Chapter 5
Emmy
After leaving Cas’s house, I headed to the supermarket to pick up some snacks for a movie night.
I only had two more nights left at Hayleigh’s, and I would need one of those to pack, but tonight I wanted to drink some wine and eat some goodies with my best friend.
When I arrived back at Hayleigh’s house, my stomach dropped when I saw Chad’s car in the driveway.
I didn’t want to see him, but I had promised Hayleigh that I could handle it, and there was no way I was going to let him steamroll over me and push me out of the wedding.
Grabbing my bags, I squared my shoulders and raised my chin; I could do this.
Making my way into the kitchen, I could hear several voices, but Chad’s nasal laugh was the loudest of the rest.
How had I not noticed how irritating he sounded before? His laugh was nothing like Cas’s, all deep and lovely.
As I entered the kitchen, Pete saw me.
“Hey, Emmy, we’ll be out of your way soon.
Hayleigh’s already told me it’s girls' night tonight. I believe you have something to celebrate?”
I smile at the twinkle in his eye, and Chad’s head swings my way; I feel his eyes burning into me.
“Hello, everyone, and yes, I do, Pete. I’ve just come back from viewing the house, and my new roommate seems so lovely. I’m moving in this weekend.”
Pete grabs the bags from me and helps me unpack them.
Another of Pete’s friends Jamie comes to stand beside me “Looking good Emily. Where is it, you’re moving too?”
my cheeks heat, I usually hate attention but I have to admit that it does feel nice getting a compliment and the steam coming out of Chad’s ears is just a bonus.
“It’s only about a 10-minute drive from here, heading more into the countryside. My new roommate needs someone to help look after their dog when they’re away working.”
I hear Chad scoff behind me.
I should have expected he would have something to say, and as usual, nothing has changed.
I’m just about to say something to him when Hayleigh walks in, completely oblivious to the change in atmosphere.
She walks over to Pete, kissing him, then turns to me. She has that look of mischief in her eyes, and I know whatever comes out of her mouth will cause mayhem. I try giving her the look to make her stop, but she laughs at me.
“How was the house viewing today?”
I nervously laugh, not wanting to divulge that my new roommate is not the woman we initially thought, but a significantly drop-dead gorgeous man. “Yeah, it went well. I’ll tell you more about it in a bit”
My cheeks heat because she’s staring at me like she just knows.
Chad scoffs again, and Hayleigh cuts him a look that could kill “Problem, Chad?”
she gives him her sweetest smile. Chad looks to his brother, who shrugs and walks out of the kitchen. The rest of the guys follow, saying their goodbyes as they go, but Chad stays.
He turns his gaze to me “So Emily, you’re a glorified dog walker now? You had a good job, and you’ve given it up to walk some mutt?”
Hayleigh looks like she is about to rip him a new one, but I shake my head. For once, I’ve got this, and I’m not letting him walk all over me and speak to me like that.
“Yeah, you’re right, Chad. I did have a good job, but you ruined that for me when you couldn’t keep it in your pants. What I do, Chad, has nothing to do with you anymore. Where I go has absolutely nothing to do with you, and who I live with has nothing to do with you anymore. Dog walking isn’t my new job, and it's not that it’s any of your business where I'll be working. Looking after the dog is part of the deal when renting the room. Have a good night, Chad.”
And with that I turn and walk out of the kitchen but not before I hear Hayleigh tell him “Serves you right fucker, she’s much better off without you and your limp dick”.
Once the guys leave, we get in our pyjamas and prepare the food, drinks and film. I can practically feel Hayleigh bouncing at my side, ready to burst. I pour a glass of wine for us and turn to her, handing her a glass. “So?”
she looks at me expectantly and makes a get on with it gesture with her hands.
“Oh, sorry, you won’t want this glass of wine while you're on a detox, will you?”
I can’t help but giggle at her outraged expression.
“You know full well what I mean lady and yes I am on a detox but one night won’t hurt and to be perfectly honest your shitty box wine isn’t exactly proper wine so it doesn’t count”
she flashes me a smirk and I know I can’t hold out on her any longer.
“Well, the house is nice. The dog is adorable, and the owner is, well, he is drop-dead gorgeous, so altogether, it isn’t too bad. Oh, and the rent is just ￡200 a month!”
Hayleigh sits there slack-jawed, and I giggle at the fact that I have rendered her speechless.
Then she comes to her senses and screams “Holy shit! Is your roommate a man? I thought their name was Cas, which is short for Cassie! ￡200 a month? Is he expecting something else as payment?”
At this, I spit out my wine, choking laughing.
“Jeez, Hayleigh. I won’t even tell you what happened with the towel incident then,”
I blush as I remember him falling on top of me without his towel on.
