The Roommate (9 page)

“Goodnight, Jess.”

Chapter Ten

In the morning, I texted
Ros
:
Why didn’t you tell me sooner? This is big news!

She wrote back:
Sorry.
Swamped.
You’ll be there tonight?

Wouldn’t miss it
.

Yay!
Later.
SO much to do
.

I stayed in bed longer than I slept.
 
Heard Patrick up and about,
then
leave for the gym.
 
Only then did I get up.
 
And found a note with reheat instructions on top of a covered plate in the fridge.
 
Of course he’d made enough breakfast for two.

Ros
’ party was a dressy affair, so I needed to look nice tonight—shave my legs, get a haircut, etc.
 
Because I rarely needed them, I had two cocktail dresses and one formal, all black.
 
Hey, it’s versatile, and a good black dress never goes out of style.
 
But did I want to wear the same old thing?
 
I had enough time to shop.

Called my hairdresser first (thank God for a slot this morning), then browsed through in-store options online while I ate.
 
Arrived with clean wet hair so we could save time on the cut and blow-out.
 
After shopping, I was back by mid-afternoon.

“Where were you?” Patrick asked.

“Preparing for the party.
Are you going?”

“Haven’t decided.”

“She did invite you, yes?”

“Yes, I got the same e-mail. I don’t think it matters if I attend, though.”

“You’re her brother.”

“Jess, we’re not close.”

“Her
only
brother.”
 
I put the garment bag on my bed.
 
“You don’t have to stay long, but at least congratulate her. Have you heard from your parents?”

“My mother called.”

“She told you to go.”

“Yes.
Of course.
Like any mother, she wants her children to get along.”

“Well, the invite says 7:00, so you have until six to decide.”

“I remember. Your hair looks different.”

My hand went to the strands grazing my collarbone.
 
“It’s straight.”
 
And shiny due to the products my stylist used.

“Right.
Did you have lunch while you were out?”

“Not yet.”

“I’ll whip up something.”

“Okay.”
 
I went into my bedroom to hang up the new dress.

He really did wait until the last minute to get ready to leave for the party.

But worth the wait.

Patrick stepped out of his room in a suit that appeared to be made for him.
 
I had my coat on, so he couldn’t see my dress, yet.
 
As a going-away gift, I had picked up a bottle of
Ros
’ favorite champagne.
 
“I can carry that,” he said.

“Thank you,” and locked up.

A thirty minute drive to the venue and we walked in at 7:05.
 
How she organized this on such short notice, I’d never understand.
 
There was a big
Congratulations,
Ros
banner strung across the room.
 
Waiters with hors d’oeuvres.
 
A DJ.
 
Even fresh flowers.

“She sure didn’t spare any expense,” Patrick said.

“Be nice.”

“It’s extravagant to do for oneself. She always was a show-off.”

“Hey, can you be pleasant tonight?”

“I can pretend.”

“Why are you still so cross with her? That whole thing was weeks ago.”

“You,” he muttered.

“What?”

“Because of how she treated you, alright?”
 
He veered off to the bar, leaving me stunned.

He’d become my champion.

I took the bottle to the gift table, saying hi to people I knew along the way.
 
There was already a growing pile of cards and small packages.

Patrick stayed clear of me until
Ros
arrived fashionably late.
 
I felt him coming up behind me, literally having my back.
 
She’d waited for the majority of her guests to arrive, of course.

“Jess!”
 
I got a hug right away.
 
Her friends knew we were
BFFs
, so it would’ve been weird if she didn’t seek me out right away—whether she still felt the same about me or not.

“Congratulations.”

“You look gorgeous.
New dress?
It’s such a shame we won’t be able to borrow from each other’s closets anymore. We’ll catch up later, okay? I have to make the rounds.”
 
Another hug and she was gone.

I turned to Patrick.
 
His eyes swept over me.
 
“She—”

“Be nice.”

“I was going to say she was right about the dress.”

“Oh.”
 
It was cobalt blue, beaded, and had a v in front and a deeper one in the back.
 
A little Art Deco.
 
“Thank you.”

“Hungry or thirsty?
I don’t think she’ll get back to you for a while.”

“Yeah.”

We raided the snacks while I sipped champagne.
 
Ros
was in her element, a bright red silk-clad social butterfly.
 
I didn’t know what day she was leaving for good, but this felt like the last time I’d see her.
 
At 7:45, she got a mike from the DJ and addressed the crowd.

“Thank you all for coming to my big night. So many lovely faces, many of you sharing a part in getting me to where I am today, and for that I’m truly grateful. Now let’s crank up this music and dance!”

The crowd cheered and the music got loud.
 
Somehow,
Ros
found my hand and pulled me to the center of the dance floor.
 
Being short, I lost sight of Patrick in the crowd.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he took a cab home.

My oldest friend caught me up in her whirlwind and we danced and drank until the caterer wheeled the cake out.
 
It was lit with sparkler candles.

Everybody held up their phone to take
pics
as she blew them out.
 
More cheers.

It was properly awesome cake, of course.
 
Only the best for
Ros
when she wanted to celebrate.
 
My feet aching, I found a chair to sit and eat.
 
My roommate found me.
 
He was probably the only sober person at this party.
 
The only one not smiling.

“Enjoying
yourself
?” he asked.

