9. Jess #2
“I’d invite you over to wallow with me, but your boyfriend got home a little while ago.” Courtney does an exaggerated wink. “I’ll bet you a hundred bucks that he wants to do something with you tonight.”
Oh yeah, that’s the other annoying thing about Courtney. No matter how much I protest, she’s convinced that Conor is into me. Says he looks at me differently than he does the redhead.
I don’t believe her.
“He’s not my boyfriend, and I don’t want to hang out with him tonight,” I say fiercely.
There’s an awkward pause. Probably because we both know I’m lying.
A beat later, Courtney tugs her leashes. The golden brother duo get to their feet, tongues lolling out of their side of their slobbery, smiley mouths.
“Whatever you say, Jess. I’ll see you later.” She shoots me a knowing wink and strolls away, humming to herself.
I watch her go, then pick up my ice cream. Which is practically soup by now. Sigh.
I let myself inside and my heart does a little skip when I see that Conor is, indeed, home. In fact, he’s putting on his shoes in the entryway, a stack of reusable grocery bags at his feet.
“Good afternoon, roomie.” He smiles wickedly. “I see you met Aiden’s neighbor.”
My eyes widen. Please, please don’t have overheard our conversation . “A few times now. Do you know her?”
“Not well,” Conor says. He pauses, like he’s searching for the right words to describe her. “She seems a little…”
“Odd?” I finish.
He laughs. “I was going to say ‘intense.’ She’s super intense the first time you meet her, but then she seems to relax… a lot like you, actually.” Conor smirks at me. I pull a face at him.
“It’s weird, though,” he continues. “She warmed to both you and I pretty quick, but she really has her claws out where Aiden’s concerned. Hates the guy. Like, hates him enough to gouge his eyes out.”
“Why?” I blink.
“No idea.” Conor shrugs. “It’s pretty funny though, she’s like a scalded cat every time she goes off at him.”
Conor glances at me, sees my confusion, and smiles reassuringly. “Don’t worry, the feeling’s mutual. Aiden returns the dislike with equal fervor. It’s like watching an old, married couple bicker. Good, cheap entertainment.”
“I see,” I say. Although I don’t.
I’ll have to ask Courtney about Aiden when I see her again. It’s so strange that she hates him. Everyone loves Aiden.
“What are you doing home?” I change the subject, suddenly aware that Conor’s standing not two feet away from me, and I am gross, sweaty, and clutching a day’s worth of calories in liquid ice cream form.
Conor, meanwhile, is freshly showered and dressed in a fitted white t-shirt and light gray shorts that make him look extra tan. His hair is damp and mussed, and his strong jawline is all angles and designer stubble I’m dying to run my hands across. Or feel it scrape across my cheeks. Oh my.
Reel it in, Jess.
“Finished early. It’s been a long week, and it’s only Thursday.” Conor’s lips pinch slightly as he reaches for the bags. I feel his pain. “Are you okay, by the way? You look a bit—”
“I’m fine!” I interrupt. “Fine as a fine, fine summer’s day.”
What in the name of hobknocker am I talking about?
Conor’s lips have unpinched and are now curling up in that naughty smile of his. “Okay, Miss Fine.” His eyes travel over me, then land on my cartons of ice cream.
“Supper,” I explain.
He shakes his head. “That’s not supper.”
“It’s my supper,” I say defiantly.
“Nope.” He reaches over and plucks the cartons from my hand.
Uh, excuse me?
“Hey!” I protest as he carries them away. To the kitchen, where he stashes them in the freezer.
Conor gives me his dazzling smile, and my anger melts faster than my ice cream. “I was planning on making fajitas tonight, if you’d like some.”
I would like some. Very much. Because not only are steak fajitas my favorite food in the world, ever, but I’ve been living off instant ramen all week and hiding the empty packages deep in the trash so Conor doesn’t notice my awful diet. So yes, I want fajitas.
Plus, fajitas are casual. Friendly.
Especially if I eat at least three and don’t use any silverware.
“Sure,” I blurt before I can stop myself.
“Steak or chicken?”
Steak. Always steak.
“Um, chicken?” I choose the cheaper, less fancy option. Friends eat chicken together.
“Steak it is, then.” Conor goes right ahead and reads my mind. What witchcraft is this?
“How did you—?”
“I like steak better, too.” Conor pauses with his hand on the front door. “I just gotta run to the store, I’ll be back to start cooking after.”
He’s going out to buy the food specially. Oh no, no, no.
“I’ll come!” I throw myself towards the front door.
The least I can do is buy some of the ingredients for this very casual roommate hang.
I mean, I can’t actually afford steak—my ice cream splurge was already not sensible—but Conor doesn't need to know that. And I’m sure my bank will understand that this was an emergency.
“Sure.” Conor shrugs. “You could probably use a trip to the grocery store anyway. I can acquaint you with the things I like to call fruit and vegetables. Really good way to avoid scurvy.”
Clearly, I didn’t hide my ramen evidence well enough.
“Oh, haha. So funny.” I cross my arms and fix him with a glare. “I’ll have you know that I ate an apple earlier.”
“Was it in a carton? In liquid form?”
FOILED AGAIN.
“Fine, so maybe I do need real groceries.” I sigh. “Can you give me twenty minutes to shower and change before we go?”
Conor smiles that lazy smile that makes my entire body explode in goosebumps. He takes a step closer to me, so close that I can smell his clean, woodsy scent. His eyes twinkle with mischief as he drops the grocery bags on the floor beside me. “Ten minutes and you have a deal.”
The combination of his closeness and the huskiness in his voice makes me want to pass out.
“Fifteen?” I wheedle, suddenly a little breathless.
He looks at me for a long moment. Holds my eyes captive with his. It’s hard to think clearly with Conor’s eyes on me. It’s like he’s physically touching me, the way his gaze makes my body react.
Then, very slowly and deliberately, he tilts his wrist. Looks down at his watch. “Nine minutes and fifty seconds…”
I sprint for the shower.