Bender (The Core Four #1)(10)

“Yes, I understand.” I bit my lip to keep from reciprocating the grin.

“Okay then, here’s a pen, and I put tabs where you need to sign.” I took the pen from his hand and sat down in the chair next to him. Just as I pressed the tip against the paper, the front door opened and in walked a man that blew Dodger’s good looks straight out of the water. He was tall and built. He was wearing gym clothes, and I assumed that was where he’d just come from. His brown hair was short, but spiky, and it was wet with sweat. The clothes he was wearing were clinging to him like a second skin, and I could see the outline of sweat across parts of his shirt. My eyes took in every inch of him as he stepped inside and set his gym bag down near the kitchen. I gasped when he bent over, and I got a good look at his backside. Ever heard of the term ‘buns of steel’? I think he gave it new meaning. When he stood back up, he grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and started chugging as he slowly turned around. He must have finally sensed that there were people in the room watching him. When I got a good look at his face, I gasped again but more audibly. Dodger was trying not to laugh beside me, and Macie’s mouth was once again gaping open like a fish. His face looked so familiar and yet not. His cheeks were high and sharp, and his jaw was perfectly square. What stood out to me the most were his eyes. Almond shaped and dark chocolate brown eyes were narrowed, looking at me and the pen in my hand. I gulped. He looked almost menacing how he watched me.

“Dodger, you fucker, you can’t interview people without me here.” His voice sent a shiver down my spine. It was deep, and it resonated inside my chest.

He held up his hands. Still smiling like this guy had no effect on him. “You told me to interview, so I did. And,” he looked over at me, winking, “I’ve found you a roommate.”

“Excuse me?” His hard brown eyes turned back to me. “You just gave her the contract to sign without discussing with me if it was okay?”

The way he said ‘her’ made me feel like I was small and insignificant.

“She’s just what you’re looking for. I figured you wouldn’t mind.”

Dodger’s nonchalant attitude about the situation was putting me on edge. My brain was having trouble catching up with the conversation, but when it did, it all clicked into place.

“Wait a second. You don’t live here?” I aimed my question to Dodger.

“Nah, that dickhead does.” He nodded toward Mr. Tall, Dark, and Angry. “He’s my brother. I’m here a lot more than my other brothers, so I took on the role of interviewer.”

An excited sounding Macie said, “There’s more of you?” I kicked her under the table. “Ouch!”

Dodger’s head tilted to the side, but he smirked at my friend. “Yes, there’s four of us.” He was well-aware of what he was doing to her.

“Wait, wait, wait. You made me think you’d be my roommate.”

“You assumed I’d be, but I never once said I lived here.” I scowled at him. “Alright, I suppose I wasn’t exactly forthcoming with the info but my brother here can be kind of temperamental, and he’s scared off a few others who have come to see the place.”

Yeah, no kidding. His arduous eyes watching me, I could see the tick in his jaw as he ground his teeth together. “Dodge, get your ass in here, we need to talk.”

I glanced over at Macie, and her expression was dancing with delight. Yeah I bet she was excited. A little bit of drama with a couple of good-looking guys thrown in the mix, she lived for this stuff. Me on the other hand, my stomach was churning, and I felt like getting up and leaving. I kept playing over and over again how Dodger showed me every room, but he really never did say that it was his room, his bathroom, his apartment. My head was starting to hurt. Rubbing my temples with my fingertips, I had my elbows on the table to support me. This wasn’t going to work out. This was the ball I knew was going to drop. Nothing ever went right for me. I could hear Dodger and his brother, whose name I hadn’t yet gotten, speaking low but loud enough to catch.

“You dumb bastard, it’s not you living with a stranger, and I need to approve of them,” the brother said.

“You wanted a fuckin’ roommate, well I happen to think she’s perfect. She’s quiet, she’s going to school at the college, she hasn’t indicated that she has a boyfriend who will be coming over, and she has a steady job, what more could you want?” Dodger sounded like he was getting frustrated.

My face heated up with embarrassment. I would have preferred that my singlehood stayed private and not be broadcasted. “Which chick are we talking here? The pretty one, or the chubby one?” the ice cold voice said a little louder, and I knew he knew I could hear him. My head snapped up, and I glared. He was looking right at me.

Dodger spoke a little softer but was definitely menacing in his words toward his brother. “The blonde. Her name is Keegan, and she’s signing the goddamn papers. I’m not going through this again, brother. Go meet your new roommate and take a fuckin’ cold shower, you stink.” With that he grabbed some keys that were laying on the counter and walked toward the door. Before he left he addressed Macie and me, “I hope you like the place. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other.” He looked at his sibling and pointed. “Play fuckin’ nice.” Then he turned and walked out.