Page 35 of Under the Radar

“But I heard—”

She interrupted me. “You heard part of a conversation. Maybe not all of it.” She held up her hand. “But if she is seeing someone, then you have three choices.”

“Which are?”

She held up her finger. “One. Be exactly what you are supposed to be. Her roommate. Not her jealous, want-to-be lover. Not her dad or her brother. Live your life. Be friends. Suck it up if she brings him around. If she does that, it means she trusts you. Act like the Chase I know.”

I really didn’t like that option. “The Chase you know wants to kick someone’s ass.”

Charly chuckled.

“What is my second option?”

“Act like a jealous asshole. Make her life miserable so she does move out. You may miss the opportunity of having a great friend and confidante. You may be the one she turns to if whoever she is seeing breaks it off. You may find, after living together for a while, she isn’t the person you thought she was and be happy you didn’t overreact. You might meet someone to have as yours.”

“I doubt it,” I mumbled. “The third?” I asked, hopeful it was something great, although I doubted it.

“Or…” She leaned forward, her expression serious. “You could man up, tell her how you feel, what you heard, and ask if you have a chance.”

“Yeah, not happening.”

Charly shook her head. “It amazes me how every man alive only thinks with his big head when the little one is in trouble. Option one is the simplest. Option two would put her out of reach of your misery at least and let you wallow in the house. You know. The. One. You. Bought. For. Her.” She paused dramatically. “Option three would give you the answer you want right now, and you could lick your wounds and maybe keep her as a friend. Or find you have it all wrong and she feels the same way. But you would know exactly where you stand. But you know, go ahead and second-guess everything while you fist yourself into a Hannah-induced coma nightly.” She stood, flouncing to the door. “I’ll buy you some extra lotion.”

She slammed out of the office, and I dropped my head to my desk.

Why was this happening? The women in my life were all mad at me and slamming doors.

I thought of Charly’s words. The one you bought for her. Yeah, great idea.

So far, home ownership sucked.

CHAPTER TEN

Hannah

I decided some distance between Chase and me was a good idea, so I came in to Toronto early to spend time with my mom. I sent him a message, letting him know I wouldn’t be home and I would be later tomorrow so not to worry. I wasn’t sure if he would even notice I wasn’t around, but in case, it seemed the right thing to do.

So Friday evening, I sat across from Mom at our favorite pho restaurant. There was none anywhere close to Lomand or Littleburn, and I craved it all the time. We split a soup and some of their delicious spring rolls, chatting over the savory broth and dumplings. I showed her some pictures I took of the living room and my room.

“Looks great, jellybean,” she said, making me smile as she called me the nickname she had used my whole life. Apparently even in her womb, I couldn’t stay still long and her stomach resembled jelly. As I grew up, I was into everything and liked to move around, and my dad called me his jumping bean. They sort of melded, and jellybean was the name I lived with.

She swiped again with a frown. “What is this?”

“Oh.” I wiped my mouth. “Chase bought a new bed. He never thought to buy sheets, so I’m going to pick him up a set.”

“He’s a nice boy.”

I smirked. “He is hardly a boy, Mom. He is a couple years older than me.”

She waved her hand. “Everyone is a boy or girl to me these days, Hannah. I’m far too old.”

I laughed. “Please. Did you see the shock on everyone’s faces when I introduced you as my mom? They all thought you were a sister or a friend.” I dipped my spring roll in the spicy mixture of soy and sriracha. “And Dom was certainly transfixed.”

She rolled her eyes. “Bossy, that one. Far too forward.”

I bit back my grin.

“And we’re not here to talk about him.” She picked up her teacup, sipping it. “What is going on with you and Chase?”