The Accidental Girlfriend

“What does a guy have to do around here to get some breakfast?”

“Go looking for the fucking fridge,” she muttered into the covers. “Out the door, down the hall, and turn left. Tall silver thing. You can’t miss the fucker.”

Ah.

“You’re a morning person I see.”

“So help me, Mason, if you keep fucking talking to me, you’ll turn into breakfast.”

I rolled over and plastered my body against hers, tugging her right back into me so we were spooning.

“What are you doing?” she murmured.

“Spooning you.”

“That’s against the rules.”

“Yeah, but last night my cock was a good seven inches inside your body while it broke the rules. I think you can take it pressing against your ass this morning.”

She grunted, but she didn’t argue any further. She actually snuggled in a little further, not that I let on that I’d felt her do it.

There was something between us; if she didn’t want to admit to it right now, that was fine. But her body would give it away, just like it already was.

I didn’t know what to do about any of it.

The closest I’d come to getting any kind of emotion out of her was her admission that she was attracted to me.

It was better than nothing.

Her phone rang again, and she swore under her breath as she moved to grab it. “Hello?… Yes, Mom, she called… Of course I’m going… Yes, I know… Mom, she called. I said I’d go. I have to go shower now, okay?… All right, bye.”

Lauren threw her phone onto the rug.

“That sounded fun.”

“Ugh.” She rolled onto her back and looked at me. “My family is hard work.”

“Is everything okay?”

She sighed and got up, shoving the covers to the side. “As okay as it can be in my world. My sister’s going to the doctor this morning and she wants me to go with her. I suppose I should get ready.” She looked over her shoulder at me. “Do you want to take a shower? Do you have to go to work today?”

“No, you’re good. I can shower when I get home.” I sat up and rubbed my hand through my hair. “Mind if I get some coffee?”

“Help yourself.” She tugged the band out of her hair and let it fall down her back. “I won’t be long.”

She left the room and turned toward the bathroom next door. The sound of the door clicking filled the quiet air, and I got out of bed. I put my pants on and grabbed my shirt before I walked into the kitchen to make coffee.

I made two mugs and left hers on the counter for when she was ready. My phone was on the kitchen island where I’d put it last night, so I grabbed it. The battery blinked at only four percent.

“Shit.” I glanced around the kitchen and saw a charging cable plugged in next to the fridge. Thankfully it was the same cable I needed, so I put it into the charge port and leaned against the counter as I checked my messages.

I had a couple from my mom, one from Aunt Pru, and a missed call from my building manager. I decided he was a good place to start, so I dialed his number and waited for him to pick up the phone.

“Mason,” came his deep, booming voice. “Sorry to bother you.”

“No worries. Is there a problem with my apartment?”

“Mrs. Allerton lodged a complaint this morning. She said she’s warned you about noise numerous times, but I knocked on your door and you weren’t there.”

I frowned. “I’m not home. Haven’t been all night. What kind of noise?”

“She said there was a lot of banging and she’s fed up of it.”

“Was someone knocking at my door? That’s her usual complaint. If I don’t get there in a second, she gets up my ass about it.”

“I think that’s what she said. Were you expecting anyone?”

“I wasn’t. Sorry. I have no idea who it could have been.”

“All right. Well, other people knocking on your door isn’t a crime. I’ll tell her we talked and ask her to calm down a little. Thanks, Mason, and sorry I bothered you.”

“Don’t worry about it, Dan. Thanks.” I hung up and shook my head. That fucking woman would be the death of me—if Lauren didn’t kill me first.

“Are you okay?” Lauren walked in with a towel twisted on her head.

“Fine. Just my building manager. My neighbor is a pain in the ass. I made you a coffee.” I nodded to the steaming mug.

“Thanks.” She picked it up and took a sip. “Is that the old lady? The one you told me about before?”

“Yep. Any bit of noise and she complains. It’s fine. It’s always nothing.” I shrugged. “What time do you need to be at the doctor with your sister?”

“About an hour.” She put two slices of toast into the toaster. “You want some?”