Roomies eBook (3 page)

“Hey you guys, dildo out there is getting antsy and I’m all out of jokes at the moment.”

“Did you just call my date dildo?” It was funny, but I wasn’t laughing.

“Yeah you know dildo, B.O.B, vibrator. It’s all the same.” He started laughing again. “But I want you to know that if I had it my way you would be staying home with me.” He winked at me. Nathan didn’t growl or say anything which shocked me a bit.

“Alright, you two. Have fun. I’m going out.” I walked out of the kitchen and straight to Bob.

“Hi.” I smiled sweetly. I slightly chuckled to myself. Bob, that was pretty damn funny.

“You look incredible.” I looked down at my cream colored, sleeveless mini dress. I had paired it with a red pair of pumps. I wasn’t sure I looked incredible, but I didn’t think I looked half bad.

“Thanks, so where are we headed?” I asked as we walked out to the car, my heels clicking on the concrete.

“Your friend, Travis, told me about a great place he said you loved called Café Trio.” He opened the door for me and I sunk into the seat. His car was nice. Cushy black leather seats, immaculate.

“Oh, I love Café Trio.” It was kinda odd he would offer up our restaurant that was special to the three of us. Trio. Get it?

“So how do you know those guys?” He fired up the car and backed out of the space.

“Well, actually I met them in college. Travis was the biggest player on campus, and I was immune to him, so we quickly became good friends and Nathan, well, he was in my study group. We hit it off over a project that we’d been working on together, and the rest is history. I’m sorta the glue that holds our little trio together.” Fond memories simmered as I thought about the best times we’d had together. I felt so grateful that Nathan and Travis got along so well.

“That’s nice.” He got on the freeway and started going a little faster than I would have liked. I grabbed the ‘oh shit’ handle and prayed I wouldn’t piss myself.

“Um yeah, it’s cool.” I tightened my hold on the ‘oh shit’
handle as he nearly side swiped another car. “Um, Bob, you’re scaring me. Can you slow down?” My words rushed out of me.

“What? You don’t like my driving?” He turned his head and looked at me.

“Um, no. Bob, eyes back on the road, please.” I started saying prayers under my breath. “Our father…”

“Are you praying?” His voice escalated. We zoomed past a semi, and I held my breath.

“Yes,” I squeaked out.

“What the hell, Lexi! Why are you praying?”

“I already told you I’m petrified we’re going to get in an accident. Slow. The. Fuck. Down,” I told him loudly. He exited the highway, and I sighed and inhaled a huge plume of air. “Thank you, Jesus. You know after dinner I think I’ll just call one of my roommates to come and pick me up,” I said quietly.

“They can pick you up now if you’re going to be like that,” he said to me in a not so friendly tone.

“No, that’s okay. It’ll be fine.” I looked out the window and noticed we were stopping at a gas station. Bob got out to fill up his tank. Could he not have gassed up before he picked me up? I shook my head with irritation.

He finished pumping and then came back to the car and opened my side, which I thought was really odd. “Um, hey, you’re never going to believe this, but I don’t have my wallet on me. Would you mind loaning me some money?”

For the love of God, could this date get any worse? First, I was out with Mario Andretti and now he was suddenly without his wallet. “Um, sure.” I reluctantly reached in my clutch and got out a twenty.

“Thanks be right back.” He snatched the money, quickly shut my door and went in to pay.

Once he was seated back in the car, he fired it up and we were off going at Mach five speed. I tried looking out the window and taking calming breaths. He slowed down, and I noticed we were driving into the parking lot. I sighed. “Looks like we made it here in record time,” I said rather rudely.

“Right.”

We walked into Café Trio and were immediately seated at a table. “Um, am I going to need to pay for dinner?”

“That’s the plan,” he said firmly and then picked up his menu and browsed the selections. I couldn’t believe this guy; he had brass balls for sure. What an asshole.

The server came over and took our drink order. I would just be getting water tonight. I was so broke that I knew I’d only be able to afford one meal. “So Bob. Where do you work?”

