His New Roommate : Stepbrother Standalone Romance

by Vanessa Kinney

  Her nostrils flared. Did she find out? No, she couldn’t have found out.

  “There was no connection to the job, was there?” She yelled louder than before.

  “Lily-”

  “Answer the question!” Her face was turning red.

  “NO!” I yelled at her.

  An angry tear ran down her face. She started to laugh.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  She stared me down. Lily was trying to make me confess. But I couldn’t tell her the truth. I didn’t want to tell her what I did.

  She opened her mouth, and then closed it. She was afraid to ask the next question.

  “You hacked into the receptionist’s computer. Didn’t you?” She stomped her foot. “DIDN’T YOU!” she roared again, not giving me any time to respond.

  “You were the last person on the list! You were never going to make the cut!” I told her.

  She took a deep breath and walked toward me. She walked past me, radiating anger and walked towards her room.

  She swung her closet door open and pulled out the box she packed her clothes in.

  “Lily?”

  She grabbed an arm full of her closet and threw it in the box.

  “Lily!”

  She pushed the clothes down and threw more on top.

  “LILY! STOP PACKING!!” I snapped.

  My heart started to ache from the thought of her leaving.

  “WHY??? You lied to me. You lied about having a connection at Prime so you can USE me. So you can FUCK me. I was your secret fuck that no one knew about. Because how could they. I am your stepsister!” Her voice was broken. “It was all a lie!” She tried to shove more clothes into the box.

  She lifted her head, her eyes filled with tears.

  “Was this your plan along? You-You-.” She inhaled. “I thought it was faith that I got the second interview with Prime Design which then let to the job. But it was-” She let out a frustrated yell.

  “Lily, Let me explain-”

  “NO!” she roared. “You fucked with me. You only got me the second interview because you wanted to use me! You wanted to fuck your little sister so badly you cheated the system. Well, good job. You did it!”

  “I took matters into my own HANDS! Don’t you FUCKING tell me that I USED YOU! YOU’RE NOT JUST A FUCK!” I yelled back at her.

  She went back to her box. I grabbed her hand, but she yanked it away.

  “DON’T FUCKING TOUCH ME!”

  I didn’t know what to say. I don’t know how to fix this.

  “Lil-” I said quietly.

  “I thought I got the job because I deserved it. I thought that if I got the second interview and the job then that meant.” Her voice shook. “Then that meant that it didn’t matter if we were related. I thought it meant that what we were doing was… okay. And maybe, just maybe, we were doing something right.” She closed up the box. “But I was wrong.”

  She walked past me with the box in her hand and stopped in the kitchen. She placed the box on the counter and turned toward me with angry eyes.

  “Can’t you see that I did it for you? I saw that you were passionate about that job when you came back from the interview. I just wanted to make you happy, Lily. That’s all I want. I just want to make you happy!”

  She didn’t say anything. She was too angry to reason with me or see my side.

  I looked into her room, “If you can’t find a way. Make a way.”

  She let out a little sniffle.

  “That’s exactly what I did. I couldn’t find a way to you. I couldn’t find a way to get you that job. So, I made a way.” I inched toward her. “I made a way, Lily. I never used you. I promise.”

  I walked a little closer to her. I wrapped my arms around her and pouring my soul into the hug. We stayed in silence for a few seconds, until she mumbled something into my chest.

  “This.” She pushed me away. “This is my biggest regret. You’re my biggest regret.”

  A sharp pain filled my chest, I felt like I was drowning and burned at the same time.

  “I started to regret things between us after dinner with our PARENTS,” she emphasized. “But now. Now I know this is the biggest regret of my life.”

  She grabbed her box and walked toward the door but stopped abruptly.

  “You know what. I’m glad that I found out. This made my decision to move out so much easier.”

  I grabbed her shoulder.

  “Please. Lillian. Don’t go.” I begged her.

  She pulled her shoulder away from me. I hugged her from behind.

  “I’m serious, Nate.” Her body was as hot as lava, but her voice was freezing. “Leave me alone. If you care about me at all, just leave me alone.”

  I ripped myself off her. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I knew I wasn’t going to convince her to stay. But I had to try.

  “Please. Lily.” I begged for the last time. “Just stay. We can make this work. You promised me that you would do anything. This is my anything. Don’t leave, Lillian.”

  She looked back at me with a tear rolling down her eyes and walked out of the door without saying another word.

  She left.

  I stood in my kitchen feeling as though I didn’t belong in my own home. I felt lost.

  “FUCK!”

  I tightened my hand and aimed it toward the wall, putting all my strength behind it. I looked down at my hand. It was filled with drywall and broken skin. But I felt nothing.

  She just.

  Left.

  She left me.

  21

  Nate

  Bromance Moment

  KNOCK.

  One powerful knock echoed throughout my apartment, even over the sound of shooting and grenades blowing up from my video game.

  I didn’t want to get up. I knew it was Samuel.

  “Nate! I know you’re in there!”

  I didn’t answer. I heard the lock on the door click.

  “What the fuck, Nate.” He barged in.

  I kept playing my game. Shooting as many enemies as I could.