“Hang on a second; we’re going to return to that in a minute. First, please tell me you haven’t just agreed to move in with some stranger. You have at least confirmed his details, like his full name and where he works. Is he legit, or is he a serial killer? Bloody hell, does he even have a social media account we can stalk?”
I suddenly feel so stupid. In all the excitement, I didn’t even ask his last name, and she’s right - I just agreed to move in with him. I put my hand to my forehead and screw my eyes shut.
“Ok, so don’t be mad at me, but I kind of told him I’d move in this weekend and gave him your address so he could help me move. Also, I didn’t even ask for his last name, but he was registered on the site, and they take all that information down, so he’s not dodgy.”
I peek at Hayleigh, and she’s just shaking her head. “Oh, Emmy! I cannot believe you were so stupid! You realise you could be moving in with a Norman Bates wannabe, right? Please tell me he at least gave you his phone number?”
I grab my phone and nod. “Yep, I got his number. I’m not that bad,”
I say. She stares at me, and I just gulp down some wine. “Ok. I’ll text him now and ask him what his last name is; then we can do some cyber stalking.”
She shakes her head at me and rolls her hands for me to continue. I pour myself another glass of wine, pick up my phone, and see that I already have a message there waiting for me from Cas.
Cas
Hi Emmy, it’s Cas. Just thought I’d send you a quick message to check you were ok? We went through everything a bit fast today (smiley face emoji). Don’t forget to let me know what time is best to come get you on Friday (smiley face emoji). I hope you enjoy the rest of your week! CJ
“He’s already sent me a message”
I smile as I type back.
Me
Hi Cas. I was just gonna message you. I completely forgot to ask you your last name earlier! My friend Hayleigh is worried you might be a serial killer ha! Also, anytime Friday after 6pm. It’s my last day at my job and I don’t finish till 5pm (smiley face emoji) hope you enjoy your week as well!
“I’ve just told him that you think he could be a serial killer”
Hayleigh bursts out laughing, and we both chug our wines down and then pour another.
“Oh my god, you didn’t, did you? Well, let’s hope he’s a decent guy. You could use one.”
I look pointedly at her and shake my head.
“Not going to happen, Hayleigh. I told you I have sworn off men for a while. Yes, he is absolutely drop-dead gorgeous, but I really hope more than anything we can be friends. I’m not risking heartbreak again.”
My eyes start to tear up, and I know it’s more about the stupid wine than being heartbroken by Chad. If I’m honest with myself, I feel freer without him. I don’t feel like I have to explain myself constantly or feel like my every move is decided by someone else.
“Oh, shit the wines gotten to you, hasn’t it?”
she says as I sniffle and nod to her.
“Well, that just means you need to drink more of it faster. Don’t waste your energy on Count Dickless he just isn’t worth it, and you know that. I know you don’t want anything now, but if it comes along, don’t just ignore it and reject it, just…I don’t know, but go with the flow, okay?”
My phone chimes. Hayleigh throws me a knowing glance, smiling from ear to ear.
Cas
HA HA HA!!! I don’t think I have ever been accused of being a serial killer before! I know this is something a serial killer would say but I promise I’m not. My last name is Peterson, and my first full name is Casper. Don’t laugh and no I wasn’t named after the film no matter what my friends tell you (smiley face emoji) feel free to spy away…although I’m not really that interesting (smiley face emoji) in fact I’ll do some spying of my own and add you on my social media (sticking tongue out emoji)
“Ok, so his last name is Peterson, and his first name is Casper! Ha, he says he isn’t named after the film!”
Before I finished my sentence, Hayleigh swiped my phone from me and opened the app just as it pinged.
“Ooh, he’s keen. I like it! I’ve already accepted for you”
she isn’t even looking at me but she’s smirking and then her mouth drops open “Shit Emmy, he’s fucking beautiful! Oh, you’re not going to last on this whole man ban, not a fucking chance in hell”
she chucks me my phone back and we both burst into fits of giggles.
Scrolling through Cas’s photos, we come across one where he’s shirtless on a beach, his arms slung over the shoulders of two other men on either side. The caption on the picture says ‘brotherly love’ They have the biggest smiles on their faces. Hayleigh nudges me, saying, “If I weren’t so in love, I’d be asking you to hook me up with one of his brothers”
We both cackle at that.
I stop and stare at Cas because he has a tattoo on his chest that brings back some vivid imagery of the hottest dance of my life. I zoom in, gasp, look at Hayleigh and go back to the photo. My mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish's. Hayleigh is just looking at me as if I’ve lost the plot.
“Hayleigh…it’s him”, I whisper.
