Page 90 of A Bossy Roommate
Completely isolated.
We’ll have the place to ourselves without having to worry about someone interrupting, listening next door, or walking in on us—during or after the fact.
Hattie’s door opens right when I get to mine.
25
EDEN
Seriously. How does Hattie do that? Does she have a hidden camera somewhere? Does she stand by the door, looking out the peephole to see when I’m coming? I need to know how that woman always seems to be ready and waiting to greet me when I come home from work.
Except this time, it isn’t just Hattie. Eleanor stands with her, both of them ogling me. I have a brief moment where my brain goes,Oh, no, there’s two of them.
They both say my name enthusiastically.
“Eden! There you are, dear!”
“Eden! Welcome home,ma chère!” Eleanor pulls me into a tight hug, and I do my best to balance the cookies in one hand as I return the embrace.
Likewise, she has a glass of wine in her hand that she’s careful not to spill. “We were just going to sit down to a game of Scrabble. You should join us!”
The idea of sitting with two elderly ladies playing Scrabble and drinking wine actually sounds ridiculously fun, especially with these two ladies specifically. But there’s still the issueof being allergic to Hattie’s apartment—and there’s Carter. Completely isolated Carter.
I offer a sad expression. “I’d love to but?—”
Hattie speaks up for me. “I’m quite certain she would prefer to spend her evening with her husband, love.” She smiles, and I swear I can see her nudging Eleanor’s arm before looking back up at me. “We certainly wouldn’t want to intrude upon what might be a romantic date night.”
“Oh, yes, yes, of course, I get it,” Auntie says. “You don’t want us four-wheeling on your date night. We’ll just be over here, on our best behavior.”
I nod with a bright smile, seizing my opportunity. “Which reminds me, I should go get ready before he gets home. Oh, care for cookies?”
“Funnily enough, we were just on the verge of whipping up our own batch,” Hattie says, “but we’d be delighted to sample yours instead, my dear.”
I extend the box of cookies, and Auntie’s gaze immediately lands on it.
“Cookies? Oh, I thought you said ‘cocktails,’” Eleanor says. “Good, we’ll take the cookies, anyway.”
They reach into the box and grab some.
“We’ll pretend we made them ourselves,” Eleanor says. “Don’t tell anyone!”
I laugh. “Your secret is safe with me. Have fun, ladies.”
I let myself into the apartment. As embarrassing as it is that they know exactly what Carter and I will be getting up to, at least there’ll be no interruptions this time. It’s practically guaranteed after that conversation.
I put the cookies on the counter and then head to the bedroom and then to the bathroom to take a quick shower (belting out the lyrics to “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis). It’s not until I start going through my minuscule wardrobe that Ipause and realize what I’m doing. Hattie had been the one to call it a date, not me or Carter. Why am I acting like it is one? Carter and I have dinner all the time—what the hell makes me think tonight will be a date? He never said it was and hasn’t given me any indication it will be.
Crap.
I sit on the bed, taking a moment to collect myself. Without noticing, without even realizing it, Carter has wormed his way into my heart. How has that happened?Whendid that happen? That can’t happen.
I can’t have feelings for him. Ishouldn’thave feelings for him.
There’s a laundry list of reasons why, but it really all comes down to the big three: he’s my boss, our marriage is fake, and I’m leaving in six months.
I hear the door open and the familiar sound of Carter’s boots across the hardwood floor. Pulling myself together, I put away the clothes I had been ransacking and go to greet him.
He’s in the kitchen already, shuffling through a stack of mail. Standing there all casual, with a hint of scruff on his jawline, he looks effortlessly irresistible. His leather jacket is folded over one of the kitchen chairs, and he’s untied his tie but left it hanging around his neck. The top buttons of his dark-gray shirt are undone, and he’s rolled the sleeves up past his elbows.