His New Roommate : Stepbrother Standalone Romance

by Vanessa Kinney

  Hello, Lilypad. I figured it is time for an upgrade. You can’t be three years behind in technology. Now go ahead and take some crisp clear pictures. Maybe of my ass. -Nate.

  I let an uncontrollable laugh. Even when he wasn’t here with me he still knew how to make me laugh. My tiny dose of happiness turned into a tear rolling down my cheek.

  I picked up the phone and turned it around. I placed it in the box and set it on the table. He can’t just buy my forgiveness.

  23

  Lily

  Lil’ Sissy

  I looked at my phone. Still no message from Mindy. She was probably just landing. I already texted her Samuel’s address just in case I wasn’t going to make it home on time.

  Can’t wait to meet your boy toy ;)

  It was the last text she sent. I still didn’t have the guts to tell her that I wasn’t living with Nate, but she is going to find out sooner or later. I think it would be better if we just talked in person and I told her everything.

  “Lily, are you still coming tonight for girl’s night out?” Jasmine asked.

  “Yeah. Is it okay if I bring my friend?”

  I knew Mindy would be excited to go out tonight and just let the booze relax her. Hopefully she won’t get too wild.

  “Hell yea, the more the merrier. I’ll text you the address in a few hours.”

  “Thanks.”

  She headed toward the door.

  “When is she coming?” Samuel asked as he fixed his tie.

  “Soon.” She said she just got off the train, so maybe in 5-10 minutes.

  “This doesn’t MATCH!” He snapped and went back into his room.

  He was about to go on another date with Beefy Ben and he seemed more nervous than usual. Samuel came out with another tie.

  “Why are you so nervous?”

  He mumbled under his breath nervously.

  “Sam?”

  “No. No DON’T call me that!” He snapped. He took a deep breath. “Sorry. Tonight, is just a big night.”

  “What do you mean by big night?” I had a feeling as though I knew what he meant but I kind of wanted him to say it.

  “You know.” He started to move his hands in the air trying to gesture sex.

  “Sex?” I giggled.

  He began to blush. I could tell he was uncomfortable about this topic.

  “I’m not like Mike or Nate. Going out and having one-night-stands like it’s nothing.”

  He immediately regretted his words. I scrunched up my lips.

  “Sorry. I-”

  “No. No. That’s fine. I’m over him.” I lied.

  He arched his eyebrows. “You’re over him. You mean to tell me in ONE week. You’re over him.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  “Okay.” He mumbled as he looked at his outfit. “Good.”

  I nodded. “Perfect!”

  The doorbell rang. She’s here. I opened the door, and I was swallowed up in Mindy’s embrace.

  “OMG. It’s so good to see you.” She hugged me tighter and picked me off the ground a few inches.

  “Hey, Min.”

  She dropped me as her eyes were focused on Samuel.

  “Oh. Hello. This must be Nate.” She inched closer to Samuel. She wrapped her arms around him.

  “What. No. NO. NO!” Samuel snapped. “You wrinkled my shirt!”

  I started to laugh. I knew Samuel was nervous but I didn’t think he would overreact that much. Samuel brushed off the creases and went out to the front door until he realized something.

  “Wait, did you just call me Nate?” He addressed Mindy.

  She nodded.

  Samuel chuckled and left his apartment.

  “Lillian? Who was that?” Mindy used her serious tone.

  “Samuel.”

  “And who is Samuel?”

  “Nate’s best friend.” I shyly said.

  “And?”

  “Things happened between Nate and I.”

  She started to mutter something in Spanish under her breath.

  “I like what you did with your hair.” I changed the subject admiring her new blonde hair color.

  “No. Don’t you even try to pull that.” She crossed her arms and tapped the floor with her foot. “But thank you.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded.

  There was an angry silence between us.

  “So… what happened?” She asked.

  “Can we talk about it tomorrow?”

  “Fine. But I want all the details.” She pulled her suitcase closer to her.

