Always Mine (Roommate Duet 5)

The instructor counts down, and we get ready to move onto our elbows to balance our feet above our heads. Elbow poses piss me off, and hearing we’re supposed to hold it for thirty seconds angers me even more. I tend to keep a palm flat for support, but that’s not the correct positioning. I hold it for a total of eight seconds before I lose my balance and fall, cursing the whole way down. Liam drops right after me.

“You lost!” He pokes at me. “I beat a fucking ballerina at her own game!” He stands, pumping his fist in the air, and I groan. I want to slap that smirk right off his cute face.

“You cheated! I didn’t know you knew how to do yoga. Dick!” I pout.

“Let me tell you something, sweetheart. I never make a bet I don’t think I can win,” he says before wiping his brow. “I used to do extreme yoga back in the day. When I played football in college, a few of us would do stupid as fuck challenges, and yoga helped with balance. Doesn’t make me a cheater because you don’t know every little detail about me.”

“Does anyone else know that you’re a goddamn yoga guru?” I ask, still pissed.

“No. I work out a lot to stay fit for my job. I throw in a few advanced poses every once in a while for fun.” He smirks, impressed with himself.

Frustrated, I shake my head and wonder what else he’s hiding. Liam’s full of secrets, ones I want to uncover. I’m even more intrigued than I was before, which is bad news for him.

“So tonight…” He rubs his palms together as the corner of his lips tilt up. He’s so loving this. “I’d like a sirloin steak cooked medium-rare, a baked potato with all the toppings, and steamed broccoli. Tomorrow, since I don’t plan on waking up until noon, I want the full brunch experience. Since the roommates will be back tomorrow afternoon, we’ll need to probably clean up around here at some point. Don’t want them returning to a mess in the kitchen.” He squeezes my shoulder and flashes his cocky grin again. “Might wanna make sure we’ve got all the ingredients, too.”

“I did not agree to grocery shop too,” I state, standing and placing my hands on my hips. “And you’ll eat whatever I cook you. There was never any mention of choosing the menu. So deal with it.”

Chuckling, he goes to the kitchen and returns with two bottles of water. “Pretty sure you said healthy food if you won, right? I just helped you out a bit and told you what I wanted to eat. Also, I’m cutting you a break because you demanded three meals, remember?”

I groan. “You’re impossible. But you won fair and square. Guess I’ll think twice about betting you again.” Rolling my eyes, I know he’s enjoying this way too much.

“Smart girl,” he tells me. “I need to hit the ATM. Then we can go to the grocery store.”

Shaking my head, I huff. “Great. But you’re paying.”

“Planned on it,” he tells me, walking toward the stairs. “Gonna shower, then we can leave.”

I arch a brow, implying I’d join him, but he ignores me with an eye roll and climbs the stairs. Though I hate that I lost, I can’t stop smiling. Liam is something else, even when he’s giving me a hard time.

While he’s showering, I change clothes, fix my messy bun, and try to look somewhat presentable. I play on my phone while I wait on the couch for him. Ten minutes later, he’s clean and dressed, wearing a smirk. As I suspected, he talks shit about winning during the whole drive across town.

After stopping by the bank, we go to the store. Our cart is nearly full, and all I’m worried about is fucking up an expensive sirloin and not being able to prepare it to his specifications.

Once we’re home and the groceries are unloaded, I take a shower, then get to work in the kitchen. I place everything on the counter to figure out the best way to attack this. I know the basics, but I’m not a chef. As I pretend I’m a pro, Liam rubs it in that I’m cooking for him, and after a while, I can’t bite my tongue.

“If you don’t shut up, I might poison you!” I threaten as I watch a YouTube video on how to properly cook a steak. Though it takes me longer than it should to prepare everything, I begrudgingly serve him exactly what he requested. Liam makes a big show as he cuts into the bloody meat, and I look at him with wide eyes.

“Well?”

“It’s perfect,” he says after taking a huge bite, a big ass smile on his face.

I let out a relieved breath. “Whew, good. At least I’ll have practice for when we’re married,” I throw out with a snort.