Page 98 of A Bossy Roommate
“Carter?” she moans, spreading her legs under my weight.
“Yes, Eden baby, I’ve got you.”
I press my forehead against hers, caging her with my arms. She clings to me, beautifully, radiating with excitement, warmth, and love.
I thrust into her.
Two hourslater
Just when I raise my hand to knock on Hattie’s door, it swings open.
“Greetings, there you are!”
“Is there anything I can help you with, Hattie? Lift something heavy?”
She looks at me as though I’ve just suggested something absurd, like petting her cats.
“Oh, dearie me! No, no. I’ve just had a call from my new landlord, and it appears that my moving plans for tomorrow have been scuppered, after all that.”
I stand there, utterly flabbergasted, bewildered by the revelation.
She continues apologizing profusely, telling me that she doesn’t have an exact date, but it’s only a matter of time as my mood lifts with every word she says. “I just wanted to find out whether you’d be willing and able to put Eden up for another few days?”
“Absolutely,” I assure her immediately, without batting an eye.
“I’ve already got in touch with the moving company,” she continues to update me on the situation, a hint of uncertainty in her voice as if not entirely sure if she’s misinterpreted my words, “and I’ve made the necessary calls to both Lewis and Kate. Oh, and I’ve contacted the cleaning crew as well.”
“Good. Let me know if you need anything else, Hattie. Have a good day.”
“Ooh, dearie me!” She beams at me. “You too, love, you too!”
With a victorious stride, I enter my apartment, ready to pop some bubbly.
27
CARTER
Two weeks pass in the blink of an eye.
Eden still lives with me. It looks like the moving gods still aren’t on Hattie’s side—clearly, they’re on mine. Apparently, there have been “even more unexpected delays” at Hattie’s new place. I don’t ask what exactly has happened to cause the delay—I don’t want to tempt fate—and Hattie doesn’t bother getting into detail. I’m satisfied by reasoning with myself that it’s a common issue in the cutthroat world of the New York City real estate market.
Eden’s presence in my place has become a comfortable part of my life without me realizing it. I, for my part, can’t wait to see how our shared experiences will unfold. Now that Aunt Eleanor has left, Eden and I are continuing to share a bed and a room. She said it doesn’t make sense for her to move everything back to the guest suite only to have to pack it up and move it again when Hattie finally does leave, whenever that is. I’mone hundred percent on board with that. Sleeping alone? Not when I could have this beauty curled up beside me. I enjoy having her lying next to me every night. Especially when she drapes herself withthat soft hair and skin over my chest and clings on to me like there’s no tomorrow.
We haven’t discussed where things will go or what we’ll be. I’m in uncharted territory. Point is, I don’t want to overwhelm her. I know how much her heart has suffered, and that I need to tread carefully. I can’t risk hurting her by making a mistake, or driving her away by a boneheaded or worse, overhasty move.
Instead, I need to give us both time to figure out what we want.
While I’m at work,I receive a call from Vance, who provides me with the latest intel on “Eden’s case.” After concluding the conversation, I begin scrolling through my emails when suddenly my aunt calls me. As soon as I pick up, she says she has some news. I brace myself for the worst, but she quickly reassures me that everything is okay.
“I went to the doctor today, as promised,” she announces cheerfully, “and I’m happy to report I’m in excellent spirits…for now, at least, until the lab work reveals its verdict in a few days’ time…”
It has been worrying me, and I’m glad to hear her voice. “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”
“…the only downside is that the doc told me to put a cork on the bottle.”
“Looks like you’ll have to find other ways to have fun.”
With a sigh and a promise to stay in touch, she declares that she’ll do her best to keep her inner wild child in check.