Page 38 of Playing a Player (Sweet Cravings 1)

He put his arm behind me on the couch, making sure not to touch me. "Actually, I was hoping to talk to you."

"About what?"

"I just want to make sure we're okay."

"We're fine."

"When you disappeared all day, I thought...well, I just wanted to make sure you're okay with me still living here." He scratched the back of his neck with his hand.

"Trust me, Rory, we're fine. Geez, you're acting like I'm in love with you or something. It wasn't even the best sex I've ever had."

He lowered his eyebrows slightly. "Okay then."

"Let's just pretend it never happened, buddy," I patted him on the shoulder.

His eyebrows lowered even more.

I'm so good at this. "Do you want to watch a movie or something?" I grabbed the remote and turned on the T.V. guide channel.

"Sure."

"Actually, you know what? Watching all those hot baseball players really got me hot and bothered." I stood up and looked down at him. "I just started this great new book called Twisted Love. I think I'm just going to spend the rest of the night in my room, if you know what I mean. Night, Rory!" I turned around before I could see his reaction.

I hoped I hadn't taken it too far. Confessing that I was reading an erotic novel and was super turned on by it probably just freaked him out. Or maybe it made him think I preferred a book over him. I closed the door behind me and sighed. This was going to be so hard.

I sat down at the desk in my room. I looked down at the notes that I had taken the other day, about how dating had recently turned into meaningless hoo

kups.

The front door opened and closed. Rory was probably going out to find some girl to hook up with. Just the thought made me feel jealous. And angry. And depressed. Somehow I needed to stay on track with my plan. I sighed and looked back down at my notes. I lifted up my pen. Maybe writing about my experiences would make it less personal and more like work. It was time to take Jim's advice and completely turn the tables on Rory.

Chapter 18

I peeped out my bedroom door. The girl that had been screaming Rory's name all night was standing in the kitchen. I can do this. I walked out of my room and into the kitchen.

"Hey," I said as cheerily as possible.

She turned around. "Oh my God." She put her hands over her mouth. "You have to believe me. I had no idea Rory had a girlfriend."

"What?" I laughed. I wish. "Oh, geez, I'm not Rory's girlfriend. I'm just his roommate."

"Holy shit, thank God. I almost had a heart attack."

"Wow, that would have been super awkward. But no, no, we're definitely not dating. I'm Keira, by the way." I stuck out my hand.

"Izzy," she said and shook my hand.

"Do you want some cereal? I was just about to eat."

Izzy looked at the cabinet she had opened. "Yeah, that would be great. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go through your stuff."

"Don't worry about it." I grabbed the milk out of the fridge. "The bowls are in the next cabinet over."

"Great." She grabbed two bowls while I got the cereal and spoons.

"Is cinnamon toast crunch okay?" I asked.

"Um, yeah." She sat down next to me at the kitchen counter. "Wow, I can't even remember the last time I had this. I've gotten so used to eating bland cereal with high fiber and less sugar that I tricked my mind into thinking it was good."

---