  I pointed to the bedroom I was staying in. I wanted to avoid talking about Nate as much as possible. Every time his name was brought up, I felt my chest tighten. Mindy pulled her suitcase into the room and laid on the bed.

  “So, what’s the plan today if you don’t want to talk?”

  “We… Are going out.” I gave her a smile.

  “For real?” She jumped off the bed. I knew she was dying to explore the nightlife in Chicago. It was definitely different from Arizona.

  “Where are we going?” She unzipped her suitcase already looking for an outfit to wear.

  “Some place called Neon Sign.”

  “Whoa.” I stepped into the bar with Mindy.

  This place felt nostalgic for some reason. The walls were covered in neon signs. Wait. Is this the bar that Nate and his friends go to all the time?

  It could be. It was near his apartment and it had all these neon signs. I started to panic as I looked around the bar to make sure that Nate wasn’t here. I wasn’t ready to see him.

  I felt a little relieved that he didn’t seem to be there, but mostly I was disappointed. There was still a part of me that wanted to see him. I thought he would already show up at Samuels’s apartment at least once, but he didn’t. He only left me gifts. As mad as I was about the whole situation, I still wanted to see him. Even if it was for a minute. But I guess he is respecting my wishes when I said to stay away.

  He wasn’t here.

  “Do you see your co-workers?” Mindy yelled.

  Oh. I forgot I was looking for them.

  “Hmmmm- yeah.” I pointed in the back where I saw Jasmine and the other girls.

  Mindy walked toward them, taking the lead as if she knew the girls. You had to love her self-confidence. Mindy introduced herself to the girls then went straight to the bar to order some shots.

  “So, what do you think?” Jasmine yelled in my ear.

  “It’s really. Bright.” I looked at the wall next to us that was blinding me.

  She started to laugh. “It’s like the new hook up joint. You can basically have any guy you want in that dress.” She eyed me.

  I started to feel a little insecure. I didn’t want to hook up with anyone here. Not, unless it was Nate. I looked at the bar again. Still no sign of him.

  Fuck.

  I need to stop thinking about him.

  “Let’s take a shot, Lily!” Mindy brought over a plate of shots for everyone at the table.

  I took a shot. Then another.

  “It’s going to be one of those nights.” Jasmine giggled.

  I nodded. Maybe I could have a little fun. Jasmine and Mindy took me out on the dance floor. At this moment, I wanted to erase last Friday from my memory. I deserved it.

  A guy found his way to Mindy and she started to grind on him. It was just Jasmine and me.

  “Damn, girl. You have some moves, don’t you?”

  Jasmine swung her hips as I did. Her eyes darted to someone behind me. I felt someone grab my hips followed by a whisper.

  “Hey, lil’ sissy.”

  I turned around. It was Mike. I pushed him away. I didn’t feel comfortable with him after last time he was this drunk.

  “Come on, now. Let’s just dance.”

  “Did you come here with Nate?” I blurted out.

  “Nah. He’s been ditching me. I just came here with some other friends.” He pointed to a group of guys that were watching us.

  A smile appe
ared on my face. I was happy that Nate wasn’t out with Mike. It seems that the only time they go out is when they want an easy fuck.

  “Come on Lily. I know you want to dance. Show me what your hips can do.” He misunderstood my smile.

  He grabbed my waist and pulled me in. This felt wrong. My stomach started to turn.

  “No. Mike.” I pushed him away. “I’m going back to my friends.”

  He grabbed a hold of my wrist, forcefully. Fear began to grow inside of me.

  “Mike. Let go.” I said in my calmest voice. It took all my will power not to yell. He let go of my wrist and all my fear melted away.

  I walked over to the table and Mindy was staring at me. “Who was that?” She stared Mike down giving him her famous death stare.

  “A friend of Nate’s.”

  Mindy arched her eyebrows. “A friend?” She questioned.

  “Yeah. Something like that.”

  “Here’s a round of beer from those gentlemen.” The waiter pointed to Mike’s table.