Hayleigh looks at me for a minute then her jaw hits the floor when the penny drops “Holy fucking shit-balls! Do you mean to tell me your new roommate is the seriously hot dancer at my hen party, who completely and utterly rocked your world without actually taking his clothes off? That him?”
we both burst out laughing.
“Thanks for the vivid description there, Hayleigh, and yes, him! Oh, God, there's no way I can move in with him now! He doesn’t even remember me, and more to the point, why the hell would he? Oh no, what if he brings girls back to his place while I’m there? What if I accidentally tell him that I’ve had a dance with him, which makes it awkward, and I’ll have to move out?”
Hayleigh puts her hands on my shoulders and shakes me “Calm down, Emmy! One, you don’t know that he doesn’t remember you…ah ah before you even think of interrupting me, listen, he might just not want to make it awkward for you in case you were that drunk YOU didn’t remember. Two, I highly doubt he brings girls back to his house when he wears a flipping mask for his dances, meaning he most likely wants to be like Superman and keep his identity secret. Three, just ask him over text and get it out of the way now, before you actually move in, or don’t mention it at all. I’m sure it will come up when he’s ready to say something, and if he doesn’t, don’t worry, just put it out of your mind. Stop panicking.”
I nod my head, knowing she’s right.
After stalking Cas some more and our box wine has gone and we’ve eaten our weight in junk food, Hayleigh sighs “You know this is the last day I get to eat all this shit and drink wine”
I can’t help but laugh at her pouting face.
“Well, to be fair, Hayleigh, it was you’re decision to do some crazy detox right before your wedding, when you know full well you don’t even need to”
She turns her head to me and says “Do you want to know a secret? Just don’t tell Pete I told you, oh fuck it he’s gonna know I’ve told you anyway”
she bursts out laughing and then I’m laughing because she is laughing. Oh my god, I have missed our drunken nights in. A pang of sadness hits when I realise it probably won’t happen again for a while now.
“Go on, then, tell me your secrets.”
We turn towards each other and cross our legs on her couch.
She puts her empty glass down on the coffee table. She clears her throat “Well I wanted to do this detox because obviously, I want look good on my wedding day…but also…well…oh fucking hell…me and Pete have decided to try on our honeymoon and I want to make sure that I’m in the best possible health to be able to do that”
it takes me a minute to register what she’s going on about. Still, when the penny drops, I hurl myself forward, screaming and crying and grab hold of her. We’re both crying, and I’ve never felt happier.
**********
Wednesday
It’s midweek, and I’m sitting at my desk, minding my own business and having my morning coffee when Chad comes storming over. I don’t even have time to ask him what he wants “What the actual fuck Emily! You’re really moving in with another fucking guy, that’s your new roommate, a fucking guy?!”
Chad’s face is twisted in disgust. I looked around and saw other people in my area staring at us.
“Can you lower your fricking voice Chad, we’re at work!”
I hiss at him, stand up, and motion him to follow me. We duck into the empty canteen, and I turn towards him, my arms crossed over my chest, staring at him silently, seething and waiting for him to speak. Finally, after he realises I won’t be the one to break the silence, he throws his hands up in the air.
“I never realised you were this cruel, Emily. We broke up not long ago, and the first thing you do is move in with another guy, and from what Pete tells me, you don’t even know him!”
I stand there stock still, anger bubbling up inside of me, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from saying something to him. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he has me riled up and upset. “What, Emily? You’re not going to explain yourself? You know I never thought you would whore yourself out for a man just to get back at me”
his words are like a slap at my face, of course he was going to make this about him, he always does.
With that, I turn to walk out of the canteen. Before I can get to the door I feel Chads hand snake around my arm to stop me “Don’t you fucking dare walk away from me Emily!”
something inside of me snaps.
I spin to face him so quickly he lets go of me. I raise my hand and feel the sting of satisfaction as my hand slaps across his face. “Don’t ever touch me again, Chad”,, his face a perfect picture of shock as I walk out of the canteen. I head to my desk and begin gathering my things. There's no way I'm spending another day here with him. I’m going to take my last three days as sick leave.
Luckily, I get home, and the house is empty. Pete and Hayleigh are at work. Well, I guess now is a good time to start packing my things properly and preparing for Friday. I’ll leave some clothes out for the next 3 days and will wash them on Friday before I leave.
I’m just coming down the stairs when Hayleigh walks through the door, she shrieks when she sees me and drops her bags on the floor “Fuck me, Emmy!!! You scared the ever living shit out of me. Hang on a minute, shouldn’t you be at work?”
when I’ve finished almost peeing myself laughing, I walk the rest of the way down the stairs.
