The Roommate Agreement(50)

I frowned. “You want to beta test our relationship?”

“No. We should do our first date as if we don’t know each other.”

My lips twitched.

“There are probably things you’d tell a date that I don’t know, so it’d be fun.”

I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. It was the craziest thing I’d ever heard, but somehow… it made sense.

“All right. I’ll play. You tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.” I grabbed the dishcloth and tossed it at him. “I have to work. Be a dear and finish the dishes, would you?”

“Wow. Is this what I have to look forward to?”

I turned, walking backward. “Yes. You do live here after all.”

His lips curved to one side in a smirk that made me want to kiss it. “Goddamn it, I do.”





CHAPTER NINETEEN – JAY


Chore Charts Aren’t Just For Kids



I’d fucking nailed it.

I had the best, most ridiculous, insane idea for our first date, and I was proud as fuck of it.

Now, I just had to get Shelby on board.

Granted, picking her parents’ bar was a problem, but it was Friday night and it’d be busy because of their promotions. Her dad knew what was up, and I hoped he’d tell her mom because Lucy Daniels was a wildcard.

It was where Shelby got it from.

I stepped out of the elevator and paused. The unmistakable sound of the Backstreet Boys was blaring from our apartment, and I stopped for a second to stare at the door.

Had I gone back in time fifteen years?

What was going on inside there?

Tentatively, I made my way toward the door and pulled my keys out. I unlocked the door and pushed it open, only to be greeted by one hell of a sight.

Shelby.

Mopping.

And singing.

Her hair was pulled on top of her head in a messy bun with tendrils escaping at the nape of her neck, curling against her skin. She wore a tight white tank top and hot-pink shorts that only just covered her ass.

That was swaying.

She was dancing. And she was singing. Holy fuck, was she singing. The mop was her own personal microphone, and she swung it to the right, her eyes closed, as she sang along to “I Want It That Way.”

I was frozen to the spot. Mostly because it hit me that this was the kind of shit she did when she was alone. She’d spent the morning taking the piss out of me for singing Ed Sheeran in the shower, and here she was, singing Backstreet Boys while mopping the floor.

This was the best thing I’d ever seen.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and set the camera to record. She had no idea I was here because she was blasting the music so loudly.

Oh, my fuck. She was performing a concert. This was the best thing I’d ever seen.

Screw her showing my baby pictures at my wedding.

This video was going online on her thirtieth birthday.

Or her wedding—whichever happened first. Not that I’d let her marry anyone but me, but whatever. That was moot right now.

Because the song was now fucking “MMMbop.”

She continued on singing like she didn’t have an audience. I guess in her mind, she didn’t.

I loved that she apparently listened to nineties boyband pop while she cleaned alone.

I pushed the door open, stopped the video, and quietly walked over to her. The second the chorus kicked in, I grabbed her hips and pulled her against me, humming into her ear.

Shelby screamed, jumping away from me. She brandished the mop as a weapon while I laughed my fucking ass off.

“Oh, my God!” She shoved the mop at me, going to hit me with it. “You gave me a heart attack!”

“Turn the elementary school disco down then!”

She grabbed her phone from the island and turned the music down. “There.” She scowled. “Better?”

“Yeah.” I grinned. “Is this how you clean when I’m not here?”

Her cheeks blazed. “No comment.”

Hell, I wanted to scoot forward and kiss her. “I want to tease you, but I won’t. We’re on borrowed time.”

“We are?” She gripped the mop with both hands. “Why? Has Planet Earth been invaded by aliens with three penises?”

“What the hell are you ghostwriting?”

“You don’t want to know.” She shook her head. “Well? Has it?”

“Not to my knowledge.” I dumped my bag by the door. “But tonight is our first date.”

Shelby’s eyebrows shot up. “It is?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You move fast.”

“You have no idea.” I wiggled my brows for emphasis.

Her cheeks flushed a fresh shade of pink. “All right, where are we going?”

“Your parents’ bar.”

“What?” The mop clattered to the floor. “Have you lost your ever-lovin’ mind? Who wants their first date with their best friend in front of their parents?”

I held up my hands and darted behind the island to put some distance between us. “I told your dad. He’s breaking it to your mom, but I think she already knew I liked you.”

Shelby grunted, glaring at me.

“It’s Friday night. I don’t have to work tomorrow. It’ll be busy. I have it planned out. C’mon.” I gave her my best effort at puppy dog eyes.