“I sack groceries at the grocery store right down the street from my house.” I wanted to pick up the fork and poke my eyes out. Not that there was anything wrong with his job, but I wouldn’t be able to have the nice life I envisioned. Why did I bother getting on those damn dating websites? Ugh, I chastised myself.

“That’s great,” I told him. What else was I supposed to say?

I glanced up from my menu, and the biggest smile found its way to my face. “Hi.” I mouthed.

Travis and Nathan waved at me. Travis smiled his goofy grin at me, but I noticed Nathan was staring holes in the back of Bob’s head. I still couldn’t understand what was going on with us, but something was for sure. Something magical was happening between the three of us. But my heart only knew one, and that was Nathan.

“What do you do?” He asked as he settled his menu down on the table and took a long swig from his beer.

“I’m a server at Houston’s, and I’m also taking some classes online to get my master’s.” Nathan winked at me, and I winked at him back as they sat down at the table across from us.

“Oh, you work at a hoity-toity restaurant. Very interesting.” He rolled his eyes at me. Could this date get any worse?

“So what do you like to do with your free time?” Please dear God let us have one thing in common. I glanced over at the guys, and Travis had straws stuck up his nose. I couldn’t help but giggle.

“What’s so funny? Do I have a booger hanging out of my nose or something?” He started picking his nose. Literally, finger up his nose, full on digging for gold. It was a like a bad train wreck and I couldn’t stop looking. He continued to dig while my face contorted into a look of utter disgust.

“Did you find what you are looking for there, Bob?” I had to ask.

“Yeah I think I got it. Thanks for noticing.” He pulled his finger from his nose and stuck it in his mouth. I felt the
bile rise in my throat as my eyes widened the size of the Grand Canyon. I kid you not! He ate it.

I sat there for a moment about ready to get up and join my roomies when Nathan walked over to the table. “Dude, did you just sit there and pick your nose for five minutes and then eat the shit? That’s disgusting. This date’s over.” Nathan grabbed my arm. “Come on, Lex! We’ll treat you a hell of a lot better than this fucktard.” Nathan was nearly vibrating he was so mad. His face was a shade of red, and I could see him grinding his teeth.

“You can have her. She’s a bitch anyway,” Bob snarled.

“What did you just call her?” Nathan’s anger elevated. He looked like he was shaking; he was so enraged.

“Um, nothing,” Bob said quietly.

“That’s what I thought, asshole,” Nathan punctuated each word.

“Come on. Let’s go home.”

With my head hung over the toilet, I was shaking like a leaf and felt like I could faint at any moment. This wasn’t good at all. I needed one of the guys fast, before I passed out cold. My vision went a little hazy, but I sat up straighter trying to keep from drifting off to darkness.

“Nathan,” I murmured rather faintly calling for him. “Nathan” I croaked out again.

I needed to get some food and fast. Or something sweet to get my blood sugar up, like orange juice.

“Travis,” I said a bit louder. He was always the lighter sleeper of the bunch, and, if I wasn’t mistaken, he had a guest in his room that he was fucking at the moment. “Shit.” I panicked as another wave of sickness plagued me and I leaned over and spilled my meager stomach contents into the toilet. “Travis.” This time, I screamed it.

“Lex, what’s wrong?” Travis rushed into the bathroom shirtless in his boxers and was immediately by my side. He pulled my hair back as more of my stomach made a presence in the toilet. I could feel my head pulsating. The
headache was so severe that I was beginning to see traces of light. “You’re scaring me. Shit, I’m going to get Nathan.”

“Hurry.” My voice shook. It was barely above a whisper. The room narrowed, my head went fuzzy and I slipped into darkness.

“Love, wake up.” My eyes slowly fluttered open. “Keep them open. Stay with us.” I was cradled in Nathan’s lap, and he was staring straight at me while running his fingers through my hair. I loved his touch, craved his touch; there was no other place I’d rather be than with him.

