Page 15 of A Bossy Roommate

CARTER

Mrs. Hutton stands in the doorway of her place, wearing the red slacks and oversize sweater she always wears. Next to her stands Eden, taking up most of the hallway with a ridiculous number of bags. And why is she crying?

“Oh! You two are acquainted?” Hattie asks, catching on to the familiarity.

Eden nods.

“What is the problem?” I ask her.

Even though I posed the question to Eden, Mrs. Hutton answers. “There’s been a bit of a muddle, you see, and dear Eden here arrived a fortnight ahead of schedule,” she explains. “I would be absolutely delighted to offer her accommodation, but it looks like she’s rather allergic to Mitsy, Myrtle, and little Ruth.”

And probably the other twenty cats you have in there, I think.

Eden sneezes again. “It’s fine, I’ll figure something out…” She opens her purse and rummages through it, looking for something.

I take my handkerchief out of my pocket and hand it to her.

“No problem. I’ll make a few calls,” I say as she wipes her face, pulling my phone out of my pocket, ready to book her into a nearby hotel.

“No, that’s not necessary.” Eden seems determined to figure out the predicament on her own. She’s also trying her damnedest not to look me in the eye. “I’ll just…” She trails off, and I know she has no other options.

Last night she told me she was new in town, and I gathered by the motel room that she doesn’t have much money. Otherwise, she’d already be headed back there.

“Why doesn’t she just lodge with you?” I hear Mrs. Hutton ask.

Eden’s eyes widen, portraying the perfect deer in the headlights look. I’m just as surprised as she is, and we both turn to look at Hattie Hutton. What the hell is that woman thinking? Yeah, we know each other, but that doesn’t automatically make us friends, even less roommates.

“No, no, that’s not a good idea, seriously,” Eden protests, and she lowers the handkerchief.

“I don’t think—” I begin.

“Mr. Carter Donovan Bancroft!” Mrs. Hutton throws out in a scolding tone that I swear every old spinster has mastered. “Are you truly suggesting that an innocent young lady should haul all her belongings downstairs and sort out this mess, when you possess a perfectly suitable spare room? After all, she’s hardly a stranger. The two of you are evidently acquainted.”

All the objections I have prepared die when I notice the outraged way the old woman is looking at me. Damn it if she doesn’t remind me of my aunt.For fuck’s sake. I look at Eden, who has finally stopped sneezing. Her eyes are red like Mrs. Hutton’s slacks, and so is the tip of her nose. I realize it’s because of allergies, but it also looks like she’s been crying—or at least isclose to tears. I make a split-second decision I know I’ll regret later.

“Sure, you can stay with me.” I give a curt nod toward my door.

Usually, I’m not rash, but something in Eden seems to not only bring this side of me to life, but also seems to provoke it.

Eden’s eyes widen even more. “Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.”

I cock an eyebrow. “Do you have a better option?”

She stares at me, eyes large as saucers, and it’s like I can see her mind trying to think of something else, another way to get out of this mess.

“That’s what I thought,” I say, not waiting for her response. “It’s no big deal. It’s only for two weeks.”

Mrs. Hutton smiles brightly. “What a considerate young gentleman,” she says as if she hadn’t just conned me into agreeing with her. “There you are, Eden. Predicament resolved.” From inside her apartment, I can hear a cat meowing. “Oh, I must go. Little Ruth needs her blanket. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my dear. We shall chat again before too long.” A bit more reserved, she says, “Mr. Bancroft.”

With that, she closes the door, leaving me and Eden standing there.

“Are you sure about this?” she asks, clearly nervous.

“I’m sure. Let’s talk inside.” Eden bends to pick up her bags, and I incline closer at the same time to help her. “Here, let me.”

I lean down to grab the heavier bags, and as we shuffle around, our hands accidentally touch. A shot of electricity moves from her body to mine as it did last night. The proximity causes her scent to invade my nostrils, and the smell of citrus washes over me.

We pause, breathing in the same air for half a second before I step back.