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“Just answer it,” she hisses after the third round of knocking.
Grumbling like a kid being refused sticky buns on Christmas morning, I open the door, Sugar righting herself presentable behind me.
“Derek!” The woman’s voice is shrill and familiar. But not familiar in the sense that she’s from work or family related. She’s shouting my name in a way that Sugar’s face pales as if she finds it familiar.
Shit. This is not happening. What’s her name? Sasha? Sunny? Samantha?
I chose a safe bet. “Hey, babe, what are you doing here?”
I flash Sugar an apologetic look but she’s backing away from me. And I can read her loud and clear this time: wide teary eyes and quivering lips. Her heart is broken. I just called another woman a pet name after admitting they meant nothing to me.
I’ve got to be the biggest asshole out there.
The woman lets herself in, throwing her arms around me and trying to plant a kiss on my lips but I turn my head and stop her.
Sugar slams her bedroom door shut. I pry the woman off me, holding her at arm’s length.
What the hell is her name?! Suzy?
“Look, you can’t just come over uninvited!” I snap, running my hands through my hair. In the warmth of the house plus my already agitated blood, I’m starting to suffocate in my sweater.
“You invited me,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes.
“What are you talking about?” I never have repeat guests. The irater I get, the thicker my east coast accent comes out.
She pulls out her phone and shoves the bright screen in my face. And there in a white bubble to her blue bubble, I see a text from me.
Big Nightstick Derek: Can’t wait to see you tonight. Bring your A-game!
Fuck.A text not meant for her.
No wonder Sugar didn’t respond. I hadn’t even sent it to her. I whip out my own phone to confirm and sure enough there it is. At least I have her name now.
“Listen, Susan, this wasn’t meant for you. You need to leave. Happy Holidays, delete me from your phone as your gift.”
She goes to open her mouth and I give her one solid shake of my head.
She huffs, “Men.” But turns to leave anyway.
I escort her out the door into the cold because Sugar is everything now and she needs to know this.
* * *
I should’ve knocked,but I expected her to tell me to go away, and I wasn’t going to let my old ways ruin this, not when we are so close to not being roommates and starting to become something more. I really should have knocked because I’m not expecting to see her furiously packing her things into her suitcase.
“What are you doing?” I fill up the doorway, staring slack jawed at her.
“I can’t do this anymore,” she shouts, dumping an entire underwear drawer into the suitcase. “I can’t live here, with you, like this.”
“She’s gone,” I reassure her.
“So? Just so another one can take her place? Or was that me tonight? Was I just going to be the flavor of the week?” Angry tears spill down her cheeks. I hate myself for putting them there.
“No, I’m done with them, Sugar,” I plead and she at least stops packing. “Please, believe me. Her coming here was a mistake. I haven’t had anyone in weeks, not since…Not since that night with the cookies.”
She blushes and looks away from me, knowing exactly the moment I’m talking about. I can still taste the sugar from the frosting of that night on my tongue.
“And even before then I was filling a base need because I didn’t think…didn’tknowI could have you. Please…”
