Agony (Entangled Hearts Duet 1)

“Are your parents still bummed out that you’re not coming home for the summer?” she asks.

“I’ll visit.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, they were disappointed, but they agree. The apartment is the perfect location, and it’s a great price for what we’re getting. It doesn’t make sense to pass on it, or rent it and not live there. What about yours?”

She shrugs. “Out of sight, out of mind.”

Unlike me, Tessa’s parents aren’t heavily involved in her life. They’re both high-powered corporate attorneys and work their lives away. That’s why every break we’ve had this year, she’s come home with me instead of going to her folks’ place. Not once did they comment on their displeasure of her not coming home. Makes a girl appreciate what she has, that’s for sure.

“You sure you don’t want another roommate?” Nixon asks Tessa.

She smiles at him. “Like you’re not going to be there all the time anyway.”

“Exactly. I should just go ahead and move in.”

“And miss out on all of this?” she asks, just as Levi, Dustin, Cooper, and a few other guys from the team come into the living room. Dustin and Levi sit next to me on the couch, which leaves Cooper. He reaches down and picks me up, causing me to squeal. He takes my seat, placing me on his lap.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

“Oh, you know, Nix is just trying to convince Tessa to let him move in with us in our new apartment.”

“What? If anyone should get to move in, it’s me,” Cooper states confidently.

“Oh, really? Why you?”

“Best friend.” He points at his chest.

“Boyfriend.” Nix mimics Cooper and points at his own chest.

“Best friend trumps boyfriend all day long,” Cooper declares.

“What?” Nixon asks, shocked. “You can’t be serious?”

Cooper nods. “Yep.”

“How do you figure?” he asks.

“That’s just how it goes.” Cooper doesn’t offer any type of explanation.

“I can give her more than you can,” Nixon counters.

“Like what?”

“My dick for one.” He holds up his index finger.

“Nixon!” Tessa scolds him. Her face grows crimson with embarrassment.

“You should be used to this bunch by now,” I tell her.

Reaching for a pillow on the couch, she covers her face as she starts to laugh. “Uh, Tessa, you don’t know where that pillow has been, or what it’s seen,” I remind her.

“Gah!” She tosses it onto the floor, making us all laugh.

“Don’t worry, T,” Dustin chimes in. “We don’t let any of the good stuff happen outside of the bedrooms.”

“You’re forgetting that we’ve been to your parties,” I tell him.

He shrugs. “That’s partygoers. I’m talking about those of us who live here.”

“Speaking of living here, who’s on the list for next year?” I turn to look at Cooper over my shoulder.

“Me, Nixon, Levi, Dustin, Trey, and Hank.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, it’s only a six-bedroom. Four upstairs and two in the basement.”

“Isn’t there more than that that live here now?” I ask, confused.

“Yes. But they doubled up. Most are seniors. They’re graduating, so we decided to dial back a notch,” Cooper explains.

“Makes sense.” I look over at Nixon. “Why are you trying so hard to move into our place?” I point at Tessa and then myself.

“Hello? Wake up with my girl or these baboons? I’ll take Tessa any day.”

“Aw.” Tessa leans in and kisses his cheek. “That was sweet, babe, but it’s still not happening.”

“I don’t get it. What, do the two of you have some kind of super-secret society that you’re trying to hide from us?”

“Yeah?” Cooper pinches my leg, causing me to yelp and retaliate the same way.

“No. We just want our space. Our time.”

“So you don’t have room for me?” Nixon asks.

I can hear the hurt in his voice. “It’s not that, Nix,” I say soothingly. “It’s just we want it to be us girls. It’s not like you’re not allowed to stay over or hang out at our place. We just made the decision no boyfriends moving in. At least not this year.” I wink at him, trying to lighten the mood.

“See. That’s why best friends trump boyfriends,” Cooper boasts.

“Actually, that rule applies to best friends too. At least those of the opposite sex.”

“Come on, Reese’s Pieces, you can’t kick me out.” He bats his eyelashes and puckers his lips into a pout.

“You don’t even live there.” I laugh at his antics.

“Yeah, but if I needed to?”

“If you needed to,” Tessa answers, “Reese and I would discuss the options and get back to you. Besides, we only have a two-bedroom.”

“So, I’ll just room with Reese,” he says, as if it’s the simplest answer in the world.

“I’m sure her boyfriend would love that.” This from Levi, who has been quiet up to this point, which is unusual for him.

“What boyfriend?” Cooper asks, leaning a little to see my face from where I’m now sitting sideways on his lap.

“There is no boyfriend.”

“Not yet, anyway.” Tessa wags her eyebrows. “I’ve been trying to set her up with this guy in my English lit class.”