Chapter 4
CJ
I needed a shower; I reek from work today. I put food in Dog's bowl. Yes, original, I know, but I can’t settle on a name for him yet. I leave the back door open for him when he’s done. I trudge upstairs and get the niggling feeling that I have something to do but can’t for the life of me remember what that something is. I’m enjoying my shower when I hear Dog start yapping madly, and then I hear the unmistakable knocking at my door. My eyes fly open and that’s when I remember that I have some guy called Emmet coming over to enquire about my available room. I rush out of the shower, throw a towel around my waist, and head downstairs. I’m sure the guy won’t mind me half-naked.
Opening the door my breath stills when I realise that Emmet isn’t a guy but a woman. A very beautiful woman, but it isn’t till those green eyes meet mine that I realise that this is Emmy, the woman I have been lusting over for weeks since I danced for her. Obviously, she doesn’t recognise me, but that doesn’t stop her from checking me out. I stand there, watching her as she openly roams her eyes down my body. When her eyes drop below my waist, I have to clear my throat before I start sporting a nice tent in this very thin towel.
She looks up at me and her face flushes bright red at being caught, I give her my best panty-melting smile and she stammers “Oh my god you’re a man. I. I…I’m Emmy. Emily, but my friends call me Emmy. Shit. Oh, wow sorry I didn’t mean to swear! The house, that’s the reason I’m here...advert...me”
she squeezes her eyes shut and looks like she wants the earth to open up and swallow her whole. I chuckle to try and ease some of her embarrassment, but it just seems to make her feel worse, and she turns to walk away.
Then, before I can say anything, her heel gets caught between the porch floorboards, and she begins to fall. Without thinking, I reach forward to grab her but end up grasping thin air, and before I know it, we’re both on the floor with me on top of her, arms on either side of her head. Her eyes are still squeezed shut, and she’s breathing heavily, which is doing nothing for my current state.
I reach over and stroke her hair back from her face “Are you ok? You didn’t hit your head did you?”
eyes still shut she squeaks and shakes her head no “Well can you please open your eyes for me so I can make sure for myself that you’re ok?”
again she shakes her head no “Emmy. Open your eyes. Now”
my voice deepens with the command. It seems to work a treat because her eyes flicker open. She blushes again, and I can’t help but smile. I love that tinge to her cheeks, and it makes me wonder if she blushes like that when she…
Emmy squeaks again and squirms underneath me. I don’t mean to be a pig, but I’m a red-blooded male. I groan, her eyes widen, and it’s only now that I realise that my towel didn’t stay in place when I took a nose dive after her. Holy shit this is not what I need happening right now, she is going to run for the hills for sure the minute I get up.
“Fuck. Shit! Sorry Emmy! I didn’t realise my towel had come off; I promise you I’m not a pervert!”
I hold my hands up, but all this makes me lose balance and press further into her. Her eyes close, and I swear I hear her moan, but while her eyes are closed, I make the most of the distraction and scramble off her and towards my towel, yanking it back into place. I lean down and offer her my hand, helping her up.
As I stand, I look to see my neighbour, an older man, Mr Stevenson, staring from his garden, slack-jawed. I give him a wave and my best cheery ‘there's-nothing-to-see-here’ smile. I turn to Emmy. “Please, can we start over?”
She looks just as thankful for this as I am and gives me a small smile, and then we both burst out laughing. I extend my hand, “Hi, my name is CJ or Cas, and I'm looking for a roommate to help me with my dog while I'm away at work.”
Emmy shook my hand, “Hi, my name is Emily or preferably Em or Emmy, and I’m here about the room you have for rent”
Just like that, we were laughing again. “Emmy, would you like to come in?”
She nods, and then we head inside.
“Just give me 5 minutes to get changed. The kitchen’s through there, so please grab a drink or snack or whatever.”
With that, I leave Emmy and bound up the stairs to my room. I’m still sporting some serious wood, but I can’t do anything about it now. Turning the shower onto the coldest it will go I step into the freezing spray willing the fucker to go down. Think about anything unsexy: football scores, heavy-duty machinery, coffee, houseplants… finally. Jumping out of the shower, I dress quickly and head downstairs. I find Emmy in the kitchen, sitting on the floor, with Dog sitting in her lap with his belly up, enjoying being tickled by her. For a minute, it feels like home. I shake my head and realise those thoughts won’t do me any good. Emmy looks up and blushes again when she sees me getting up, much to Dog’s annoyance. I smile at her “I see you’ve met Dog?”
