Undecided(3)

I smile reluctantly and he looks relieved.

“Come on,” he says, standing. “Let me give you the grand tour so I can try to keep my foot out of my mouth.”

I stand too, then neither one of us moves.

“Well,” he says, clearing his throat. “This is the dining room.”

I nod and try not to laugh. This whole thing is so stupid and weird. I’m not going to be roommates with Kellan McVey. Not only is he the antithesis of everything my ideal new roommate is supposed to be, we’ve had sex.

And he doesn’t remember it.

“This is the living room,” he continues, gesturing behind him. Because we’re pretty much already standing in it, neither of us moves, I just peer over his shoulder. There’s a wooden entertainment unit set up on one wall with an enormous flat screen TV positioned in the middle.

“Full cable,” Kellan adds when I don’t react. “Including HBO.”

I nod.

“Um…” He scratches his shoulder and points behind me. “That’s the kitchen. I know how to cook and I clean up, too. My mother was a housekeeper, and the last thing she wanted to do when she got home was clean up after four boys, so I know how to wash a dish and take out the trash. That whole bit was true in the email. I wasn’t just trying to lure you here.”

“That was a big part of your appeal.”

He smiles, and there’s the dimple again.

“Hand to God, I’m tidy. Let me show you the rooms.” He heads for the door closest to the kitchen. “They’re the same size, same layout. I already put my stuff in this one, but if you’d rather be in here, just say so and I’ll move over. Honestly, I think Crosbie just didn’t want to carry the mattress another three feet.”

I peek past him into the bedroom. It’s a decent-sized room that easily fits a queen-size bed, desk, and dresser, and a bunch of boxes that have yet to be unpacked. Given Kellan’s reputation, I’d kind of expected red walls, mirrored ceilings and zebra-print pillows, but maybe he’s serious about turning over a new leaf. Or maybe he just decorates his room like a normal person and not a porn king.

“Next one,” he says, opening the other door and showing me an identical unfurnished room. More hardwood, a large window that looks over the back parking lot, and bare walls painted white. Plenty of room for my things and good for studying— No, no. What am I doing? I can’t consider moving in here, even if the bathroom is surprisingly spacious. I’m going to endure the tour, tell him I’ll think about it, then go home and write a polite email declining the offer. Those other roommates weren’t so bad, were they? Even if two were thirty minutes away, one was a chain smoker, and the other had four cats.

This place is the cheapest too, given Kellan’s parents are the ones really covering the rent. And Kellan doesn’t have any cats and he doesn’t smoke, which I appreciate, and he says he washes his own dishes, which—No. No pro list for this place. Cons only.

“So that’s the tour.” Kellan steps back and takes a seat on the arm of the brown leather sofa positioned opposite the television. “And this is me. I swear I pay my bills on time, and I’m going to use this place to sleep and study, no parties. No girls. I know I said that in my email and you probably thought I was lying—”

More like I thought no girls would be tempted to come home with Matthew, who said his favorite food was mac and cheese—

“—but I’m totally serious. This would be our home, and I’d completely respect your boundaries. Fuck. Boundaries? Did I just say that? You know what I mean. And please don’t worry about Crosbie. He’s really not that bad, but I’ll keep him away if he annoys you.”

I force a smile. The place is great. And if not for Kellan, I’d be all over this deal. But telling people I live with Kellan McVey is like telling them I live in a candy store or a bank vault—they’re going to be friends with me for the wrong reasons. Not to mention my own…temptations. I’d like to say I’m above it all and I’m the one girl on campus who isn’t dying to date Kellan McVey, but I’m not. Even with the very offensive I-don’t-remember-having-sex-with-you issue, he’s still super hot. And he seems nice. And kind of dorky, which makes him surprisingly down to earth, and—

No. What am I doing? I can’t justify this. There’s nothing he can say—

“I can give you a break on the rent too,” he offers hastily. “How about until January, no rent? I already told you my parents are paying for this place, and I have some savings. You said in the emails you work at a coffee shop, right? So you can use that money for books or Christmas presents or whatever, and then in January, if you still like it here, you can pay. If not, no hard feelings. It’ll be like a trial run.”

Did I just hear him correctly? Free rent?

“Is it the bedrooms?” he asks, misinterpreting my hesitation. “You can totally choose—”

“The bedrooms are fine,” I say.

Don’t do it.

“Everything looks great,” I hear myself add.

Nice apartment, free rent, hot roommate?

I can’t.

“So… Are we doing this?” He shoots me a tentative grin, dimple flashing.

Stare at something besides the dimple.

I look at his chest and stick out my hand.