The Temporary Roomie (It Happened in Nashville 2)

And then Lucy’s voice cuts through the moment from the living room, and Drew dashes away from me like we’re doing something wrong before Lucy rounds the corner. Interesting.

“Hey, umm, guys? Can I leave yet? Is the prank over? Oh shoot! Was I not supposed to say prank? I don’t think I was.”

Drew and I both chuckle, and he leans back against the sink, folding his arms. “It’s alright, Luce. The joke’s over now.”

“Oh good!” She looks relieved, but then her eyes zero in on his shirt. “But wait…you don’t look—”

“YOU DID GREAT, LUCY!” I say, a touch too loudly. I get ready to jump off the counter, but Drew catches me before I make the leap, grabbing my hips to help me down easily. I feel his hands like I’m not wearing anything at all. His touch feels dangerous, and I want to shake him off like a wet dog. I brush by him without making eye contact and put my hand around Lucy’s shoulders, guiding her toward the front door. “Really. You did amazing. Thanks for your help.” I’m trying to send her telepathic vibes not to mention the prank anymore.

Mercifully, she understands and leaves with only a quiet smirk and a last glance at Drew. Once she’s gone, Drew and I stand in the living room. He has a gloaty smile on his face just like I imagined he would.

“Yes, fine, you’re the supreme pranker. I bow to you, great sir.”

“Thank you. That’s all I want to hear…every day from now on please.”

I narrow my eyes. “Fat chance.”

Drew’s gaze is glittering. He’s so proud of himself. “I’m going to go change out of these scrubs, and then I’ll make us some dinner. I think it’s the least I can do for thwarting your plans so epically.”

He’s backing toward his bedroom, which is situated just off the living room. I need to hold his attention for approximately ten steps. “Wow, how noble of you. And just what sort of dinner do you make for losers?”

“Comfort food. Maybe chicken soup?” One more step. “I’ll even t

hrow in some crackers and a warm blanket to drape over your lap, because I’m nice like that.”

Drew barely gets his last word out before pushing open his cracked bedroom door, causing a bucket of water to rain down on his beautiful head. His whole body goes instantly rigid, shoulders bunched, wet eyelashes blinking like windshield wipers, mouth open. I am doubled over laughing, completely unrepentant.

“You!” Snort. “Fell.” Another laughing snort. “Right into.” I have to wipe my laughing tear away. “My trap!”

Drew still hasn’t moved. He’s soaked to the bone, and his scrubs cling to his muscled body in a way that almost makes it feel like the joke is on me. His head begins to shake side to side in slow deliberate motions. “This was the real prank, wasn’t it?”

I’m still laughing so hard I can’t speak, so I settle for a nod.

“The guru bit was just a decoy?”

I nod again. Drew is clever and observant, so I knew he’d spot the bucket-of-water-above-the-cracked-door trick a mile away if he wasn’t distracted. I needed to get him high enough on his own success to dull the rest of his senses, disarm him before the main event. I’m brilliant, and I tell him so in his own words.

Pointing a theatrical finger in his direction, I declare, as if I’m in a Machiavellian play, “Never try to prank the master!”

And then, to my complete dismay, Drew smiles a megawatt smile that blinds me for the rest of eternity. His teeth sparkle and his eyes crinkle in the corners with pure and unadulterated happiness. His soaked shoulders shake and water drips from locks of his wavy hair down his square jaw, and I want to weep at how handsome he is. Drew is looking at me, and he looks completely happy. He does not overreact; he does not say mean things—he laughs. Unfortunately, he does not get put back in the obnoxious category.

“Well done, Oscar. But you better watch your back now, because I’m coming for you.”

“I need a good prank idea,” I tell Cooper and Lucy the minute the music dies down enough to talk.

They dragged me out with them for drinks, and there just so happens to be karaoke at this bar (Cooper loves karaoke but is trying to play it off so cool like he had no idea it was karaoke night). Jessie was invited too, but she couldn’t make it because apparently her client was taking longer than expected. She told Lucy to go on without her, but I’m not disappointed she’s not here. I haven’t been sitting here all night obsessively worrying about her and whether she’s overworking herself. Not a bit. I’m so chill. Vanilla Ice, baby.

“A prank?” Lucy asks, looking awfully judgmental for a woman who just participated in one for the opposite team.

“Don’t make that face. Jessie started this prank war. I’m just trying to keep up.”

“Mmhmm,” Cooper mumbles against his beer with a knowing look that I want to punch off his face. “Why don’t you just pull her pigtails? Or write her a check-yes-or-no note?”

“Shut up.”

Lucy sits forward, face forming an uncomfortable expression. “What sort of prank? Nothing too mean, right? I just don’t like the idea of you picking on Jessie.”

“Believe me, she can handle it.”