Room Mated: Standalone Reverse Harem Romance

The young dude shook his head as if contemplating the mysteries of the universe. “My roommates and I think this place rocks, but I don’t know, maybe they didn’t like it. It is kind of loud because in the late evening and at night, people keep knocking on the door. Sometimes they turn around and leave when we open it, and other times, they ask if we want to make conversation. Isn’t that weird? It’s like they have some kind of conversation club or something. It doesn’t make any sense.”

“No, it doesn’t,” I murmured. “I’ve got to go.”

“Maybe you can come back and visit sometime when my roommates are back. Trust me, it’s a pretty sweet place.” He laughed at his own joke. “A sweet suite.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever,” I said, not sure what I’d just agreed to. “Bye.”

As I exited the building, the only thing the kid said that had stuck with me was, “It doesn’t make sense.”

It sure as hell didn’t. I climbed in my car but didn’t start it. Instead, I pulled out my phone and thought about which one of them to text. According to the new guy upstairs, they’d moved out a few days ago, but none of them had bothered to mention it to me. Not even Parker when I cornered him yesterday. What the hell was going on?

I thought about texting Parker again, but since he hadn’t volunteered this info yesterday, he might not be more forthcoming today. So maybe Jude, then. He was pretty straight forward. But he hadn’t mentioned anything the few times I’d texted, either. Did that make Mason my best bet?

Screw it.

I carefully composed a text and sent it to all three of them.

Where the hell are you and why the hell did you move out of the suite?

There was no answer, not for hours. I drove around aimlessly, not wanting to go back to Alyssa’s and bring her down with my foul mood. I didn’t have a destination in mind, but every time I drove west and spotted the mountains in the distance, I turned the car in a different direction.

Finally, after darkness fell, I headed back to Alyssa’s apartment. I’d just started up the steps to her door when my phone chimed. It was from Jude.

Meet us tomorrow at the Dancing Horse at 2 pm.

That was it? That was all he was going to say? Anger coursed through me, and as I sat on the steps, looking up at the stars, I held onto it for as long as I could. Because underneath it, deep underneath, was excitement about seeing them again. And right alongside it, a dash of hope.

And I was pretty damn sure I wouldn’t survive it if my hopes were dashed again.

31

Kylie

When I walked into the Dancing Horse on Saturday, I tried to project a confidence I didn’t feel. Truth be told, I hadn’t even been able to decide what to wear today. I considered going with a skirt to remind them of that party we’d attended together. Then I thought maybe I should go with all black to show them how much they’d hurt me. But in the end, I dressed as myself. Short shorts—even though it was cold—a cotton shirt, and a long-sleeved sweater over it. The only thing I did differently was to wear boots instead of sandals. It was too cold for that

So, I entered the dump of a bar as myself, as the person they'd fallen for. If I wasn’t who they wanted anymore, that was on them. They’d changed—I hadn’t.

The place looked as grungy as ever, and it took a while for my vision to adjust to the dim light. Then, over by a booth, Jude stood up.

My heart pounded painfully in my chest as I made my way over to him, skirting rickety tables and chairs. When I neared, I saw that he had the same dark circles under his eyes as Parker had the other day. “What’s—”

That was all I got out before he took me in his arms and held me tight. Something inside me loosened as I returned his hug. Just like when Parker had hugged me the other day, tears threatened. But I wouldn’t let them fall—not until I knew the score.

Mason bounded out of the booth and grabbed me the moment Jude let me go. His hug was strong enough to squeeze the air right out of my lungs, but I didn’t want him to stop. Parker was last. His hug wasn’t as fierce, perhaps to compensate for Mason’s. “It’s so good to see you,” he whispered in my ear.

Jude and Parker sat down on one side of the booth and Mason took my hand and pulled me in next to him. “We ordered food,” he said.

“Thanks, I’m not hungry.” For a moment, I just stared at them, from one face to another. They really did look exhausted. Maybe their excuses about being super busy this week were true, but that certainly didn’t answer all my questions. “I went by the suite.”