Echoes and Entanglements (Remington Carter Book 1)

by Emma Cole

  In my head I’m flipping her off. I would love to tell her I won’t be staying and that obviously it’s not her decision to make regardless of her thoughts on the subject. Instead I keep my mouth closed and decide to accept the room. Alex can’t have anyone for more than three days at a time, a rule that was enforced the last time her roommates’ boyfriend overstayed his welcome. I don’t want to have to ask her to do that unless it’s a last resort. I do have money and I could get a motel for a few days, but the ones close to campus are already full, I’d have to drive a bit and with my schedule it would be back and forth a lot unless I stayed in the library to study. I’ll stay for now, I can always take off to Alex’s if I need to.

  Next to Samantha in her skirt and jacket combo with heels I’m feeling a little shabby in flats, jeans, and a t-shirt, all I have at the moment since very little of my clothing escaped getting wet. I feel like I tower over Samantha, I’m not winning the petite award for sure. Although I’m not heavy, so I have that going for me. Actually, I’m very skinny, mostly from running, and I get to eat all the time due to the running. Usually I’m not insecure, but this woman has me feeling close to it. Add to that slightly larger than average chest and it’s perfect for the modeling I do on the side to supplement my student aid. I get the catty reaction from lots of other girls and women about it. As soon as they find out I model it’s like they have a switch for insta-witch. Modeling isn’t the easiest thing ever, but few people seem to know that. Most of the time it’s fun, but imagine sometimes having to just stand in the cold or the heat for hours without showing that the temperature is affecting you or it will ruin the pictures. Ever stood in the snow in heels and lingerie? I don’t recommend it. I didn’t want to take any loans out for school if I could help it and have a huge debt that I spend years paying. It helps a lot I’m able to make good money for part time work, so I’m not complaining about it.

  “I’m sure it will be fine or work itself out,” I finally say. I’m not going to be put off by someone acting territorial over people I’ve never even met. “Do you know what time the roommate will be here? I want to go grab what I can tonight, but I don’t want to be in his way.” Taking charge of the conversation I steer it in the direction I need it go to get this wrapped up. I have things to do and I would like to get to them sooner rather than later. Chick has gotta go.

  Samantha replies, “He should be back after practice around six or so. If he needs me for anything regarding the arrangement you have my number and can have him give me a call.” With that she turns and goes down the hall gesturing I should follow. She opens a door indicating this is my room and shows me the connecting bathroom that also connects with the room that’s through the other door. She tells me it’s locked from the opposite side as that’s one of the guys bedrooms. It makes sense now why they would want another man to room here and not have to share a bathroom with a woman. I did think it slightly odd that a guest room would have a shared bathroom like this, but maybe it was from before it was converted.

  After Samantha says goodbye and takes her leave. I poke around a little, checking things out. The fridge is partially stocked with a mix of healthy and junk food, the pantry is much the same. When I say pantry, I really mean store aisle. That thing is as big as a walk-in closet and in the back of it there is a large chest freezer. I decide to make a quick run back to the dorm to pack up what I can this afternoon. After I see there is a separate laundry room I get excited at not having to go off-site to wash everything that got wet. Yay to not lugging laundry around. With a little luck, I can have my clothes clean by tonight and my other things out of the dorm and unpacked into my room before dinner. My packed stuff I was saving for the move in with Alex had already been put into a small storage unit before the flood thankfully. It shouldn’t take me long with the things I have. I head to my dorm and make it through the crowd of other residents trying to move their things. It takes three trips to get everything down to my car and I read the instructions one more time to make sure I didn’t forget anything. The housing authority wanted each room to be left the same way, apparently the flood restoration company told them it would be faster for clean up to have everything already moved to specific spots in the rooms making them all uniform. I find my roommate Cindy filling a box as I go back into the room. She’s come back for a few odds and ends and I help her with arranging the room as requested.

