I pull out my phone to call Liv. “Well, it looks like I’m rooming with players from the men’s team for a bit,” I say.
Liv gasps. “Seriously? That’s insane. I know I was teasing you about meeting hot rugby players, but I never thought it would be because you’re all trapped under the same roof together. Rooming with a bunch of messy men sounds absolutely vile. Are they hot at least?”
“I know, but no use fighting bureaucracy. I’ll make it work.” I pause. “And yes, they are two of the finest specimens I’ve ever seen. Apparently there’s a third guy, but he’s out of town, so I haven’t seen him yet.”
“If you say so,” Liv laughs. “Look, at least it’ll be entertaining, and you’ll have some stories to share by the end of the season.”
“Here’s hoping.” I take a deep breath as I push through the housing office doors again. It’s time to embrace this new, unexpected chapter. I can do this. After all, I’ve endured much worse on the rugby pitch.
I march back up to the front desk, resignation settling in my gut. But I keep my chin up. No point in letting them see me sweat.
“Okay, I see I don’t really have any options other than to accept the temporary housing arrangement,” I tell the administrator as I hand them the form. I’m in a different line from last time, and now I’m talking to a bespectacled, slightly balding man who looks like he’d rather be anywhere than here. Me too, buddy, me too.
He nods, shuffling through a stack of papers. “Alright, this form acknowledges that you understand the placement is only temporary until we can find you alternate accommodations. You forgot to sign here,” he says, pointing at the bottom of the form.
As I scribble my signature, I ask, “Any idea when that might be?”
“Could be a few weeks until something opens up, maybe longer.” He gives an apologetic shrug. “Beginning of the season is our busiest time. Not many people move mid-season, but we do have some overseas players occasionally transitioning in and out at unusual times.”
A few weeks or longer? I stifle a sigh. “Got it, thanks.”
I step outside into the bright afternoon sunlight, watching other incoming players lugging boxes and suitcases around the compound. The first day of a new chapter. Usually, I love the rush of a fresh start. But knowing I have to bunk with the boys dampens my enthusiasm.
Still, there’s no point dwelling on what I can’t change.
I hitch my duffel bag higher on my shoulder and stride towards the apartment. Game on. It’s not ideal, sharing with the guys. But I’ll make the best of it.
Maybe we’ll all get a good laugh out of this ridiculous mix-up.
Chapter 7
Noah
Ican’tfreakingbelievethis. Here I am, Noah Spencer, international rugby sensation—or, at least, that’s what the tabloids say—and I’m about to open my door to let in a complete stranger who’s been shoved into my life due to some sort of twisted cosmic prank.
A part of me is amused, because this is straight out of a spicy rom-com—you know, the kind where two people who can’t stand each other are forced to live together and end up tearing each other’s clothes off by the end of the movie? Yeah, right. That’s not happening with this chick.
To distract myself, I start preparing a protein shake. I lug a massive tub of whey protein from the pantry and thump it down on the counter, the silverware rattling from the impact.
“Careful,” snorts Jayden as he strolls into the room, wearing only a towel slung low over his hips. “You need to start being more gentle now that we have a… female roommate.”
I snort. We’re going to get a lot of mileage out of this one, presuming she has to stay with us for a while. “You should probably keep your dick in your pants seeing we have a female roommate,” I gesture at his loosely slung towel. “Wouldn’t want to poke anyone’s eye out.”
Sensing my amusement, Jayden quirks a brow. “How do you think she’s getting along at the housing office?”
“Well, she’s been out for a while, so I figure nothing has changed,” I shrug. “I don’t know if you’ve checked the message boards lately, but the housing inventory seems to be extra lean at the moment. So, my guess is she isn’t having much luck, and she’s going to be stuck with us for a while at least.”
Jayden shrugs and grins. “I mean, we’d have to up our game, wouldn’t we?” he teases, nudging me with his elbow.
“Oh, no doubt about it,” I agree. “We’d need a whole new routine, mate. Early morning workouts, less takeout, and maybe even remembering to do the dishes more than once in a blue moon.” I gesture at Jayden’s skimpy towel outfit. “Wearing more clothes around the apartment…”
We share a laugh, continuing to speculate about the return of our new surprise housemate. The doorbell rings, interrupting our conversation.
“Maybe that’s her… this could be the moment of truth, Jayd.”
Jayden feigns a shudder. “As long as she doesn’t steal all the hot water, we’ll be fine.”
I open the door, and my jaw nearly hits the floor.