  “NATE!” Samuel chucked a pillow at my head.

  “What the fuck man!” I looked over at him.

  He was in his workout clothes with a duffel bag hanging on his shoulder.

  “What the fuck?” He questioned me. “Are you serious? You ditched Mike and me yesterday and I had to spend the night with him. Do you know how horrible it is to hang out with Mike one on one when he’s horny? He basically wants to fuck anything that moves.”

  He dropped his duffel bag and sighed loudly.

  “Get dressed. We’re going to the gym.” He looked over at the TV screen. “It’s better than what you’re doing.”

  I didn’t want to leave. I still had some faint hope that maybe Lily will come back. Samuel let out a loud sigh and sat down next to me.

  “What’s up with you?”

  I quit the game. I looked over at him.

  “It’s Lily.”

  “What happened?”

  “We had a fight and she left.” I felt my heart break as I replayed what happened. “I don’t know where she is. Or if she’s safe. Or anything. I don’t know anything.”

  “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s probably at a hotel or staying with someone.” Samuel reinsured me.

  I looked over at him and he was playing with his watch. He only fidgeted with his watch when he had something to hide.

  “You know.”

  “What?” He stopped playing with his watch.

  “You know where she is.” I gasped.

  He didn’t say anything. Gotcha. I started to feel a little more at ease knowing she was safe.

  “You need to tell me where she is.”

  “She’s safe.” Samuel avoided my eyes. “Don’t worry.”

  “When did you talk to her? Where is she staying?”

  I needed to see her. I need to talk to her and make it all right.

  “I talked to her and she is safe. Don’t worry about
it.” He repeated.

  “You need to tell me where she’s staying Samuel.”

  He shook his head, “She doesn’t want to see you.”

  “But I need to talk to her Samuel,” I begged. “I need to explain to her-”

  “Nate. I think it would be best if you gave her some space.” He took a deep breath.

  “She’s staying with you? Isn’t she...”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  I was righ. She was staying with him. I sighed, relieved that she was in good hands.

  “Nate. Please just give her some space. She needs it right now.” Samuel begged.

  I knew this wasn’t Samuel talking. This was Lily talking. She probably knew that Samuel was going to talk to me. If space is what she needs. Space is what she’ll get. I want her to trust me again. If she ever trusted me again.

  “Do you know what happened?” I asked Samuel.

  “I know enough.”

  I knew he didn’t want to be in the middle of this drama, but I was glad that he was helping her. We didn’t say anything for the next few minutes.

  “After we hit the gym and you’ll feel a lot better. The better you feel the faster you will get over her and move on.”

  And just like that, Samuel went back to his emotionless self.

  “I don’t want to move on!” I snapped. “She was much more than just a fuck!”

  I hated the fact that Samuel and Lily both thought the same thing.

  “Nate. It wouldn’t have worked.”

  I looked over at Samuel. I wanted to punch him in his perfect little know it all face.

  “You know it was more than just a fuck!” I yelled.

  “Well, what the fuck am I supposed to say?” He yelled back at me.

  “I don’t know,” I shouted.

  “It’s not like I could say: You’re being a pussy and you need to win her back even after you pulled that bullshit with hacking. Do you know you could have gotten fired if the company found out what you did? Worse, you could have gone to jail. Oh my god. You could have gone to jail-”

  He was overreacting and thinking of the worst.

  “Samuel! Calm down.”

  He was breathing heavily thinking about all the different scenarios that could have happened. I started to laugh, but it hurt.

  “What!” He snapped. He pushed his glasses up.

  “Nothing. It’s just, I didn’t think about that.” I picked up my phone to see if I had any new messages.

  No new messages.

  “Of course, you didn’t! You never think about the consequences.” He scolded me.

  “I didn’t think about the possibility of getting fired or going to jail or whatever else you’re thinking. I was just thinking…”

  I looked over to Lily’s room. Her door was still open. Her closet was still empty. Her bed was still covered with the clothes she couldn’t fit inside of her box.

  “I was just thinking about Lily and how happy it would make her if she got that job.”

  I started to chuckle as I walked over to the fridge and grabbed two bottles of cold water for Samuel and me.

  “You know I am not going to get caught, right?” I asked Samuel.

  He chuckled with me. “It was a moment of weakness. I just got caught in all the different ways you could have fucked up your life.” He took the extra water bottle from my hand. “The getting fired part was not an overreaction though. If they find out. You’re done.”

  “Doesn’t seem too bad.” I laughed.

  Samuel gave me a sharp stare. “Don’t even joke about that.”

  I didn’t want to tell him about how I felt about the job. That was for another time.

  “Let’s just get you out of your PJ’s and hit the gym. Let’s get the lively cocky Nate back.”

  “Yeah,” I mumbled.

  I changed and came out with a box that was sadly wrapped with green wrapping paper.

  “What’s in the box.”

  “It’s a gift for Lily.” I handed it to Samuel. “Just make sure she gets it.”

  He nodded. I’m still not going to give up on her if, especially if I might have a small chance.

  “Hey. Samuel… Thanks.”