  “Hey, I was wondering when you were coming. I saw the notice they want everyone out by seven tomorrow morning.” Cindy is nice, but I don’t really know her that well. Being a sophomore in a freshman dorm makes things interesting. She mostly hangs out with a different crowd than I do.

  “Yeah, I was meeting my contact for the apartment I’m staying in. At first I thought it was a mistake. I got assigned the Greyside Security building right off campus.” Cindy squeals and jumps up and down. I’m a little stunned at the reaction, this is the most emotion she’s shown towards me since she found out I was only with her for a semester. She had wanted a proper roommate to experience college with. Her words. I’m not sure why we wouldn’t have been able to be friends regardless, but she is a tad weird.

  “O.M.Geee I am so jealous.” Really? Why do girls act like that? She even jumped up and down and clapped her hands together. Hands that had cotton candy pink nails. I wear what I have to for work, but Cindy is a girly girl that’s always done up like a pre stepford wife. “Those guys are so hot they never let girls over there from what I hear. Rumor is there was a fiasco with one awhile back. She worked for a rival company and tried to steal files or something like that. Let me know if you want to trade places I will so gladly switch with you.” Cindy finally takes a breath and stops talking after I shake my head no. I’m not sure how much of a hassle that would be and after I see how others might act to be there, I sort of understand some of Samantha’s attitude. I would feel bad subjecting strangers to Cindy and whatever friends she took over with her. Now I’m more curious than ever about who I will be living with.

  Three

  I park my canary yellow 77’ Mercury Cougar next to the side door so I can unload. It’s not quite in pristine condition, one of the things my dad helped me do since I got too old for “dad” activities was to restore my “Bird”. He nicknamed my car that for the color and thought it was hilarious that the model was a cat. My dad has an odd sense of humor. Or had. Not really sure at this point. Really it was the only thing we ever bonded over after about the age of six or seven when I got too into girly things for his taste. I get everything lugged upstairs before remembering there’s an elevator. I’ll have to try it out another time. I begin to unpack and get a load of laundry started before anything else. I go to unpack in my room and now I have more time to check everything out. The bathroom is all browns and creams with a lot of mirrors and good lighting. It actually has a deep jacuzzi tub, I think I’m in love with whoever put this in here. It also has a separate stall shower done in dark brown tile. My room is off-white with beige carpet and the rest of the room is maroon and mauve. I imagine the owner must have had some help from a decorator with all of this color. It’s all really nice for a bunch of guys. Heck even girls I know don’t decorate or coordinate this well. After I get what I can put away I decide to run to the local supermarket. I don’t want to impose and eat the food that’s already here, I feel that would be a little rude and a bad way to start off being here. I’m sweaty from packing things back and forth, but I want to get dinner started before I shower. I decide to brave the store without one.

  I quickly grab enough groceries for a few days hoping the other resident won’t mind me cooking. Maybe he’ll be more likely to let me stay if I cook for him. I’m nervous after what Samantha said. I just need to get through this semester and I’ll be back on track. Usually college guys live on ramen and easy Mac unless they go out to eat so I decided to make extra as it couldn’t hurt my case. I make it back to the apartment and get everything put away. I throw together a vegetable salad and a meatloaf and clean up a
fter myself. I switch my laundry over and start another load with my favorite laundry soap. It has a complementing fabric softener and dryer sheets, so I rarely even worry about perfume. I think it smells like sunshine. At least that’s what the person that gave me my first bottle said it smelled like and that it reminded him of me. It’s a little hard to find as it was a brand that was mostly carried in the UK, but now it’s migrated this way. I unpack my toiletries and some of my clothes. I decide to take a quick shower as I see it’s a few minutes until six and the food still had awhile to cook.

  As I’m stepping out of the shower, I hear some noise and then a voice yells, “Hey something smells good in here. Since you’re inside I’m assuming Samantha must have shown you around.” I hear footsteps coming closer. He’s not actually going to come in here is he? Oh, crap he probably thinks I’m a guy! Before I can announce myself or even get to the door to lock it I hear a quick tap, tap and the handle turns right as I get my towel almost fastened a head pokes in with, “I just wanted to let you know the towels are in the hall closet, it’s all toiletries and cleaning supplies under the cupboard in here….” He trails off as he sees me. Suddenly his eyes go wide when he realizes it’s me and they travel the length of my towel wrapped body. “Remi? What are you doing in here?” he asks. I see him trying to look around me for someone else.

