The Play Mate (Roommates, #2)

Smith

Four missed calls. Three from Cullen and one from Evie.

Blowing out a sigh, I set my phone down on the table and stared out the window at a young woman pushing a baby stroller down the street.

After what I thought was a great night with Evie, I’d woken up alone yesterday, and I still wasn’t sure what to think. Yeah, there had been a sweet note saying she’d had a great time and would see me at work on Monday, but that didn’t take away the sting completely. I’d spent my Sunday contemplating whether to call her and find out where her head was at, but had eventually opted to leave it for a day.

It was probably partly my fault that she’d left. I’d meant to tell her how I was feeling, and when we fell asleep in each other’s arms, I was sure I’d have time in the morning. Until she’d up and left before I woke.

It had left me in a dark, miserable mood all day. One that I almost let take over. What if she was like my mother, and the second I decided I was all in, she packed up and walked out? What if what I was feeling was one-sided, and she’d only been in it for the sex, to check that item off her bucket list?

Now, though, as I thought back on it all-the light in her eyes as I moved over her, the warmth in her face when she looked at me-I was confident she’d felt it too. The bond tightening between us that felt more real than anything I’d felt before. The only question was whether she was going to be strong enough to withstand Cullen’s disapproval and admit what I already knew, deep down in my bones.

We were meant to be together.

But the thought of going to the office and trying to talk this through with Cullen there made my gut churn.

So I didn’t. Instead, I’d slapped my alarm clock off the nightstand and closed my eyes again, determined to get at least another hour of the sleep the Reed family had robbed me of the night before.

I’d managed a whole half hour of sleep before I climbed out of bed to make a massive decadent breakfast for myself. Pancakes, bacon, the whole nine yards. Then I’d proceeded to eat exactly none of it because Cullen’s texts started coming in.

Cullen: Where the fuck are you?

Cullen: Pick up the phone, asshole.

And my personal favorite?

Cullen: Real fucking mature.

Maybe he was right. Not showing up for work hadn’t been my finest move, but he was the pot calling the kettle black. How mature was it to try to keep your little sister from having a relationship if she wanted one?

A relationship that just might make her happy if either of them would let it.

I took a swallow of coffee and grimaced. It was cup number four, and already my empty stomach was feeling bitter with acid. Clearly, something had happened at work if Cullen was so desperate to get in touch, but damn if I knew what. What I did know was that, as much as I liked putting off the inevitable drama, I couldn’t just sit here stewing all day either.

Time to face the music, once and for all.

I rushed through a quick shower and dressed for the office, taking a second to scrape my congealed breakfast off the plate and into the garbage before leaving.

On the ride over, I was a mental wreck, wondering if I was going to walk in only to get shit-canned, or if Cullen was going to be waiting on the other side of the office door with boxing gloves on. Neither scenario was out of the question, and I was almost hoping for the latter. It wouldn’t be the first time we’d solved a problem with our fists. Hell, it might actually clear the air.

But once I got there and saw Evie’s car wasn’t in the lot, something in my mind snapped and my whole mentality changed.

I was sick to death of tiptoeing around. This was all so fucking stupid. There were people in the world with real problems, stuck in abusive relationships or taking care of a loved one with a serious illness. This wedge keeping Evie and me apart was all our own doing. The three of us had put each other into little boxes our whole lives. Evie was my best friend’s little sister, but it was only sheer stubbornness on Cullen’s part that dictated she couldn’t also be my woman.

Enough pussyfooting. I was going to get through to him today and make it official with Evie, or I was going to die trying.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

I shoved my way through the doors, each step spring-loaded.

“First things first,” I muttered under my breath.

I pushed through the office doors and found Cullen staring down at his phone in irritation. Evie was nowhere to be seen.

Cullen’s gaze shot up to meet mine, and he grimaced. “About fucking time you showed up. Thanks for gracing us with your presence.”

I flipped him off and turned my desk chair around, sliding it in front of his desk to straddle it.

“I’m in love with your sister,” I said, zero apology in my voice.

Anger rolled off him in palpable waves now, but I was past caring.

“One night when we were in Paris, she came to my hotel room and tried to seduce me,” I continued. “Once I realized what was happening, because of our friendship, I put her off. For the past month, I’ve continued to put her off because I didn’t want to cause a rift. Not between me and you, or you and Evie. But now, shit’s getting real. I don’t just want to sleep with her. I want to wake up with her, and spend the day with her, and share my life with her.”

Cullen’s face was still stony, but his eyes narrowed a little as he listened intently.

“She’s the only person of the opposite sex besides Pam who gets me. She makes me laugh, and she’s so smart and caring.” I let out a low laugh. “Here I am telling you, but you already know all this. Point is, it took me this long to realize that she’s all that and more. Now, I know I haven’t always been a relationship guy, but I swear that if you give us your blessing, I will never hurt her. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, Cullen.”

He leaned his palm against the desk and cocked his head. “Have you thought about what happens if it doesn’t work out, Smith? Then what?”

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take if she is. But honestly, man?” I shook my head slowly. “This is it for me. She’s the one. So if she’ll have me, I’m going to devote everything I’ve got to making sure it does work out. So I’m asking this one time. Can we have your blessing?”

Silence stretched for so long, my hopes started to fall, but then he spoke.