  The girls at the table grabbed a beer, but avoided it. I didn’t want anything to do with Mike.

  “Isn’t this from your bot toy?” Jasmine winked at me sipping on her free beer.

  I felt like I was going to be sick to my stomach.

  “I have to go to the bathroom.” I ignored Jasmine comment.

  I grabbed my purse and headed toward the bathroom.

  Mindy and the other girls were getting along, so I didn’t feel bad leaving Mindy alone with them. I walked across the dance floor and headed toward the bathroom. I stepped into the bathroom and the noise was muffled.

  Finally, it was quiet. I started to wash my hands when I heard the door open. I ignored the person until I felt something take a hold of my wrist and drag me across to the other side of the bathroom where he pinned me to the wall.

  It was Mike.

  “You can’t keep playing games with me lil’ sissy.”

  I couldn’t move. He was so much stronger than me. His breath was heavy with booze. I was frozen with fear.

  What should I say?

  What should I do?

  I felt so vulnerable. He puckered his lips and gave me a wet kiss. I screamed into his mouth. The taste of alcohol filled my mouth as he swirled his tongue in. The kiss made me snap out of my frozen state. But he was too strong. I couldn’t budge. This feeling was becoming too familiar. But this time I couldn’t call out for Nate. I moved my head to the side.

  “STOP!” I cried out. “Nate!” I faintly shouted.

  “Oh. Come on, lil’ sissy. Don’t pretend you don’t like it.” He released one of my hands so that he could move his way to my thigh. He slowly started to move up toward my pussy. His touch felt like rough sandpaper against my skin.

  “STOP!” I shouted and punched him with my free hand.

  He backed up and touched his bleeding lip. The door slammed open and Mindy came barging in.

  “Lily!’

  Mindy looked scared. She looked at me and then she looked at Mike.

  “What. The. Fuck.”

  Her scared expression turned into one of burning hatred. Mike looked at me as if he just realized what he had done. Mindy walked over to Mike and kicked him hard, right in the balls. Mike let out a painful grunt.

  Mindy started to swear in Spanish and the only words I could pick up where “you son of bitch” and “pervert.”

  She then got into a fighting stance and held up her fist, shooting a solid punch straight into the middle of his face. Mike stumbled a few inches back, and then dropped to the bathroom floor, slumped against the wall. He didn’t get back up.

  Mindy came toward me and wiped away my tears. She gave me a small, reassuring smile and wrapped me in her arms.

  “Thank you.” I sniffed.

  She patted my head and used her quiet voice, “Let’s go home.”

  “I miss Nate.” I confessed quietly.

  She held me tighter without saying a word.

  24

  Nate

  Memory Loss

  “I need this done by today.” I handed Mike a packet has he walked into my office.

  I looked up at him and saw that his face was busted in. His lip had a tear in it, one that would consistently bleed every time he talked. His nose was broken and he had a black eye.

  “What the fuck happened. Jesus! Mike!”

  As fucked up as his face was, I’m pretty sure he deserved all of it.

  “Honestly, I don’t remember. All I know is that there was a lot of Spanish cursing and I was on the bathroom floor. In the ladies’ restroom.” He chuckled nervously.

  I wasn’t sure if he had memory loss or if he wasn’t telling me the whole truth

  “The ladies’ restroom?”

  “I mean it’s not like it hasn’t happened before.” He laughed.

  True. He did end up in the wrong bathroom a few times, but he never came out looking like this.

  “So, you don’t remember anything?”

  He shook his head, “I think there was this hot blonde.”

  I rolled my eyes. The hot blonde probably was the one that used his face as a punching bag. Good for her. I chuckled.

  “You look like a fucking moron.” I had no pity for him.

  I still hadn’t forgiven him for trying to kiss Lily. I don’t think I will ever forgive him. He was lucky that I still talked to him. The only reason I was even “friends” with him now was because of his father. But I don’t know if I even want this connection if it meant I had to deal with him.