“Hi.” My voice was rather hoarse.

“Here’s the juice, dude.” Travis handed the glass to Nathan, and he slightly shifted me up so that I could drink it.

Taking a sip of juice, I glanced between the two of them.

“What happened?” Nathan asked with a raised eyebrow.

I swallowed, my throat scratchy from puking. “I forgot to eat. I was so upset about my nightmare of a date.” Worst date in history. “I swear, I’m going to be a lonely old lady that knits blankets and has too many cats.”

“Nonsense, you just aren’t focused on the right guy.” Nathan said and wiggled his eyebrows. I think he was trying to convey that he was the right guy. He trailed his thumb down my cheek leaving a hot wake in its path. He gently massaged it and winked at me.

“I need food.” I looked between my two roommates as I took another sip of juice. “Shit,” I said as I leaned over the toilet. I was so dizzy that I was nauseous and dry-heaving, because there was nothing left in my stomach. Nathan was by my side holding my hair away from my face. After I finished, I ran a hand across my mouth and cradled my head in my hands. “You guys, I really need to eat.” I was the only cook in the house, although Nathan did help on occasion. However, I knew that if I was going to eat, I would have to make it myself. “Can one of you get me the jar of peanut butter and a spoon?”

“On it,” Travis said as he made a mad dash towards the kitchen.

“Love, you need to eat regularly.” Nathan enforced.

“I know, I know. It’s just. Ugh. That date last night. After that, I just wanted to bury my head under a pillow and try to forget what a failure my life is.”

“I’m telling you, you’re focused on all the wrong guys. That dude from last night isn’t the type of guy you should be going out with.” He stared deeply into my eyes and I knew he was serious.

“Really?” I said hopefully.

“Yes, really.” He placed a kiss on my forehead. “You need to open your eyes, Lex.”

“My eyes are open.” I blinked at him a few times although I knew what he meant.

Travis came rushing back into the bathroom with the peanut butter jar in one hand and the spoon in his mouth. “Damn, this shit’s good.” He scooped up another bite and started eating it.

“Damn it, Travis! That is supposed to be for me. Hand it over.” I reached out my hand and grabbed it. I blew out a frustrated breath as I loaded the spoon with peanut butter and took a big bite.

Both Nathan and Travis watched as I took a few bites, cautious like I was a fragile doll. “Travis, you don’t have to hang with me. I know you have company.” I didn’t want to intrude on his fun. I was glad that at least someone was getting laid.

“She left.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“Let me guess, another notch on you post?”

“Dude you’re such a dog,” Nathan told him and then they both started laughing.

“Hey don’t give him a hard time. At least one of us is getting some action. I swear I’m going to wear my toys out.”

Nathan leans over, his breath hot, and his words dripping with sensual desire. “Love, I told you I will take care of things for you.” He kissed the shell of my ear, and my whole body shivered. I glanced at him and his eyes were shining with lust and desire. Apparently, a desire that burns between the two of us. It was like a raging inferno.

I didn’t know what to say. I was lost for words. I’ve mentioned before that I didn’t want to ruin the close friendship we have. I decided to completely change the subject. “How about we go out to Denny’s and get some breakfast?” I looked at Travis. He was an easy target.

“Fuck yeah. I’m starved. That frozen pizza I had for dinner didn’t do a damn thing for me.” He rubbed his belly and gave me his damn goofy grin.

I sat up a little straighter and looked at Nathan. He looked a bit irritated. I jabbed him in the ribs and started tickling him. His laughter was contagious. I began laughing right along with him. The next thing I know, I’ve got peanut butter in my hair, on my face, and we’re rolling around on the bathroom floor tickling one another. It’s crazy how some juice and peanut butter could help me feel better. I needed to listen to my body better.

“Oh, my God,” I said as I rolled over on top of Nathan. He grabbed me around the ass, and my breath hitched. Suddenly, we weren’t tickling one another. We had our eyes locked on one another, and we were completely lost in our moment.