The Temporary Roomie (It Happened in Nashville 2)

I dial Lucy, and the second the call connects, I whisper-yell, “I DRANK THE KOOL-AID!” I know I have exactly two and a half minutes to stay in here before everyone comes to the conclusion that I’m struggling with bowel issues. There will be no meeting anyone’s eyes after that, so I have to hurry.

“I KNEW IT!” she yells back, not even needing me to remind her of the conversation we had in the salon, because we’re always quick to get on each other’s level.

I must be on speakerphone, because I hear Cooper’s voice crystal clear. “What Kool-Aid?”

“Drew’s Kool-Aid,” Lucy tells him.

“Is that a euphemism?”

“EWWW, no! It’s a metaphor.”

“For something dirty?”

I’m too short on time to listen to their back-and-forth banter. “GO AWAY, COOPER! I’M HAVING A MELTDOWN AND I NEED TO TELL LUCY I THINK I LO—” I get interrupted when the bathroom door opens. I gasp and gape as Drew just lets himself right into the bathroom. “What are you doing in here? Get out! I could have been in here pooping!” Shoot. Why did I say that? I could have just left it at going to the bathroom!

Drew shrugs and stares at me with those blue eyes like I’m the one who’s acting silly even though he’s the person who barged in on a woman in the bathroom. “But you’re not. You’re on the phone.”

“Doesn’t matter. I could have been pooping while talking on the phone.”

Lucy whispers in my ear. “You’re saying the word poop a lot. Just thought you’d like to know. Also, do you need me here for this?”

I turn my attention to Lucy. “Yes! You stay.” I point to Drew. “You leave!”

“No, I need to talk to you.” I hate the way his eyes are sparkling. Like bubbling champagne, they glimmer and promise nothing but fun, good times.

“Tough. Because I need to talk to Lucy.”

Cooper’s voice comes back on the line. “Is that Drew? Can I talk to him real quick?”

Drew hears Cooper’s voice, so he steps forward and pulls the phone out of my hand. I roll my eyes and sigh as he grins down at me. “Hey man, what’s up?” Cool, cool, cool. We’re all just one happy friend group chatting it up in the bathroom.

I lean closer to hear, NOT to smell Drew. Getting a good whiff of him is purely coincidental.

“Did you get invited to the bachelor party camping weekend for Tod next month? I’m not going if you’re not. Man, I hate camping. Please tell me you’re not going so I don’t have to go either.”

“Yep. I’m going because he asked me to be in the wedding, so I’m definitely dragging you with me.”

Okay, now this is too much. Can they seriously not chat about their social calendar on their own time? I poke Drew in the stomach. Unsurprisingly, it’s rock hard. “Talk to your boyfriend later. Give me my phone back, please.” I say the word with crazy googly eyes.

Drew’s deep chuckle tickles me right in the heart, and he looks down at me like I’m the most adorable creature in the world as he addresses Cooper. “Sorry, I’ve gotta run. I’ll text you about it later.”

And then he HANGS UP and pockets MY cellphone in his jeans. What weird hostage lake house

weekend is this?!

Drew smiles at me in this tiny bathroom, and I feel stripped naked. Not only has he stolen my sanity, he stole my freak-out zone, and my freak-out friend. This is like a complete Drew submersion where I’m not allowed to do anything but confront all my feelings for him. It’s not good.

I glance at the door, and I think he can tell I’m going to try to make a run for it because his eyes cut to the door handle and then he shifts his body in front of it.

“Oh, real nice. Are you going to hold me hostage in here?”

“Maybe.”

“Well are you at least going to give me my phone back?”

“No.”

“Why not?”