  “Yeah. Yeah.” He slouched down in the chair. “So, when are we hanging out? Let’s go out tonight. I feel like I haven’t hung out with you one on one for weeks.”

  He wasn’t wrong, but I still didn’t want to go out with him.

  “It’s a Monday.” I clarified. He might have forgotten what day it was.

  “You work from home tomorrow so what’s the problem.”

  If I went out with him it meant that we would do our usual outdated routine to get a couple of bimbo girls to have a one-night-stand with. But I don’t want that anymore. I only wanted one girl.

  “Seriously, Nate. How long has it been since you got laid?”

  “Two weeks.” I blurted out with pride.

  “Damn. You’ve lost your game. Come on. Let’s go out and get some pussy.” He started to laugh.

  “I told you. I got a girl.” I roared.

  “Shit. Still? I thought you would get sick of her already.”

  I will never get sick of Lily. She was the only girl I wanted. The only one. I ignored his comment.

  “Well, you know you can always have a side chick when you need a break from your girl.” He gave me a wink.

  “There’s not going to be a side chick.” I roared. “Don’t you have a job to do?”

  It was taking all my willpower not to throw my computer screen monitor at him.

  “About that.” He stood up. “I have the annual meeting today with Pops and the other geezers. I can’t do it.”

  “You’re going, too?” This was a first. Mike never went to these meeting. I guess his dad is giving him more responsibility.

  Mike tossed the packet on my table. “So, does this mean I have to find myself a new wingman?”

  “Get someone else to do the job.” I picked up the packet and handed to him.

  He rolled his eyes and left my office. I sighed. I’m getting sick of this job, and Mike. I looked over at my phone and there were no new messages.

  God, I missed Lily so much. It’s been over a week and I still haven’t heard from her. I didn’t think I could miss someone this much. I am at my breaking point. I needed to see her. But nothing has worked. I gave her a new phone. I sent her flowers. Cooked her favorite snacks, food, and desserts. I even bought her some of her favorite books.

  But still nothing.

  Not even a text.

  I even went over to Samuel’s apartments a few times to drop off the gifts but I didn’t have the guts to ring
the doorbell. I needed her to trust me. I need her to know that I respect her wishes and I will never. NEVER. EVER. Betray her again.

  As for Samuel. He has been completely useless with information since he’s rarely home. He has been spending majority of his time with his new boyfriend. The only information he gave me was that her friend, Mindy, was staying over.

  I placed my phone on my desk and grabbed the packet. I headed out and tried to find someone good enough to get this job done today.

  “Hey, Kimmy. Can you help me out? Mike and I have a meeting to go to, but I need this done before the end of the day. Can you do this for me?”

  “Yes, Mr. Atom.” She was so nervous.

  “Just. Nate.”

  She nodded.

  I walked back to my office and my phone was being bombarded with text messages. It was Samuel.

  I need to tell you something.

  Well, this seemed serious.

  Could this be about Lily?

  I was about to text Samuel back when my office door swung open and Samuel came in. He looked like he hasn’t slept in days.

  “Samuel. Are you okay?”

  He sat down on my chair and started to mumble. “She told me not to tell you. But I have too.”

  “Tell me what? Is this about Lily?”

  My heart was racing. I wanted Samuel to tell me but he was contemplating if it was a good idea.

  “Samuel! You’re starting to scare me.”

  “You have to promise me you won’t freak out.”

  This was about Lily.

  “What is it?” I snapped.

  “You have to promise you won’t do anything stupid.”

  “Fine.” I agreed.

  What was the worst he could say?

  “And you can’t tell Lily I told you.”

  I nodded.

  What’s the worst that could have happened to Lily?

  25

  Nate

  My Girl

  “Nate. Nate! NATE!”

  Samuel was waving his hand in front of my face but his voice seemed like he was a mile away.

  “Don’t freak out. You promised!”

  My blood pressure was skyrocketing and I couldn’t think clearly anymore.