cosmic gift, you don’t talk about it.”
“It’s complicated. We barely know each other.”
“Bullshit. You’ve been texting for what, almost a month? That’s like a year in modern dating time.”
I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. “She’s nothing like I expected.”
“Good different or bad different?”
I thought about Kate’s chaotic energy, her brilliant mind, the way she could switch from nervous rambling to razor-sharp wit in seconds.
“Good different,” I admitted. “But she’s also a complete disaster. You should see what she’s done to my apartment. There are Post-its everywhere. She labels my protein powder with weird facts about muscle cell regeneration.”
Dennis studied me for a moment, then broke into a slow grin. “Holy shit. You really like her.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. I’ve known you since juniors, Stone. I’ve seen you with women. You don’t talk about them like this.”
I stood up, uncomfortable with how easily he’d read me. “I need to get to PT.”
“Wait, wait,” Dennis caught my arm. “I should probably tell you something. About the sublet situation.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I may have...orchestrated it. A little bit.”
“What do you mean?”
Dennis at least had the grace to look sheepish. He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze. “Look, man, you’ve been...different since the injury. Quiet. Isolated. Even when you show up, it feels like you’re somewhere else entirely. I thought maybe having someone around would help.”
I folded my arms, still staring at him, waiting.
Dennis sighed. “Honestly, I figured you’d find out the truth pretty quickly and tell her to leave. But then you didn’t. Every time I saw you, you seemed...better. Less bitter, more yourself again.” He paused, glancing up at me. “I meant well, Stone. Ijust didn’t expect the universe to throw in all that texting nonsense. That part was all you two.”
“So you listed my apartment without telling me?” I asked incredulously.
“I knew you’d never go for it if I asked straight out,” he admitted. “So yeah, I made up the thing about my cousin’s friend needing housing, thinking you’d be less suspicious about it. Kate seemed nice, professional, totally harmless—a scientist, for god’s sake. Exactly your type of roommate. At worst, I thought you’d get annoyed and send her packing.”
Despite myself, I felt my irritation fading into something softer, almost appreciative. Dennis had crossed a line, sure, but underneath his meddling was genuine care.
“Don’t be mad,” Dennis said. “Look how well it turned out! The universe approved my plan and added its own special twist.”
I shook my head, fighting a reluctant grin. “You’re still an ass.”
He grinned, relieved. “Yeah, but I’m your ass. And you’re welcome.”
“I should make you move her into your place,” I muttered.
“Ah, but you won’t,” he said confidently. “Because you like having her there.”
I didn’t confirm or deny it, which Dennis correctly interpreted as admission as I headed home.
CHAPTER 7
