Alphahole (Alphahole Roommates 1)

I choke on tears.

“Carly?”

Shit. No crying should be one of my rules. Right now, I’m thinking fuck my rules. Fuck everything. I can’t believe that tiara is gone.

“Sorry. I, uh, it was my grandmother’s and she died last year and left us all this jewelry. All this ugly jewelry but it was all real and valuable and my sister pawned all but this one piece. It’s the last piece and… my sister is a drug addict, so I’m already crushed she would do that to fund her habit, but this was the last…” I’m wiping my eyes. Bawling. I can’t stop.

He’s silent.

“Sorry. This isn’t your problem,” I say. “I gotta get downstairs. The cab’ll be here in five minutes.” I sniffle.

“You got pictures of it?” he asks.

“Uh, my Mom... I’m pretty sure she would.”

“Get me pictures. Jude’ll try and find it. In fact, get me pictures of all of it. All the shit your sister hocked. I’ll have him try to track it down.”

“What?”

“Do it, peaches. I’ll see you at work. Bye.” He hangs up.

I’m in shock.

When I get to the lobby, the other guy is there. I’m so glad I don’t have to look at Seth right now or I might accuse. I might also scratch his eyes out.

Ally is already in the cab.

I climb in, ready to fill her in, but then I say, “It smells wonderful in here.”

Ash smiles big over his shoulder at me. “You like it?”

“It’s great.”

“My night driver. He always leaves his food garbage in here.” Ash waves his finger. “I have no sense of smell. But I tell him, no more. My favorite customers don’t like it.”

“Good. I hope he keeps it smelling like this.”

He pulls away from the curb.

I turn to Ally. “What’s the scoop on Meryl?”

She smiles. “They stayed up all night talking. They made out a little but didn’t go all the way. She’s such a good girl.” She rolls her eyes.

I smile. “That’s okay. She had a good time?”

“She did. They’re going out for dinner tonight, but she says it’s not going anywhere. She leaves next week. She refuses to take it all the way with any man until her wedding night. Then again, she’s on a re-read of Fifty Shades.”

“Awe, that’s sweet. A re-read, already?”

“Yep. She’s obsessed. And sweet? Yeah, I guess.” She rolls her eyes. “What’s new with you? How were things in the apartment with Aiden after I left?”

I take a big breath. “Aiden is having surveillance put in the apartment. Not only are my underwear missing but someone took a very sentimental piece of jewelry of my grandmothers. From my lingerie drawer. I’m sick about it.”

Ally gasps. “You’re sure it wasn’t him that took your undies?”

I shrug. “He seemed legitimately shocked.”

“He did,” she agrees.