Chase Me (Broke and Beautiful #1)(43)

“What are you smiling about?” Abby grumbled from the couch.

“Ah, nothing.”

“Do you mind turning it down a few notches then?” Her roommate grabbed the remote and stabbed at the buttons impatiently. “It’s stressing me out.”

Roxy raised an eyebrow. “You want to talk about it?” Jesus, when had she started making offers like that?

“Talk about what?” Honey practically shouted, storming into the room with a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos under her arm. She fell into the couch beside Abby, who was still attacking the remote. “If we’re talking about ordering Chinese food, I’m in.”

Roxy toed off her new shoes, making sure they landed on the floor gently. “I think I’m meeting up with Louis tonight, so order whatever you guys feel like.”

“Oh, fine. Sure.”

“That’s great.”

“What is up with you guys?” Roxy asked. “Did I eat your flaxseed tortilla chips or something?”

“Why does something always have to be wrong?” Honey wailed around a mouth of Doritos. “Why are we expected to smile all the time?”

Abby tossed the remote onto the couch with such force that it bounced a foot in the air. “Yes! That is exactly what I’m talking about. Maybe I just want to be upset. Can’t I just be upset?”

Oh, shit. Roxy backed farther into the kitchen, positioning herself behind the island. She’d anticipated this happening, but not quite so soon. It was only a matter of time before she got sucked into the vortex that plagues female roommates the world over. She would put it off as long as possible, though. Be the last woman standing.

Her cell phone went off inside her purse and she rummaged for it, continuing to keep an eye on her roommates. “Hello?”

“When can I see you?”

Louis’s voice traveled through the phone and punched her in the belly with a silk fist. Dammit, she wanted him standing in front of her. Wanted to touch him, see him, smell him. Why did this have to happen now? “Hey. I’m not sure I can get away tonight. I’m needed at the apartment.”

“Don’t do this to me, Rox. We didn’t even get started this morning.”

Her thighs squeezed together all on their own. This guy was going to turn her into a sex-crazed lunatic if she wasn’t careful. Even if it would be an amazing descent into padded-walls territory. “Listen, this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but my roommates . . . they’ve synched up.”

A short pause. “You mean their periods?”

“Yeah.” She laughed. “You get a gold star for saying that without an accompanying gagging sound.”

“Twin sisters,” he reminded her grimly. “Why do they need you there?”

“I’m afraid they might maim the Chinese food delivery man with a remote control.”

Louis sighed loudly. In the background she heard a soft thud, as if he might be banging his head against the wall. “Don’t go anywhere, okay? I’ll be over as soon as I can.”

Roxy straightened from her lean against the island. “Are you sure about that? You might be taking your life into your hands.”

“I’m seeing you tonight.” Roxy heard the jingling of keys on the other end. “But I’ll write out a quick will and testament just in case.”

“Can I have your apartment?” She winced inwardly, wishing she could take the words back. He would probably think she was hinting about moving in or something now. Fabulous. “I mean, without you in it. Just me and that big screen.”

“If you already want me dead, I’m doing something wrong.” A door opened and closed. Locks turned. “If I could get you to stay put in my apartment for longer than a few minutes, we could watch TV together.”

“We’ll see about that. What’s your favorite show?”

“Guess.”

“Law and Order?” He snorted, so she thought for a moment and tried again. “You’re a rerun guy, aren’t you? The X-Files . . . The Wire . . . ?”

“Less aliens. Funnier.”

“Arrested Development.”

He barked a laugh. “I’m rewatching season two. Watch it with me.”

She realized her cheeks were sore from smiling. “I’ll think about it.”

“She’ll think about it,” he mumbled. “I’ll see you soon, Roxy.”

“Okay, Louis.”

“Hey.” His voice went deeper, creating an answering thrum in her belly. “Even with your roommates around, I’m going to be thinking about f*cking you. Wear a skirt for me.”

He hung up before she could answer.

BY THE TIME Louis knocked on their door an hour later, Roxy had showered and changed. She’d yanked on a pair of ripped jeans, then cursed and put on the red wraparound skirt she’d been saving for a special occasion. It occurred to her that wearing red around her roommates tonight might be the equivalent of waving the color in front of two bulls, but hey, what was life without risks?

Honey and Abby glared at the door from their positions on the couch, Chinese food cartons scattered around them like little white headstones. RIP Beef Lo Mein.

“Play nice, you two.” She slid the chain lock free. “I’m pretty sure you dislocated the delivery guy’s collarbone ripping the bag from his hands.”