Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

"No roommates in the way?"

"Haven't had a roommate in a long time."

"You don't like it?"

I nod.

"I'm not sure if I would either."

"It doesn't crimp your style as much as living with your dad, but it doesn't help."

"Right." She bites her lip. "Are you still sleeping around?"

"Still?"

"Never mind. It's none of my business." Her voice wavers. "And I don't even care." She fails to sell her apathy. Her lip corners turn down. Her nails sink into her black jeans.

"I'll tell if you do." The light turns green. I take off. Zoom straight to thirty miles an hour.

"No. That's okay."

"Has it really been that long?"

"Well…" She clears her throat. "Longer than you could imagine."

"My imagination is limited. That isn't hard."

"True." The tension in her jaw eases as she laughs. "It's been a while."

"Who was the last guy?"

"Alex."

"Fuck, that is a while."

"Two years." The words are matter of fact.

But they feel like a bomb. Two years. That's an eternity. "How is that possible?"

"It goes faster than you'd think."

"No way. It's been three weeks and I'm dying."

"But that was when I started—"

"Yeah."

"So you haven't?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I keep thinking about you."

"You… you're waiting for me?"

"No. Just don't want to be with anyone else."