“The door was wide open. How was I supposed to know you’d be in here naked? Normal people close the door while they get dressed.”
“I’m a little rusty on the roommate part.”
“Clearly.”
With her facing me again, she blows out a breath. “So, what’s the plan for today?”
“I figured we could head over to the hospital and make one from there. I’m not sure what time Grandma is getting out, so I’ll probably just hang out there until they give us the go-ahead.”
“Sounds good to me. And even though you avoided my question earlier about when we can get her, I’m going with you. You can't stop me.”
“I figured as much.”
She shuffles on her feet in my doorway as I slide on my jeans.
“I’m dressed now.”
She turns slowly, making a poor attempt to not check me out. Even if she did intentionally, I know it wouldn't be like that. It’s hard not to look anytime there’s a shirtless person in the room, especially when you don’t usually see said person shirtless. I wish I could say people have this wonderful self-control, but we are human. It happens.
“There’s a new coffee shop on the way to the hospital. Should we stop to get you something? Grandma Betty said they make pistachio lattes all year round.”
She smirks but shakes her head. “I’m more of an at-home coffee girl these days.”
“Is that so?”
She nods.
“Since when?”
“Since”—she pauses—“since it’s more cost-effective to drink coffee at home?”
“Ha,” I say a bit louder than normal to her response. Is she telling me or asking me? “If I recall correctly, in college, you said it didn’t matter how much one spends on coffee as long as it’s made right and sets the mood for a successful day.”
She pins me with a glare. “That was a long, long time ago.”
I nod and then find the shirt I'd been looking for and pull it over my head.
“Yeah, it was.”
“So, should we take my car?” she changes the subject. “It might be easier for Grandma Betty to get into than your truck.”
Natalie has chosen to stand in the doorway through our entire exchange, so when I move toward the door, she backs up into the frame.
I tap her nose and smile, locking my eyes on hers.
“You always were the smarter one,” I say and walk out the door, jogging down the steps.
Natalie is right behind me.
“Between the two of us, clearly. I’m not the one who would make bets with their friends where the loser always had to run through campus naked.”
I spin to face her, causing her to bump into me and look up. Chest to chest, she smiles up at me.
“I’ve never lost, now have I? I’d say that makes me smart.”
Then I grab my keys and head for the front door.
Natalie slings her purse over her shoulder and follows me.
