I scrolled through the listings, nixing all the new apartment ads, and instead concentrated on the ones with roommates seeking an extra tenant. That was when I spotted it. The perfect price, the perfect location, and an added bonus: Must rent ASAP.
I read over it several times, making sure I wasn’t missing anything.
Single male, seeking roommate for two-bedroom apartment. Place has one bathroom (decent size), great kitchen and living space. First and last rent due as a deposit. Must rent ASAP. If interested, please call or text to set up a time to see the place.
Not in the mood to talk, I brought up my messages and punched in the number listed, then shot off a text: Hi. Interested in the apartment for rent. Is it still available?
My leg bounced under the table as I pulled up Google and did a map search to make sure I was thinking of the right location. Sure enough, the apartment building was only minutes away from work, which would cut my commute down to nothing.
I wasn’t one to hope, and I certainly wasn’t one to wish for things, but as I sat there staring at the couple of blocks I’d have to drive to and from work, I was close to fucking praying.
A second later, my phone dinged and I opened up the message.
Hi. The apartment is still available. I have one person stopping by this evening, but could set a time with you also if you’d like to check it out?
Oh thank fuck. It was still up for grabs. Maybe I could see if he was available now? I could get in first, flash a smile—I was sure I remembered how—and swoop in before the other person had a chance.
That’d be great. I could stop by now if you’re free.
I stared and stared at the screen, willing the three dots to appear, and when they did, I gripped the phone a little tighter.
“Come on, come on,” I muttered as I drummed out a staccato rhythm on the table with my thumb. Then up popped a new message.
Sorry, I work until six. But you can stop by at seven if you like? The other person will be by at eight.
That still worked. I’d get in first, somehow win this guy over, and secure the place. At this stage, I didn’t even really care about the condition. The fact I’d be home in less than ten minutes had sold me. Now I just had to see who I’d be sharing the space with.
Please don’t be some crazy ass. I can do that. Seven it is.
Great. I’ll see you then.
I stared at the message and saved the number, then I looked over at Jon and called out, “Hey, I think I’ll take that other scotch now.”
“You got it.”
I settled back in my seat and read over the advertisement again.
Single male, seeking roommate for two-bedroom apartment. Place has one bathroom (decent size), great kitchen, and living space…
Must rent ASAP.
I didn’t want to jinx myself, but for once in my life, I had an okay feeling about this. Now I just had to wait until seven.
Chapter 10
Ryan
I’D JUST FINISHED showering and poured myself a glass of wine when there was a knock on the front door.
A quick scan of the place assured me everything was neat and tidy, and as I made my way across the living room, I crossed all my fingers and toes. I needed to get this place rented, and soon. I’d only been half joking about Gabe leaving me with all the bills, and while I’d been able to cover them for the most part, things were starting to get a little tight now.
When I got to the door, I looked down at my jeans and smoothed my hands over them. I had two potential renters interested. Both were coming to see the place tonight, and if I was lucky, I’d have Gabe’s old room rented by nine.
First things first, though—I needed to open the door. With a final prayer that everything turned out well, I pulled the door open, and when my eyes locked on the man standing on the other side of it, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
“Jameson?”
It was a toss-up as to who looked more surprised. Jameson’s eyes had widened and his face paled, and when he finally seemed to remember how to speak, he managed, “GQ?”
This was… It was insane. In the past week or so we’d somehow managed to cross paths not once, not twice, but three times, and not from any doing of our own. Neither of us had known the other was going to be standing on the opposite side of this door. Just like I hadn’t known he worked at the fire station when I showed up. It was like some weird cosmic twist of fate, where we kept getting thrown together, over and over again.
“Are you— You’re here to look at the room for rent?”
Jameson blinked at me. “This… This is—”
“Crazy?”
He ran a hand through his hair and looked down the hall, back toward the elevator.
“Want to make a run for it? I promise not to chase you.”
Jameson whipped his head back around to me.
“That’s what you’re thinking, right? That I really am some kind of crazy stalker?”
“No. I was thinking that this is really fucking weird.”
A burst of laughter escaped me before I could stop it. “It is. It’s like everywhere I turn lately, there you are.”
“That’s a bad streak of luck you’re having, then.”
There was that self-deprecating attitude again. “I don’t know. I’m starting to think it might be a good one,” I said as I gestured for him to come inside. “What are the odds that in a city with over two and a half million people, I suddenly start running into the same one over and over?”
Jameson frowned but didn’t say anything as he slipped his hands into his pockets.
“I can leave the door open if it’ll make you feel more comfortable?”
“No need,” he finally said, and stepped inside. “I’m pretty sure I could take you if I had to.”
And I was pretty sure I’d let him, but I kept that to myself as I moved aside to let him in. As he walked by, I couldn’t help but let my eyes linger on the tight ass encased in that soft denim. Jameson wore a pair of jeans better than anyone I knew.
He cleared his throat, and I raised my eyes to find I’d been caught. My cheeks flamed.
“So, um, the apartment. Let me show you around and tell you a bit about the place.”
“Sounds good.”
“Okay.” I ducked my head and moved away from him so I wouldn’t do something stupid, like grab him and feel up those muscles I’d seen down at the station. “As you can see, this is the living room. There’s a TV with cable and pretty much every streaming service you could want, which is all part of the monthly rent price.”
Jameson nodded and looked at the two loveseats around the coffee table. I couldn’t help but wish I only had the one. That way, if he did move in, he’d have no choice but to sit next to me to watch the TV.
Huh, maybe I could pretend one broke.
“Your room would be this one here, off to the left.” I walked over to the open door, and as he walked inside, Jameson made his way over to the window. “Gabe fought me for that window. I probably should’ve switched rooms and claimed it myself, but it seemed like too much work.”
Jameson looked out to the park below then turned to face me. “Gabe? Ex-boyfriend?”
“Ex-roommate and best friend.” But wasn’t it interesting where his mind went first?