Maybe Someday(24)

He nods, contemplating my answer for a beat

too long. “Do you have annoying friends?”

I shake my head. “My best friend is a back-

stabbing whore, and I’m no longer speaking to

her.”

“What are your showering habits?”

I laugh. “Once a day, with a skipped day every

now and then. No more than fifteen minutes.”

“Do you cook?”

“Only when I’m hungry.”

“Do you clean up after yourself?”

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“Probably better than you,” I say, taking in the

fact that he’s used his shirt for a napkin no fewer

than three times during this conversation.

“Do you listen to disco?”

“I’d rather eat barbed wire.”

“All right, then,” he says. “I guess you can

stay.”

I pull my feet up and sit cross-legged. “I didn’t

realize I was being interviewed.”

He glances at my suitcases, then back to me.

“It’s obvious you need a place to stay, and we’ve

got an empty room. If you don’t take it, Bridgette

wants to move her sister in next month, and that’s

the last thing Ridge and I need.”

“I can’t stay here,” I say.

“Why not? From the sound of it, you’re about

to spend the day searching for an apartment any-

way. What’s wrong with this one? You won’t

even have to walk very far to get here.”

I want to say that Ridge is the problem. He’s

been nice, but I think that might be the issue. I’ve

been single for less than twenty-four hours, and I

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don’t like the fact that although I should have

been consumed with nightmares about Hunter

and Tori all night, instead, I had a slightly dis-

turbing dream involving an extremely accom-

modating Ridge.

I don’t tell Warren that Ridge is why I can’t

stay here, though. Partly because that would give

Warren more ammunition for questions and

partly because Ridge just walked into the kitchen

and is looking at us.

Warren winks at me, then stands up and walks

with his bowl to the sink. He looks at Ridge.

“Have you met our new roommate?” Warren

asks.

Ridge signs something to him. Warren shakes

his head and signs back. I sit on the couch and

watch their silent conversation, slightly in awe

that Warren knows sign language. I wonder if

he’s learned it for Ridge’s benefit. Maybe they’re

brothers? Warren laughs, and Ridge glances in

my direction before walking back to his

bedroom.

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“What did he say?” I ask, suddenly worried

that Ridge no longer wants me here.

Warren shrugs and begins walking back to-

ward his bedroom. “Exactly what I thought he’d

say.” He walks into his room, then comes back

out with a cap on and keys in his hand. “He said

you two already worked out a deal.” Warren slips

a pair of shoes on by the front door. “Heading to

work now. That’s your room if you want to put

your stuff in it. You might have to throw all of

Brennan’s shit in the corner, though.” He opens

the door and steps outside, then turns back

around. “Oh. What’s your name?”

“Sydney.”

“Well, Sydney. Welcome to the weirdest place

you’ll ever live.” He shuts the door behind him.

I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this, but

what other choice do I have? I pull my phone out

from under my pillow. I start to text Ridge, be-

cause I don’t recall closing a deal last night re-

garding my living arrangements. Before I finish

the text, he sends me one first.

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Ridge: Are you okay with this?

Me: Are you?

Ridge: I asked you first.

Me: I guess. But only if you are.

Ridge: Well, then, I guess that means

we’re roommates.

Me: If we’re roommates, can you do me a

favor?

Ridge: What’s that?

Me: If I ever start dating again, don’t be

like Tori and sleep with my boyfriend,

okay?

Ridge: I can’t make any promises.

A few seconds later, he walks out of his bed-

room and goes straight to my suitcases. He picks

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them up and carries them through the other bed-

room door. He opens it and nods his head toward

the room, indicating that I should come with him.

I stand up and follow him into the bedroom. He

lays the suitcases on the bed, then pulls his phone

out again.

Ridge: Brennan still has a lot of stuff in

here. I’ll box it up and put it in the corner

until he can get it all. Other than that, you

might want to change the sheets.