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“Just go with it, Carys.” Jack’s eyes meet mine through the rearview. “Dad’s trying to impress his girlfriend of the week. And apparently, that means he’s buying us a house. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t give a shit if we even like it.”
Emerson interrupts her brother. “I think he may have already bought it but doesn’t want to tell us that. I think in his mind, if we like it, he’s the hero when he buys it. But my money says it’s a done deal.”
I look over at Theo. “And you’re okay with this?”
“I’m not like the rest of you. I’m here on a scholarship. If Stone Madden wants to buy a house and let me live in it rent-free, why would I say no?”
I guess Theo has a point. But I still feel ambushed.
Jack turns down a street with the ocean in the distance behind the houses, and my mouth drops open.
These arereallynice houses.
Reallynice.
When he turns into a long driveway leading up to a three-story, contemporary house full of windows, I get déjà vu. This house looks similar to—
“Ohmygod,” Em yelps. “Linc’s house is at the other end of the street.” She’s out of the door and walking to the end of the driveway to see just how close we are to Linc’s before I even get my door open.
Once I’m out of the car, my annoyance ratchets up a notch. Because standing at the front door is a beautiful woman with a camera crew behind her, welcoming us.
I think I might kill Emerson.
* * *
Turns out, Em and Jack’s dad, Stone, was already inside. He was sitting in the kitchen, waiting for them. He’d already bought the house, like Em thought. And okay, so maybe the place is perfect. It’s only a ten-minute drive from campus. There are four bedrooms and five bathrooms with a finished basement that’s already been equipped with a recording studio. And the backyard... well, the backyard is amazing. There’s a deck, a hot tub, and a gorgeous stone firepit. And if that wasn’t enough, it also has direct beach access.
Even I can’t say no.
At least not to the house. I had no problem saying no to signing the waiver that would give them permission to use me on an episode of the TV show they’re shooting.
Theo and I want to give Jack and Emerson some alone time with Stone and his girlfriend, so we head into the backyard. He follows me when I slip my sneakers off and push through the black wrought-iron gate to walk on the beach.
I’ve always loved the beach. The ocean, not so much.
“Hey, wait up.” Theo catches up to me and bumps his shoulder against mine. “So, we’re gonna be roommates.”
“I guess we are.” We walk down to the line of hard sand where the waves no longer reach.
“You know what that means, don’t you?” Theo’s dark hair shines in the sunlight, and his smile lights up his handsome face.
But he doesn’t do it for me at all. When we hooked up months ago, I was trying to convince myself that I was available. That my heart didn’t already belong to someone else. Because what’s the point of someone owning your heart if they don’t want it? Why can’t we choose who we give it to?
Fate’s a fickle bitch.
I stop just far enough that the water washes back out to sea before it reaches my toes, then turn toward Theo. “You know that there will be no roomies with bennies situation going on here, right?”
His hands skim up my arms, but there’s not a goosebump in sight.
Not even a teeny tiny one.
“Now, why would you go and ruin today by saying something so mean, CC? We just got a house with our very own recording studio in the basement and the beach in the backyard. This might be a normal thing for you, but this is not how I live when I’m in Ohio.”
I plant my hands on my hips and glare at him. “Listen, it’s a great house. Almost too good to be true. But—and this is a really big but—you and I make way better friends than anything else. And we’re going to stay that way.”
Theo’s face twists, and I can’t tell from the tight expression if he’s really hurt or if he’s kidding, so I soften my tone and stroke his ego a bit. “Besides, this time next year, you and Jack will graduate and move to LA. Before you know it, stadiums full of people will be singing your songs. You don’t want a girl back in San Diego pining for you. You’ll have groupies.”
He’s quiet for a minute before a mask slips across his face, and his goofy smile returns.