  I’m tomato red and trying to make sure I’m fully covered. Of course, it would have to be Eli living here with the way my luck has been going today. Cindy did say hot guys live here. I have to agree with her. Wait, that means she likes my hot guy. Nope, not happening. “Um..well this is where I was assigned to stay. I hope it’s not a problem.” When he doesn’t answer I gesture to my towel clad self. “Can I get dressed? I’ll be right out.” At that he snaps out of his trance and has the grace to look embarrassed that he barged in on me.

  “Of course, sorry, here’s the towel” He leaves the towel on the counter and backs out shutting the door.

  I get dressed, taking time to compose myself, I put on some moisturizer and comb my hair. I grab a hairband on my way out it’ll just have to air dry it for now. I go out into the main area finding Eli inspecting the contents of the oven. He looks up and comments, “this looks great, I wasn’t planning on my new roommate feeding me.” He smiles sheepishly. “Sorry this is awkward, I wouldn’t have walked in if I’d known there was a girl in there. I know the guys requested that another man stay when they were asked about putting someone up. Not that they don’t like women, but with four guys living here it made more sense.” He’s rambling and knows it. I try to hide my grin. It’s kinda cute to see him out of sorts. I see him eyeing my fuzzy yellow socks. My feet are always cold and I have many pairs of fuzzy socks. “Those are cute.” My grin gets bigger and his eyes round out to match. “I said that out loud didn’t I?” I nod. I decide to rescue him.

  “Samantha, the lady that brought me here, did mention something about that and as far as she figured it was my name that threw them off and they must not have paid attention. She said it shouldn’t matter anyway as the other guys are gone. She didn’t give me any names, so I didn’t know you lived here. Is it gonna be ok that I stay? At least for tonight? I can go stay with Alex for a few days tomorrow and figure something else out if not. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

  “No, it will be ok, you’re pretty normal for a girl, I’ll vouch with the guys.” He jokes. “They should have the dorms fixed pretty soon, I think. Samantha is the administrative assistant for the company. I’m surprised she was so cordial. She’s not always so nice to females.” He’s quiet for a minute looking like he wants to say something, but not sure how to. “So, you’ve been avoiding me.” Since that didn’t sound like question, more a statement I’m thinking I’m busted. That means he knows I saw him earlier and ignored him. Well that’s awkward. I wince a little and look at him, noticing he’s still flushed from practice. He must have showered in the locker room as his blond hair is still wet and combed back. He is pretty hot. How am I going to cope with being around him so much? I’ve avoided any seriousness, not because I’m not interested, but I wanted to have the normal college experience for a while without the drama of attachments. To be on my own and experience things for myself. I hoped he would understand. I decide just to be honest and tell him all that.

  “Eli, I’m not leading you on. I have had some things to deal with in my personal life and I wanted not to have any complications for now. I don’t mean you’re a complication, just that a new relationship in general is, I haven’t even made many new friends yet. Is that alright?” He nods once and puts his hands in his pockets like it’s to avoid reaching out and touching me. I continue on changing the subject, “I also bought some groceries. I didn’t want to get into what was already in here. I wasn’t sure what was liked, so if you want something else for dinner I won’t be offended.” I tell him. He seems to be taking this rather well.

  “Oh, no it smells great in here. I can cook basics, but I will enjoy the cooking while I can. Maybe you can teach me some things while you’re here. My mom tried, but said it was a lost cause. That was also before I had to eat my own cooking. Now I have a better appreciation for those lessons. Do you need any help with anything?”