  We embraced in a hug that lasted a little too long. We both coughed.

  “Let’s go work out.”

  “Yep. Working out.”

  We both talked over each other.

  22

  Lily

  Beefy Ben

  “Hey,” I greeted Samuel as he walked in. “How was your workout?”

  “Hey, Lily.” He dropped his duffle bag on the ground. “The usual.”

  He started to look inside of his duffle bag. “Here.” He handed me a box that was sloppily wrapped with green paper.

  “Ohhh.” I took the box. “You didn’t have to get me anything. If anything, I should give you something since you’re letting me stay here.” I laughed.

  He let out a nervous chuckle. “It’s from Nate.” I placed the box on the couch, avoiding it like it was filled with a virus. “Ohh.”

  “He gave it to me when I visited him.”

  I was still angry with him. But at the same time, I was curious to see what was in the box.

  “I just wanted to let you know that he knows you’re here.” Samuel nervously said.

  “Why did you tell him?”

  The last thing I wanted right now was to see Nate.

  “I didn’t but I am pretty sure he knows you’re here.” Samuel looked at the box. “I told

  him that you want some space. He said he wouldn’t come here.”

  Like hell, he’ll listen. Knowing him, he’ll probably end up showing his face around here before the end of this week.

  “Mmm-hmm. I don’t trust him.” I blurted out.

  “Okay. Believe what you want.”

  He went toward the bathroom. His apartment was half the size of Nate’s, but it was still big for just one person. It looked like Nate’s apartment, which makes sense since he designed both. Luckily, he had an extra room where I could crash for a few weeks.

  My phone buzzed.

  It wasn’t Nate since I blocked him. It was Mindy.

  Hey, Lil. Change in plans. I can’t make it tomorrow but I can come over on Friday. Can’t wait to see Nate ;)

  SHIT!

  I forgot that Mindy was supposed to come to Chicago. I can’t ask Samuel if Mindy can stay over. I already feel bad for crashing at his place. He probably didn’t want me here in the first place. But I guess there is no harm in asking.

  I looked over at the green box. My heart raced.

  What did he get me?

  I started to peel the corner of the box. NO. I’m angry at him. Fuck his present. He’s just trying to win me back with it. I was still picking at the corner trying to figure out what was in it.

  “Just open it!” Samuel peaked out of the hallway.

  “Holy Shit!” I jumped. He scared the crap out of me.

  He was so quiet. He laughed and sat down on the couch next to the green box. “Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. Do you know what it is?” Samuel took a seat on the couch.

  I shook my head.

  “Well just open it. It’s not going to bite.”

  I picked at the corner.

  “If you’re not going to open it, I will. I tried to figure out what was in the box but I have no fucking clue.”

  “Fine, I’ll open it.” I grabbed the box and started to unwrap it.

  “A new phone?” Samuel hummed. “Boring. I thought it was going to be something more special.”

  I put the box to the side.

  “So why did he get you a pho-” Samuel asked.

  “Can we talk about anything other than Nate.”

  “Fine.” Samuel understood my frustration. “Pick a topic.”

  He turned on the TV.

  “Your new boyfriend,” I said with a grin.

  “What about him.” Samuel looked at me.

  “All I know is that you
went out yesterday with him but nothing else. What’s his name? What does he do?”

  “Beefy Ben. Chef.” He got straight to the point.

  “His name is Beefy Ben?”

  “It’s just Ben but I like calling him Beefy Ben because, well, he’s beefy.”

  “Is that your type?”

  “Yep.”

  “And he’s a chef?”

  “Yep.” He replied again. I noticed that he wasn’t much of a talker. He liked to scold and tell you that you did something wrong, but other than that he was a mystery.

  “How did you meet him?”

  “We actually met at the bar where Nate and Mike got wasted. I mistook him for a waiter and then we just hit it off.”

  “So, you’ve only dated a few weeks then.”

  He nodded as he tried to find something to watch.

  “Do you like him?”

  “I guess. Yeah.” He started to blush.

  This was one of the rare moments where I’ve seen Samuel have any facial expression.

  “Ohh, you really like him.” I started to tease him.

  He smiled while rolling his eyes. I’m glad he’s warming up to me.

  My phone buzzed.

  “Is that Nate?” Samuel asked.

  I let out a light snuff. “No. I blocked him.”

  Samuel looked sad when I said that.

  “It’s my friend Mindy.” I started to feel nervous because this seemed like the best time for me to ask if she could stay over for a few weeks.

  “College friend?”

  “Yeah.” I should ask him. “I was wondering if- She’s coming to Chicago on Friday and I was wondering if she can stay. Here.”

  “Sure.”

  “Really?” Well, that was a lot easier than I thought.

  “Yeah, but you are going to have to share the room and clean up after yourself.”

  “Okay. Yes, obviously!” I was still shocked. “Thanks!”

  He got up from the couch and headed toward the bathroom again. I heard the shower start up.

  I watched TV, but the box that held my new phone caught my eye. I picked up the box and looked at the phone brand. It was basically my phone but the newest version.

  I opened the box up and a note fell out of it.I opened the note. It was Nate’s handwriting.