The House Mate (Roommates, #3)

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“And an extra-large order of fries. Do they supersize here?” I asked.

Zach glanced back at me, a stupid grin on his face. “Yeah, we got it the first couple of times you said it, chief,” he said with a laugh. “Burgers, and as many fries as they’ll give us. We’re almost to the speaker now.”

I stared out the window from the backseat, squinting at the too-bright drive-through sign. Why did it seem like there were two signs? I closed one eye until the second one faded.

“Maybe a burger too,” I added. “And four chicken nuggets for Dylan.”

“We told you, it’s the middle of the night, man. Pretty sure Dylan is already asleep,” Matt cut in.

“Shit,” I whispered. “Did I call Addison? Did I tell her-”

“We’ve been over this.” Zach sighed. “Matt and I called her before we left the office. She had no problem with you enjoying your birthday having drinks with friends.”

“And boy, have you enjoyed it,” Matt said with a snort.

I frowned. Even now, with the edges of the world so blurry, I could only remember bits and pieces of my night. The two of them had shown up at my office door an hour before I usually left, and insisted that I go with them to some shithole of a bar down the street. At the time, I’d agreed because it was just for one celebratory birthday drink.

But one drink turned into five. Then I lost count as we toasted everything from my thirty-fifth birthday to the quarterbacking prowess of Peyton Manning. The last thing I remembered with any clarity was clinking glasses and chugging a shot in honor of J. Lo’s booty at the request of a howling Zach.

“You guys are a bad influence,” I complained. I’d told the guys last week that I didn’t want to do anything for my birthday, and not surprisingly, they hadn’t listened.

“That’s why you like us,” Zach said as Matt, our designated driver, motioned for us to quiet down while he ordered. We pulled up in the pickup window’s line, doubtlessly full of other people who’d been thrown out of the bars at two a. m., and I tapped my fingers against my jeans, a little amazed at the texture of the fabric.

How did I never notice that sober? They were so soft. Like unicorn fur.

“I still think you should have gone home with that girl,” Zach said. “She said she was a nurse. You’re going to need one tomorrow.”

“I need one tonight,” Matt murmured, holding up his hand for a high five from Zach.

“No, no, I don’t want a nurse. I want Addison,” I slurred, flopping back against the seat with a groan. “She’s got great teeth. Have you ever noticed that?”

Zach blinked, then Matt reached out the window and then turned to hand me a bag filled with food.

“Eat up, buddy. It’s for your own good,” Matt said, and I stuck my hand into the bag, not bothering to look inside before I fished out a paper-wrapped burger.

I peeled away the wrapping, took a huge bite, and savored the meaty, cheesy goodness. I rarely ate fast food, and this was so hot and delicious, I found myself wondering why. I chewed, pausing only briefly to swallow.

“They’re so straight.”

“What?” Zach asked, shooting me a look over his shoulder.

“Addison’s teeth. She’s got a great smile. The other day she was smiling at Dylan, and I was just looking at her like, ‘Whoa, that’s a hell of a smile,’ you know?”

Zach and Matt exchanged a look, but then Zach pointed to the bag and reminded me again to eat.

“You’re going to need some water and aspirin when you get home too,” Matt said.

“Addison will know what to do,” I said with my mouth full. “She always does.”

“Right.” Zach sighed. “Okay, almost home.”

We passed the rest of the ride with the guys talking about the nurse who’d hit on me. It was true, she’d been pretty-buxom and brunette with legs that looked like she might have been a dancer. She was exactly the kind of girl I would normally want to tie to my bed and keep there all weekend. But now, when I thought of my bed, I could only picture one woman there, naked on top of the sheets and waiting for me.

“Okay, we’re here.” Matt popped the car into park, and Zach climbed out to open my door for me.

“What am I, Cinderella?” I asked. “Get the fuck back in the car. I can walk myself to the door, Prince Charming.”

Zach raised his eyebrows and barked out a laugh, pulling out his phone. “Right. You got it. But if you fall, note that I’m videoing you, and it’ll be on Instagram inside three minutes for the world to see.”

I flipped him and his cell-phone camera the bird and pulled myself from the car, momentarily surprised when the world spun around me as I stood.

“You sure you’re okay?” Matt asked.

I frowned at him. “I’m fine.”

“Be careful not to wake the baby,” Zach reminded me in a singsong voice.

I waved them off. “Go home. I’m fine.”

Before they could say anything else, I started for my front door and listened as their car pulled away behind me. Without their headlights, it was pretty dark out, but the porch light was still shining. Addison had probably left it on for me. She was so thoughtful that way.

I fumbled with my keys, then opened the door and stumbled over the threshold. I didn’t remember the door moving quite so quickly before, and it crashed against the wall beside it.

I winced. “Dammit.”

A light clicked on in the living room. Addison peered at me through sleepy eyes, a book spread open on her lap.