  “You can set the table if you don’t mind. I’ll start pulling everything out. I’d be happy to show you what I know. The meatloaf should be done.” I walk around him and go to the oven trying not to be obvious as I check out his well-worn t-shirt and low hanging jeans, I look down to his adorable, bare feet. That vee guys hips make was extra pronounced, I wanted to reach out and touch it. Instead, I turned to pull the meatloaf out of the oven, slice it, and put it on a serving dish before I got caught ogling him. I take the covered salad out of the fridge along with some dressing, Greek Goddess. A friend recommended this on her social media page and it looked good so I tried it, I haven’t eaten anything else since.

  “I hope you like the dressing it’s one of my favorites, but Alex says it’s gross.” I wrinkle my nose in protest. I take everything over to the table that Eli has set and go to sit down, but he beats me to it, pulling out my chair and sliding it in as I sit. At least I didn’t mess it up, I always feel awkward when someone else helps me in my seat.

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” he responds. “I like just about anything. So,” he says after we dish up, “did you get everything you need from your dorm room? If not, we can run over there after dinner.”

  “I got everything I need, thank you though. I had everything not being immediately used, in storage for when I move in with Alex next semester when her lease for her roommate is up. The rest fit in my car.”

  We’re almost finished eating when he gets a determined look on his face. Ah, shit I knew it. He was gonna bring it up. I tense waiting for what he’s going to say.

  “If you weren’t interested in anything except friendship you could have just told me. I wouldn’t have held it against you. ‘Dealing with stuff?” I’m not stupid Remi, what else would you say when you need to stay here and I could fuck it up for you?” He glares at me with a wounded look on his face. “I wouldn’t do that, even if you don’t want to be with me, I don’t have a problem with you being here.”

  “Eli, it’s not that I wasn’t interested, but if you want to be an ass about it maybe for now it’s probably best to be friends. Especially with the fact that we’re going to be living together for the near future.” I don’t know what else to say without making the situation worse. I never thought it was really that big a deal. “To be perfectly clear I thought you, the jock, wanted a fling with the model. I do hear your friends, I’m not stupid either Eli and I’ve not heard you say anything differently. You seemed genuinely nice, but I really have things going on and right now they’re not your business. If you don’t want me here just say so and I’ll leave.” I’m so pissed I want to yell some more, I count to ten in my head and thankfully it helps. Fighting with Eli the first day I’m here isn’t what I wanted.

 
; Eli stays quiet for a moment, then gets up, thanks me for dinner, rinses his dishes, puts them in the dishwasher and wishes me goodnight. He walks down the hall without turning back and disappears into his room. Now that I’m getting over my mad, I start to feel bad that I probably hurt his feelings. It’s not what I intended. I put the leftovers away and make my own way to bed. I have a long day of classes ahead tomorrow.

  As I’m lying in bed I think about the times I’ve been out with Eli. The first time was after a game. Alex and her roommate Gina were waiting on Gina’s boyfriend to get out of the locker room. Since Alex and I were planning on doing something together I was with them. That’s when Eli came out of the locker room with Gina’s boyfriend. I just stared at him. He was extremely good looking. He came out with a confident swagger like a lot of attractive guys. He caught me staring and stared back smiling. He made some idiotic comment about it being his birthday and strippers. I turned and started walking away while Alex busted out laughing so hard she was bent over to catch her breath. He took off after me apologizing saying he thought I would find it funny. Well, obviously I hadn’t found it funny. I stood there glaring at him while he asked if I would go bowling with him and some other team members to make it up to me. Alex and I went and actually had a good time. He did cute things like ‘helping me with my form’ or pulling me into his lap. He was so sweet about it that I didn’t find it creepy or uncomfortable. We had an immediate connection and I made a conscious effort to enjoy myself. That was the start of weekly group things I’d gone on with Eli since school started. Each one bringing us closer. Now I was wondering in the couple months that it had been why he hadn’t ever brought me here. I had never really thought about it before. Must be that rule that him and Samantha had talked about, come to think of it my roommate Cindy said something too. I’d have to ask later.