Page 11 of Trust Me
I press my lips together, my gaze never wavering from his. “That’s fine, but I want it written that it’s conditional. I have the freedom to leave whenever I want, whether hockey season is still going on or not.”
“Done,” he says, writing down the first term of our deal.
“I’m paying you rent. Add that,” I tell him.
This time when his head snaps up to mine, he looks annoyed, brows pinching inward. “Like hell you are.”
“Elio, spare me the whole song and dance. I want to pay you like I would any normal roommate.” I can’t be a freeloader. It’s not who I am and it’s what I’ve been trying to avoid.
He gazes at me for a beat, eyes and jaw locked. “Fine, but I’m capping it at no more than five hundred dollars per month.” His pen picks up again, adding it to the list.
I’m tempted to argue, but I know it’s pointless and I’ve already got a win with him agreeing to let me pay.
“Clean up after yourself. I don’t like messes. At least, not that kind,” he says, writing it down before I’ve even agreed to it, but it’s a fair request, one I can’t refute.
“No going in my room unless I’m home and you ask me first,” I add.
Elio’s eyes light up at that. “Hiding something, are we?”
“Nope,” I say casually. “I don’t like strangers in my space. Do you?”
He doesn’t say anything except for a shake of his head, indicating he agrees.
“If you’re going to have people over or throw a party, it’s cool with me, but tell me first so I’m not blindsided,” I say. I love a good party now and then, but unexpected ones at my house? No, thanks.
“Understood.” He pauses, shifts in his seat, then says, “And no hookups. I don’t care what you do outside of this place, but you don’t fuck anyone under my roof and neither will I.”
“You can fuck whoever you want to. I have noise-canceling headphones.” I shrug, seeming non-bothered when in reality the thought alone makes my skin crawl.
Elio’s jaw ticks, the scruff of his beard prominent. “Yeah, well, I don’t. No hookups here, got it?” he states, his tone cool.
I want to laugh because if he knew how innocent I am, he’d be embarrassed at himself right now. He has nothing to worry about.
“Got it. I will watch over your cats, and you’ll help me do what exactly?”
He sits up straighter at that. “My goal is to increase your profits by seventy-five percent at least by the end of the semester. You’ll use the kitchen to help with the aesthetic part and I’ll help with the marketing logistics of your channel.”
“Who knew you had so many talents,” I joke lightheartedly.
“There is a lot you don’t know about me, Jasmine,” he drawls, and I hate the way my name sounds so good coming from his lips.
“Let’s keep it that way.” He flinches slightly at that, but I push how it makes me feel to the side. I don’t need to get to know him. We’re simply roommates who are helping one another out. We don’t need to be friendly. “Is that all?” I ask, wanting this conversation to be over.
“Yes, this should do it. Anything else you want to add?” he asks, sounding sincere.
“I’m sure I’ll find something to add in the future, but this is good for now.”
I want to add that there will be no kissing, no touching, et cetera between us, but I think it’s been implied enough times before when we were back in his office. I also know making it an official rule will only make it that much more tempting to break, at least for me.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He grins slightly like he’s in on some inside joke that I’m not aware of. He pens the top with the title ‘Roommate Rules,’ then signs the bottom and passes it to me to do the same.
I twirl the pen with my fingers as I take a moment to think everything over, but I don’t have much of a choice. This option seems like the smartest one since it’ll help my business and prevent me from having to ask my parents for help.
It’s also in a safe, nice part of town. The best part is that Elio will barely be here once the season starts, but the only problem I’m facing is that I don’t really like cats. I’ve never had one, so I’m honestly not sure how to care for them.
But I can figure it out.
I sign my name next to his, then push it back toward him.