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Sebastian
I stand outside the door of the apartment after walking Wendy to the elevator.
She tried her best to convince me to go back to her place for a repeat of last night, but I declined.
We hook up every few months when there’s no one else in the picture for either of us.
It’s easy, fun and there are no strings attached. We meet up, fuck and go our separate ways until the urge strikes again.
It was Wendy who reached out yesterday and since I had my new place all to myself, and a scheduled day off today, I invited her over for a beer.
She left a couple of hours after she arrived with a satisfied grin on her face that mirrored my own.
Seeing her standing next to Matilda earlier was jarring. I could see Matilda putting the pieces together in her head. She knew I fucked Wendy in our apartment. It shouldn’t matter since we’re just roommates but it irritated the hell out of me that Wendy showed up without calling me first.
Before I have a chance to reach for the doorknob, the apartment door swings open.
“Sebastian,” Kate says my name as she looks at me. “I was just leaving.”
“You don’t have to go.” I move to the side to allow her to pass. “I can take off for a couple of hours and give you two some privacy.”
She waves the smartphone that’s clutched in her palm in the air. “There’s an emergency at my shop. I need to get back there now.”
Emergency.
The word is overused, but it still piques my interest. “What’s the emergency?”
“He’s a police detective.” Matilda steps into the doorway and shoots me a teasing glance. “I think it’s a requirement of his job to ask about emergencies.”
I bow my head briefly to hide a smile.
Kate nods at her before she turns her attention back to me. “I own a bridal store. Today’s emergency is a too-tight dress for a ceremony the day after tomorrow.”
“That sounds serious.” My mouth quirks.
“I had to call for back up.” She giggles at her joke. “My seamstress is already on the case, but I need to go calm down the bride-to-be.”
“Do you want to meet up for dinner later?” Matilda brushes her hand over Kate’s shoulder. “I can come by the shop with some take-out.”
Kate shakes her head. “I’m taking you out to celebrate your birthday. Put on that cute little black dress you bought last month and meet me at the shop at eight. We can grab an Uber from there.”
A wide smile slides over Matilda’s lips.
Jesus, she’s breathtaking.
“I’ll be there.” She brushes past me to walk her friend to the elevator.
“It was good meeting you,” Kate calls back to me as I step inside the apartment. “I’m sure I’ll see you again.”
She will. I’m already enjoying this new living arrangement.
***
I exhale harshly, trying to absorb what Matilda just said to me.
She repeats the words as she closes the door to the apartment behind her. “I said that I think you should move out.”
“Why?” I rake my hand through my hair. I know the answer to that question, but I ask it anyway.
“I’ve never lived with a man before,” she begins before she turns to look at the vase full of flowers. “Wendy said that you two had fun last night and that’s great. I’m all for having fun.”
I move so I’m standing directly in front of her. “What’s the problem, Matilda?”
Her eyes skim my T-shirt before they land on my face. “I wouldn’t call it a problem.”
“What would you call it?” I cross my arms over my chest and her gaze immediately drops to my biceps.
“I don’t think we’re compatible.”
What the fuck does that mean? We’ve lived together for less than a day.
I’ve learned that beating around the bush is a waste of time so I dive right into the crux of the matter. “You were surprised when Wendy showed up.”
She dips her chin. “Yes. I didn’t expect that.”
“I didn’t either,” I confess softly. “We don’t see each other often. I thought when she left last night that I wouldn’t see her again for months.”
That draws her gaze to mine. “So it’s a casual thing?”
“Very casual. Very infrequent.”
She fights back a smile. “I thought she was your girlfriend.”
I rub my jaw. “I don’t have a girlfriend. I don’t have room in my life for my job and a relationship so you don’t have to worry about a woman hanging out here with me all the time.”
She pinches the bridge of her nose. “My last roommate and I had an understanding. If she had a guy over, she’d close her bedroom door. I did the same.”
Why the fuck is my stomach knotting hearing her talking about having a guy in her bedroom?
“That worked out for us, but I think if you keep living here, we need to take it a step further. What about a heads-up text if one of us is planning on having company?”
Her voice wavers with the last word, but I can tell she’s got more to say so I don’t interrupt.
“I’m not suggesting that you can’t be here if I have a man with me,” she goes on. “I’m just saying that the respectful thing to do is to let each other know if we’re not coming home alone or if we invite someone over.”
“Understood.” My jaw tightens. “I’ll keep that in mind the next time I have a guest.”
Her hands go to her hips. “Today made me uncomfortable, Sebastian. Wendy said you took off her panties on the sofa and I saw you nude when I got home, so I know you two...well, I know stuff happened on my sofa.”
Stuff? I slid Wendy’s panties off before she took off in the direction of Matilda’s room with a bare ass. I had to chase her down to steer her toward my bedroom.
“Nothing happened there.” I motion toward the sofa with my hand.
She glances back before her eyes lock on mine. “Maya told me that you owned an apartment before you moved in here, so I’m sure you did whatever you wanted wherever you wanted.”
I scratch my chin. “I’m not going to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. You set the rules and I’ll follow them.”
“It might be easier for you to find another place to live.”
“I sold my place furnished and I’ve already moved the rest of my things in.” I point at my bedroom door. “I’ll be at work more than I’ll be here and I’ll never be late with my half of the rent.”
“Will you text me a warning and keep your bedroom door closed when Wendy comes over?” She arches a brow. “Or any of your other friends?”
The way she enunciates the word friends is adorable.
If I thought she was interested in me at all, I might mistake her reaction to Wendy’s impromptu visit as jealousy.
“Maya gave me your number so I’ll text a warning and I’ll keep my door closed.”
“You can stay for now.” She tilts her head. “The rules are simple, Sebastian. I’ll stay out of your way if you stay out of mine.”
“You won’t even know I’m here.”
That lures a smile to her lips. “You won’t know I’m here either.”
With that she turns and walks away, the sway of her perfectly round ass taunting me with every step she takes.
