Page 65 of A Bossy Roommate
“Yeah, well, when you find out your only family is struggling with their health, it really puts things into perspective. If it weren’t for Eden, I wouldn’t have come in at all,” I huff.
“Relax, bro, I was just teasing. But you trust her that much already? Damn, you reallyarethat into her.”
I think about what’s happened between Eden and me over the last few days.
It’s been a roller coaster.
I’d be lying if I said there isn’tsomething.
We head to the elevators.
“I’ll check my email later tonight once my aunt is settled. If anything else comes up, just text me. I may not answer, but I’ll at least handle it when I have a chance,” I tell Bradley.
“Don’t worry about it.” He offers a bro-fist, and I bump it. “I’ll take care of what I can. Hope everything goes okay with your ladies.”
Huh. My ladies. I actually don’t mind the sound of that.
I get home as fastas I can. When I enter the apartment, I’m surprised to hear absolutely nothing. With a frown, I check the living room and, aside from a tea tray on the coffee table and an almost-empty pack of the “Not-So-Rummy Rum Balls” from a small local bakery, it’s exactly as I left it this morning. The “Not-So-Rummy Rum Balls” are a non-alcoholic, low-sugar version of the classic treat. However, Auntie doesn’t know that.
I glance toward the guest suite and see the door closed. Aunt Eleanor must have gone to lie down. Poor thing. She’s probably exhausted after her long flight.
That doesn’t explain where Eden is. Or does it?
I walk to my bedroom and am greeted with the sight of Eden curled up in my bed. Her pants and bra are discarded on the floor, and she’s asleep in only a thin nightgown. Seeing the shape of her beautiful curves and other details shine through the thin cotton like that, I’m tempted to crawl in next to her.
I hear the sound of a door opening.
Aunt Eleanor must be awake.
I caress a strand of hair away from Eden’s face, silently close the door behind me, and go back out to the living room to greet my aunt.
“Hi, Auntie. Did you have a nice rest?” I ask, pulling her into a hug. She feels so fragile in my arms, it tugs at my heart.
She’s changed into a different pantsuit, this one made of softer material and clearly meant for comfort. She has removed her rings and necklaces and put on a pair of pink fuzzy slippers. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her in person, and without her huge fur coat and endless jewelry, she looks a lot smaller. However, she has freshened up her makeup.
“Oh, I tried, but could not turn my brain off. Too much on my mind.” She hugs me back, kisses both my cheeks, before taking a step away and slapping my chest. “Shame on you, Carter Donovan Bancroft!”
“What did I do?”
Aunt Eleanor huffs. “You lied to me!”
I freeze, staring at her. “I did?”
“Why didn’t you tell me that you dragged Eden into a bar on the first day you met? Did you think I would be so snobbish that I would not understand?”
“No, of course not. I’m sorry, Auntie,” I say, relieved.
“Apology accepted.” She smiles and makes a move to pick up the tea tray, but I take it from her. Aunt Eleanor has never been one to hold long grudges. That’s something I’ve always appreciated about her. “Eden told me about that special first kiss you both shared…”
“Did she?” I stop in my tracks.
“Yes! How romantic!”
Surely, Eden had stuck to her own suggestion that we’d discussed earlier, namely of our long walk and me handing her my jacket because it had gotten cold. “Well, I am a gentleman,” I say.
“What do you mean, son?”
I stare at her, blank. First, I consider telling her that I meant that anybody would have given her a jacket, but then I pause. What version did Eden tell her? Obviously, something doesn’t match up. “Well, a gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”