“You’re still here.”

“You’re my ride.”

“Good cake,” I
mumbled,
mouth full.

“Hand over your keys, Jess.”

“Are you leaving?”

“No.”

“Get some cake.”

“As you wish.”
 
He left me.

Ros
flopped down in a chair next to me.
 
“What’s up with you and my brother?”

“Huh?”

“Are you fucking him?”

“No!”

“He’s been watching you all night. It’s weird.”

“I brought him. Just doesn’t want me to get lost.”

“You’re still living together.”

“Yeah.
Two bedrooms.”

“How
Three’s
Company
of you.”

“Why can’t you two get along?” I whined.
 
Ugh, I only do that when I’m drunk.

Ros
shrugged.
 
“Oil and water.
He’ll always be family, but it’s complicated. Do you want to fuck him? He’s hot, if you like a nerd with a pole up his ass.”

“
Ros
!
”

“Might be good for him, and I can at least trust you to not hurt him.”

My jaw was on the floor.
 
“I can’t believe you’re telling me to sleep with
your brother
.”

She rolled her eyes.
 
“Only a suggestion.
Are you seeing anyone?”

“No…”

“There you
go,
you’re both single and attractive. You haven’t gotten any in a long time and he needs to loosen up, so it’s a win-win.”

“You’ve had too much champagne.”

Another shrug.
 
“Maybe.”

“What’s this really about?”

“Jess…okay, I want to know you’re taken care of when I’m gone, okay? I don’t want you sitting alone every night with your TV and adopting a bunch of cats.”

“I’m not going to become a crazy old cat lady. And for your information, I leave the house when it’s not for work, too!”

She held her hands up.
 
“Okay, okay. I love you.”

Aww.
 
“I love you, too. We have to
FaceTime
all the time.”
 
We hugged.

“Okay, I have to mingle again. Don’t leave without finding me.”
 
She wobbled away, no longer steady on her four-inch heels.

Patrick came back with two pieces of cake and passed me one.
 
“What was that all about?”

“Friend stuff.”
 
I’d take her suggestion to my grave.

“Did I come up?”

“She asked if we were still roommates, which yup.”

“You can tell me if her words were less than flattering, Jess.”

“No, no, all good. She’s glad I’m not alone, since, you know.”
 
I gestured to the event around us.
 
Stuffed my mouth with more cake.

“Oh.”

We were some of the last to leave, because I didn’t want to go until
Ros
was ready.
 
She asked me to come by her apartment tomorrow and we hugged again.

Patrick drove home.
 
First time my car had been driven by someone other than me or my mechanic.
 
He was a careful driver, no surprise, obeying every sign and traffic law.
 
Then he helped me upstairs.
 
“You should drink some water before going to sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

“
Bleh
.”

“If you’d prefer a hangover…”

“Fine.
Let me change.”
 
Carrying my shoes, I shuffled into my room.
 
Came back out in the slip I wore under the dress.
 
His eyes widened.
 
“What? I’m still decent.
Gimme.”
 
He handed me
a bottled
water.
 
“G’night.”
 
Back to the bedroom and shut the door.

Everything else on my body got left on the floor of my closet.
 
Pulled on a nightgown, drank half the water, and brushed my teeth in the dark.
 
The mint made my stomach churn and I raced for the toilet.
 
Oh god
…

Hands pulled my hair back.
 
Patrick.
 
One hand rubbed soothing circles on my back.

“Better?”

I wiped my mouth with toilet paper,
then
flushed the mess.
 
Sat on the rug.
 
He retrieved the water.

“Rinse your mouth and spit a few times.”

“Yeah.
In a bit.”
 
I didn’t think I could stand and hold it together, yet.

Only then did I notice that he’d come in here with his shirt open.
 
The jacket and tie were gone.
 
He dampened a wash cloth and applied it to my forehead.

“Sorry,” I said.

“For what?”

“Making you take care of me.”

“You’ve never made me, Jess.”
 
Touched the cool cloth to my cheeks.

“I like you being here, Patrick.”

“Think you can move?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay.”
 
He sat next to me, leaning on the shower stall, and I leaned on him.
 
His arm went around my shoulders.

My one excuse to snuggle him.
 
He smelled amazing.
 
Cologne?
 
Soap?
 
My arm was hugging him under his shirt.
 
I couldn’t help stroking my thumb on his soft skin.
 
He touched the back of his hand to my cheek.

“You don’t feel so flushed now.”
 
And pulled away.
 
“Let’s get you cleaned up and in bed.”

“Okay.”
 
What else could I say?

Once we reached my bed, he turned down the covers.
 
I hugged him.
 
“Thanks…for…”
 
His heat seared my breasts through the thin cotton nightgown.
 
I didn’t want to let go.

“I know. In you go.”
 
He tucked me in,
then
put water and painkillers on my nightstand.
 
“For the morning.”

I nodded.
 
He turned off the lamp.
 
“Patrick?”

He paused at my door.
 
“Yes?”

“
Ros
wanted me to take care of you, too.”

He nodded and shut my door.

My dreams were a mix of nightmares and erotica.
 
Never drink that much champagne again.
 
Fumbled blindly for the pills and drank them down.
 
At least my stomach wasn’t threatening to revolt again.
 
I shuffled into the bathroom to pee.
 
Oh God, the light.