“Thanks.”
“I’m sorry about my parents.”
“I already knew they didn’t like me. It’s nothing new.”
“It’s ridiculous, though. They made up their mind about you from one stupid thing that happenedyearsago…” I shake my head, frustrated. “It’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah. As you always say. You really should get that tattooed on your forehead, you know?”
Rock gives a humorless laugh. He wipes his hands on a towel. I follow him into his bedroom.
“For the record, I think you’re a good catch,” I say. “If my daughter told me she was dating you, I’d be happy for her.”
Rock gives me a funny look. “Kinda weird thing to say, but thanks.”
“You know what I mean.”
He pulls some clothes out of a drawer. When he steps toward me, I don’t move. I know he’s really bothered by how my mom reacted, and I hate that he feels that way. Damn it. Maybe I should have ignored my mom’s call and talked to her in private, out of range of Rock’s ears.
“I need to shower,” he says impatiently, waiting for me to move. His chest is a wall that could easily force me out of the way, but he’s not the kind of guy who would ever do that.
I can’t think of anything to say to him that will help. Maybe all I can do right now is wait for his irritation to lessen. I sigh and move aside. “Ok. I’m meeting up with the girls for a while. I’ll see you later at the bar?”
“Yup,” he says tersely as he swings the bathroom door closed behind him.
“I’m so sorry about your apartment, Em,” Jenn says as she unsheathes a plastic straw and slips it into her soda. Paige nods in agreement as she wipes her mouth with a napkin. The three of us are at Nom Nom, our go-to place for lunch.
“Thanks,” I say, smiling at my friends. “It’ll be okay, though. It’ll just take a little time.”
“Is Rock’s place a gross bachelor pad?” Jenn asks.
I laugh. “Actually, no. Compared to me, he’s really tidy.”
“Really?” says Paige. “That’s surprising.”
I give Paige a curious look. “Wait, what? You never went over to his place?”
A few years ago, Paige and Rock dated for a few months. It was a little awkward, seeing two of my friends date, but the more awkward thing was when they broke up because I felt like I had to take sides. I ended up telling both of them that I couldn’t be in the middle of it, and thankfully they both understood and didn’t rant to me about the other…mostly. Paige did say a few bad things about Rock. Thankfully, though, they’re now completely civil to each other.
“Nope,” says Paige, popping thep. “Not once. He was weird like that. Never invited me up.”
“Guys are so strange sometimes,” says Jenn.
I hold my plate out in the middle of the table. “Here, you guys. Take some of my fries.”
“So I guess Rock isn’t dating anyone, huh?” Jenn asks as she helps herself to my fries.
“Not to my knowledge,” I say. “Why?”
“I just mean, it’d be kind of weird if he was dating someone and another girl moved into his apartment, wouldn’t it?”
“We’re friends,” I say, not seeing the problem.
“I know that. But I feel like a lot of girls would be jealous of another girl living in their man’s apartment. And what if he wants to bring someone home? He can’t, because you’re there.”
I don’t want to think about Rock and any girls. Picturing your best friend hooking up with someone is just…no. Super uncomfortable. My stomach feels weird even at the vague thought of it. “I don’t think it’s going to be an issue, but if he needs privacy, all he has to do is ask.”
