“Oh.” That was totally not what I was thinking. There is so much of my life that I’m not getting the full story on, mostly because I don’t talk to Rosalie unless I have to, and often, it’s only through the calendar.
We finish the chapter, and it’s after nine when I get to head downstairs and pull out my phone. I really only have one phone call to make, but maybe this will have to wait until tomorrow. I should probably text her first and see if she’s busy.
Liam: Is it too late to talk?
Chapter 7 – My Archnemesis Has a Dog
Rosalie
It’s not too late to talk, but the timing of Liam’s text could not be worse. The ping it makes is so loud that we all startle. I’m sitting on the couch between my sister Kambryn and our neighbor Aubrey. She’s the unofficial roommate we don’t have room for. Not that she sleeps here. She’s just over here most evenings because she hates to be alone.
We’re not even watching TV; we’re just bunched together so we can share the ottoman. You can’t really relax at the end of the day unless your feet are up and you’re zoning out to the rhythm of the air conditioner’s light rattle.
“Who was that?” Kambryn asks, nosy as ever. She’s checking the weather on her phone for her run in the morning. I don’t know why she bothers. Today was hot. Tomorrow will be hot.There is zero percent chance of rain all this week. Monsoon season is a myth spread by people who don’t live here.
“Someone named Liam,” Aubrey says, not aware that she’s supposed to be keeping my secrets. I give her a look, and her big brown eyes widen. “Ooh, who’s Liam?”
“My boss,” I admit. Since I’ve turned my phone over so they can’t see my screen, they both lean forward at the same time to telepathically exchange opinions on this. Aubrey’s heard about my boss. Kambryn tells everyone that I work for someone who’s hot and aloof, like it’s a tragedy I must bear. Not that Kam has a lot to go on. She’s met him twice, and he didn’t say a whole lot either time. He did look hot, though.
The first time, he was helping us move in. The second time, I was sick, and he came with the kids to bring me a bouquet of flowers and homemade soup. I wouldn’t exactly call my working conditions tragic.
“Why is he texting you so late?” Kambryn asks in a hushed tone. She’s got her long blonde hair up in a gigantic bun on top of her head, and her green eyes are the most serious I’ve ever seen them. She won’t admit it, but she’s terrified of still being single when she reaches my ancient age of twenty-nine. Her solution is to matchmake me at every turn. Badly. Well, that, and to obsess about anything that might possibly turn into romance and share her findings with Aubrey.
“I don’t know, Kam.”
“Has this happened before? Do we need to cancel your date for this weekend?”
“Yes to your first question, and no to your second.” I sigh, thinking about yet another date. I’d love to cancel, but I won’t. Everyone is a frog until you find a prince. That’s my motto. This is a numbers game, and until Liam takes me in his arms for any reason other than to keep me from falling down the stairs, I’m not ready to give up on finding love elsewhere.
Kambryn meets a lot of guys because she works at a gym, plus her boyfriend, Gavin, has a never-ending network of guy friends. I’m grateful that I don’t have to rely on online dating. Mostly.
I do wish she’d turn her attention to finding someone forAubrey. I’m pretty sure Aubrey’s long-distance boyfriend is fictional, but when she’s ready to “break up” with her fictional boyfriend, she will.
“Are you going to answer Liam?” Aubrey asks, tucking her brown hair behind her ears. She just had it cut and can’t stand the feel of it touching her face, even if she loves the compliments. I know the feeling. I live for ponytails.
Both girls are staring at my phone, which is still turned over in my lap. It would be nice if they could at least pretend they don’t plan to read along.
“You two are the worst roommates ever.”
Aubrey shrugs, not bothering to correct me with the fact that she’s not actually a roommate.
Kambryn pretends she’s putting on a crown. “First and worst, baby.”
She and I have been sharing a room since her birth, so she really is my first roommate. We have three older brothers who also had to share a room. That doesn’t mean she needs access to everything going on in my life.
Not that there’s anything to tell. This text is about the kids. Or it’s a calendaring thing.
I flip my phone over and quickly answer.
Rosalie: It’s not too late.
Three seconds after sending, my phone rings. Well, this is different. My curiosity is officially piqued. We usually conduct business over text.
“Is that him? I thought he had a girlfriend.”
I get up and stalk down the hall, needing to be away from Kambryn’s questions before I answer.
Once in our shared bedroom, I grab the sound machine, put it in the hallway, and then lock myself in. We really should upgrade to a place with two bedrooms, but we love this neighborhood, our neighbor/extra roommate (most days), our amazing kitchen, the shared pool, and our friendly landlord who doesn’t charge us nearly enough. He even let us paint our walls acalming soft blue.