She cocks her head at me and raises a brow in confusion “Did you just call him dog? As in his name is Dog?”
she bursts out laughing and bends down to stroke him again this time talking to him “Aww poor baby doesn’t even have a name yet. It’s ok, my little scruff. I’m sure we can find you a good name.”
She looks back at me, and it hits me. “That’s his name! Scruff! It’s perfect for him,”
she nods with approval. “So, you’ve met Scruff, and he seems to like you. What do you think of the place?”
I’m eager to hear what she thinks of my home.
She looks around, nods and says, “It’s stunning…and huge! Why do you need a roommate? If you don’t mind me asking?”
I know what it looks like. In reality, the home is mine, bought and paid for, and I don’t need the income, but I need someone to look after Scruff for me while I’m going to be away for work or working long shifts, although I have a big family each of them have their own lives and I don’t want to bother them with this. He’s already decided that my couch, which I’ve had to replace, was the best place to pee, but I guess that’s the price of taking in a stray.
“No, of course. I found Scruff a few weeks ago and took him in, but I work long hours on some days, and sometimes I have to work away or at night, so I didn’t want him to be alone. I need someone here for him. Why do you need a roommate?”
She looks uncomfortable but then sighs, and somehow, her telling me feels like victory.
“Well, I had a roommate, or should I say ex-boyfriend now, whom I caught in our bed with another woman. So, I moved out. However, my friends are getting married, and I can’t crash with her forever. I’ve just accepted a new position with a company; I've two weeks before I start there. It’s mostly working remotely, with only a few days required to be at work, and they said they could be flexible with those days. To be honest, I need a fresh start. I have some money saved so I can give you a security deposit and the first month’s rent, depending on how much the rent is?”
She looks around, worried.
It’s then that I decide I won’t need her money. I get the feeling she’s proud, so I’ll take a small amount of ‘rent’ but save it for her when she needs it. “Ok, well, rent is ￡200, including everything, even food. As I mentioned, I need someone to look after Scruff here. I have a gym and a pool, so feel free to use those. There’s plenty of room for you, so if you want the room, it’s yours.”
I smile like a Cheshire cat.
Still, she somehow looks a bit distraught. She says, “Wow, ￡200 a week is a lot for me. Erm, I don’t think I could afford that.”
She walks past me.
I reach out my hand to grab her arm gently. “￡200 a month, Emmy, not a week,”
she says, looking wide-eyed at me and smiling. Her eyes mist up, and then she wrapped her arms around me. She seems to remember where she is, stands upright, and holds her hand out, trying to appear formal. I take her hand and shake it. “So, when can you move in, Emmy?”
Again, with a blush, she shakes her head as if composing herself.
She laughs and says, “Is this weekend too soon?”
I look at her seriously and say, “Today wouldn’t be too soon.”
My voice seems to have dropped an octave, and the air feels charged with electricity. I realise I’m still holding her hand. I clear my throat as I say, “I won’t be working this weekend, so if you need help, I'm available. We could probably load your things in my truck.”
She nods. “That would be lovely, thank you. Here’s my phone; put your number in.”
She hands me her phone, and I program my number in. Then I rang myself, so I have her number as well. I hand her phone back and she types out a message and then my phone pings “I’ve just sent you the address where I’m staying. It’s my friend Hayleigh’s house. I better get going before she sends a search party out. I just want to say thank you for renting me your room”
she smiles sweetly at me, and I walk her to the front door.
“Don’t you want to see the room before you go?”
I’m trying to keep her here as long as I can. She smiles and shakes her head. “Well, I’ll send you a message on Friday and see what time is best to come get you and your stuff. Thanks for helping me out with naming the dog, he suits Scruff, and remember it isn’t just a room you’re renting I don’t want you to think you only have access to that one room”
she smiles again and walks to her car and as I watch her drive off I have a sneaking feeling that I’m not going to want her ever to go.
Grabbing a beer from the fridge, I sit down on the couch. Suddenly, the house seems quiet, and I wonder what Emmy will bring. Will she want to get her own little things for the home, or will she want to keep to herself in her room? Then I wonder if she will even like her room. My spare room is decorated with cream walls and a light grey carpet. I’ll tell her she can decorate it if she wants to.
I took my phone out and called Vik. I’m supposed to be dancing this weekend, so I need to see if he can get one of the other guys on the job for me. I want to make sure I’m here for Emmy’s first weekend. The phone only rings briefly before Vik answers, “Hey man, what’s up?”
