RoomHate(43)

“That’ll be awesome.”

***

Bea slept for at least a few hours that afternoon, allowing me to get laundry and other chores done. Justin spent most of the day holed up in his room working.

When he finally came downstairs, he had just showered and was buttoning his black button-down shirt.

He looked too good to be staying home tonight. “Are you playing at Sandy’s?”

“No. Not tonight.”

“I didn’t think so. It’s just that you’re all dressed up.”

“You remember Tom from Sandy’s?”

“The old night manager?”

“Yeah. I told him I might meet him for a drink later at the Barking Crab. He wants to pick my brain about some music stuff.”

“I see.”

“Why don’t you go upstairs and change before dinner?”

“We’re just eating here, right?”

“Yes, but you have boob milk stains on your shirt. I just thought maybe you’d want to shower and change.”

He was right. I needed to have more pride in how I looked.

“I would love to.”

Justin looked after Bea while I showered. I decided to go all out and put on a tube dress. I brushed my hair out and made up my eyes. It kind of felt like I was getting ready for a date, and I needed to stop that train of thought.

I thought I would find Justin cooking when I returned downstairs. I’d told him to put her in the bouncy seat. Instead, he was holding Bea and rocking back and forth, looking out the window. He didn’t know I’d been watching him.

“I’m back.”

“Oh, hey. She didn’t want to go in the seat, started crying, so we’ve just been watching the sunset.” My heart clenched.

“You need to cook, right?”

“Yeah, but it won’t take very long.”

I reached out my arms, and to my surprise, Bea started to cry in protest when I tried to take her from him. Patting her back, I said, “I don’t think she wanted to leave you.”

“No. It’s just your imagination.”

“Really? Want to test it?” I held her out toward him again.

Justin cradled her in his arms again, and sure enough, Bea stopped crying. She was looking up at him. It seemed the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

“My imagination, huh?”

He smiled down at her. “I don’t know why she likes me. I don’t even do anything but hold her.”

“To a baby, that’s everything.”

Suddenly looking a little uncomfortable, he handed her back to me. “You’d better take her.”

Back in my grasp, Bea started to fuss again, so I took her to the living room and fed her while Justin got dinner started.

There was a knock at the door.

“Are you expecting someone?” Justin hollered from the kitchen.

“No. Do you mind getting it? She’s still eating.” I readjusted the blanket over my shoulder for privacy.

I couldn’t see the front door from where I was sitting, but I could hear everything.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Roger. I live next door. You are?”

Shit.

“Justin. This is my house.”

“Oh, that’s right. She mentioned a seasonal roommate.”

“Can I help you?”

“Is Amelia here?”

“Yes, but she’s feeding the baby.”

“I was just down at the dock. I bought her some shellfish.”

“Amelia! Roger is here. He brought you some snatch,” Justin yelled.

Great.

Covering myself as fast as I could, I shouted, “Coming!”

Trying to seem nonchalant, I said, “Hey!”

“Hi, Amelia. Sorry if I’m disturbing something.”

“No, no not at—”

“Actually, we were just about to eat,” Justin interrupted.

Roger looked annoyed. “How long are you staying, Justin?”

“As long as I need to.”

“Amelia told me your girlfriend is a Broadway star, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s really gnarly.”

“Gnarly? What the f*ck are you a surfer or something?” Justin lifted his hands in a shaka sign. “Woe!”

“Roger, don’t mind Justin. That was really sweet of you to bring the crabs. I so appreciate it.”

“Crabs…interesting choice,” Justin scoffed.

“I’d better let you guys eat.”

“We’ll talk soon.” I smiled.

“Take care, Amelia. Nice meeting you, Justin.”

Justin did a little salute. “Roger that!”

When Justin slammed the door behind Roger, I turned to him. “You’re being a total prick.”

“Come on. I was just messing with him.”

“You think it’s funny, but he’s the only friend I have here, and you’re going to scare him away. After you take off to New York again, I’m going to need someone to talk to. It’s very lonely out here.”

“You don’t need that tool. Why would you need him? You live in Providence anyway.”

Biting my lip, I said, “Actually…I was gonna talk to you about something.”