“Yeah, I should, but after the day I had, I’ve decided to take my last few days as sick leave”
I walk into the kitchen and hear Hayleigh coming in behind me; she wraps her arms around my back and just holds me. I hate that I feel upset, I hate the fact that Chad still has that power to make me feel like shit.
Hayleigh squeezes me her voice muffled in my hair “I’m assuming Count Dickless was the reason for this?”
I nod and she sighs “Emmy, stop giving him the time of day. When you give him attention it just feeds into his power over you. What did he do?”
she guides me to sit down at the breakfast bar and grabs us both a bottle of water each from the fridge, handing it to me she motions for me to carry on.
“I wasn’t even at work that long before he came stomping over to my desk screaming at me for having a guy as my roommate”
I shake my head and sigh “He lost his shit, telling me I was whoring myself out and how I’ve done it to get back at him. I really wanted to say something back, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had hurt me again, so I turned around to leave, and he lost it again and grabbed me…so I slapped him in his face. I didn’t look back when I walked out.”
I take a big gulp of my water and watch as Hayleigh squeezes her bottle so tight that the lid pops off, and she squirts water everywhere.
“I.am.going.to.kill.the.prick!!! That’s it, he isn’t invited to my wedding anymore. I am uninviting him and he can get to fuck if he thinks he’s coming into this house again!”
Hayleigh starts pacing around her kitchen; I go to her. I grab hold of her arms and pull her into a hug.
“Hayleigh, you can’t do that; he’s Pete’s brother and his best man, plus I wouldn’t want you to do anything on my account. I won’t be involved with him until the wedding, and by that point, I’m sure he will have someone else on his radar.”
I give her a small smile, trying to reassure her.
She nods. “Okay, Emmy, but I’m not happy about it…I hate it.”
I laugh and give her another squeeze. She is the best friend anyone could have.
**********
Friday
I wake up to my phone buzzing like crazy; I’m still half asleep, so it takes me at least three tries to pick it up off the nightstand. I thumb the answer button “Mmmello.”
I stifle a yawn and hear a deep chuckle at the end of the line. Immediately, everything within me comes alive. I sit up so fast that I forget I’m sleeping in bunk beds on the bottom bunk, and my head smacks right into the underside of the top bunk. I drop the phone and bring my hand to my head, groaning at the pain. I could hear my name faintly called and remembered I had answered the phone. I look around my bed and find it. Looking at the screen, I see Cas called me, and he’s still on the line shouting my name. I take a couple of breaths and bring the phone to my ear. “Good morning, Cas. Sorry about that. I dropped my phone.”
he chuckles again, and I close my eyes to the sound.
“It’s ok. I just wanted to ring you to let you know that your room is all made up for you and to check if you’re still okay with tonight.”
Is it me, or does he sound almost hopeful? No, Emmy, don’t even go there! “Yes, I’m all set for tonight; I was already packed up by Wednesday afternoon. Thanks for making my room up… you didn’t have to do that for me; I appreciate it.”
I find myself genuinely smiling for the first time in days.
“I thought your last day at your old job was today. Did they let you leave early to get yourself packed up?”
I could swear he sounded concerned, making me smile again.
“No…I…erm”
I sigh “I just had a run-in with someone, so I decided to take the rest of my days off.. At least I could get packed up and ready to go”
he’s quiet for a moment before he speaks again.
“Is someone bothering you, Emmy?”
A thrill runs through me at the hint of threat in his voice.
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Well seeing as you’re not in work today and I’m not in work today, how about I come get you now and we can get you moved in early and maybe go grab some lunch?”
a giddy feeling bubbles up inside of me and I need to remind myself that he’s my new roommate and nothing more. Perhaps friends, but he can never be more.
“Yeah, that would be nice, actually, Cas”
“Great. I’ll come pick you up in about half an hour. I look forward to seeing you, Emmy.”
He disconnects the call, and I squeal like a teenage girl. A few minutes later, Hayleigh comes crashing through my bedroom door, brandishing a slipper, her hair a mess, clearly having only just woken up. She catches me doing a happy dance in the middle of my room. I drop my arms straight away and clear my throat. She looks around the room like she’s expecting someone to jump out at her.
“Bloody hell, Emmy! Are you trying to give me a heart failure? What were you screaming for?”
Hayleigh puts her slipper back on and plops herself on the end of the bed. I follow her and take a seat. “Come on, out with it. Why are you smiling from ear to ear?”
Hayleigh’s eyes widened when I told her about my conversation with Cas. “So, he’s coming to get you early AND take you to lunch?”
I nod yes, not trusting myself to speak if I squeal again. “Oh, wow, Emmy. I am calling it now that I was the first to say that you two will never be able to stay roommates or friends.” A part of me wishes, if only.