I reply with “The sky,”
chuckling to myself. I can hear Vik huff, “Ha ha, very funny. To what do I owe the pleasure of your phone call?”
Now he’s the one being sarcastic.
“I found her, Vik! I posted an ad on this site for a roommate because I need someone to help me look after Scruff, and she responded to the ad. I couldn’t believe my luck, man!”
I’m grinning from ear to ear.
“Hold up a second, CJ. Who did you find, and who the hell is Scruff? Have you picked up another stray?”
Vik’s laughing down the phone at me.
“Emmy. The girl from a few weeks back, you remember the hen party? Anyway, she split from her boyfriend and needs a place to stay, and it just so happens that I have a room. Oh, and Scruff is Dog’s new name. Emmy named him.”
There goes that smile again.
The line is quiet for a few minutes, and I think Vik has clicked off before I hear him clear his throat. “Listen, CJ, I don’t want you to think I’m being negative or anything, but do you think this is a good idea? You swore up and down that after things ended with Stephanie, you wouldn’t jump into living with another woman, especially since she’s just come out of a relationship. Add to that, she has no idea what you do some nights of the week at the club. I don’t think this is a wise move”
I consider what he’s saying but it pisses me off, the mention of Stephanie and the fact that he seems to think I’m jumping into a relationship, as if I’m not capable of making an adult decision.
“Vik, this isn’t a relationship; it’s just a roommate situation. I have no intention of getting involved with her, and, as you said, she’s probably still hung up on her ex anyway. There’s nothing wrong with having her as a friend, wanting to help her, and having her help me with Scruff. As for not knowing what I do at the club, she doesn’t need to know.”
I take a breath as I ask “Speaking of the club, can you get one of the other guys to cover my slot for me? She’s moving in this weekend, and I said I’d help her.”
“Yeah, no problem about this weekend, but for the record, I don’t believe a word you say, CJ. I know you and hear your excitement about having her move into your place. Guys and gals can't just be friends…trust me. Just let me know if you need anything from me. I’ve got to get going, so I’ll catch you later, CJ.”
He clicks off. I wonder if this is the right move or if I’m making a colossal mistake. I hate being reminded of Stephanie; it always puts me in a sour mood.
6 years ago
I don’t think I have ever been as nervous as I am now.
My palms are sweating, and I’ve chewed the inside of my cheek to the point that I can taste blood.
I’ve paced our bedroom at least 100 times; I’m surprised I haven’t worn a line in the carpet.
This morning, I came home for a tool I had left behind.
I thought I’d see Stephanie, but she was nowhere to be found.
I nipped to the bathroom while I was there and found the positive pregnancy test on the side.
I couldn’t even pinpoint the emotions inside me at that moment; they were a mixture of fear and being unprepared to be on top of the world.
I phoned my mum straight away, and she screamed down the phone with joy, telling me I had to do the right thing and put a ring on Stephanie’s finger.
At that moment, there wasn’t anything I wanted more.
I phoned Cole, and he was just as excited to become an uncle.
I took the rest of the day off and headed to the jewellers, picking out a ring I knew Stephanie would want.
Now I’m just waiting for her to come home.
She called about half an hour ago to say she was on her way and to apologise for being MIA all day and not answering my calls or messages.
I’m bouncing on my feet as I hear the key turn in the door, and I shut our bedroom door, waiting on one knee with the ring box in my palm.
“CJ, where are you? We need to talk.”
She sounded like she had been crying. I hate to think she’s spent her day wondering how she would tell me I was about to become a dad.
We’re still so young, but I want her to know I will be here for all of it. “I’m in here, baby”, I shout. She walks through the door and drops the bags she’s carrying, her hand going to her mouth and tears spilling over her eyes.
“Stephanie. I saw the test when I came home this morning, and before you say anything, know that I am so happy. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our baby. Will you marry me?”
I don’t know what I envisioned would happen at this moment; maybe she would rush forward and kiss me or cry some more. I didn’t imagine her walking past me to sit on the bed and put her head in her hands.
“The baby isn’t yours, CJ. It’s Ryan’s baby”
Ryan. One of my closest friends.
I remember it clear as day.
I didn’t argue or shout, I just grabbed my suitcase and packed my shit and that night I crashed on Vik’s couch, drank some whiskey and cried myself to sleep.
I also promised I’d never live with another woman and vowed to stay single.
Maybe Vik was right, and this was a bad idea, but seeing her in my home felt right.