My Ex’s Roommates: Chapter 42

“I don’t even know why I’m as upset as I am! Silas’ dad is right, of course. Whatever we’re doing can’t go on for much longer. No one would understand it. It would negatively affect our careers.” I paced back and forth in front of Casey’s bed. “He loves Silas so much and it’s really great and I’m barely jealous at all. I spent two years with Jake feeling like I wasn’t good enough and trying to be someone that was. I don’t want to feel that way anymore. I know I don’t have a normal family or money or connections or even any giant dreams of becoming a doctor or lawyer. That’s okay, though. Right?”

Casey frowned up at me. “Are you serious, Harper? You’re worried that you’re not good enough for them? We’re talking about the same guys, right? My brother, the guy who doesn’t know how to start a washing machine? Dylan and Silas, the two idiots who almost died once because both of them refused to back down while playing that chubby bunny marshmallow game? The two of them nearly choked to death in perfect synchronization. You’re too good for them, if anything.”

“They didn’t.”

She snorted. “Yeah, they did. And Carter nearly let them die because he panicked and started googling what to do instead of doing anything.”

I pressed my knuckles into my lips and shook my head. “That’s terrifying.”

“Yeah. They’re idiots, Harper. And you’re great.” She stood up and grabbed my shoulders. “When’s the last time you did anything fun?”

“What?” I crossed my arms and shrugged. “What kind of fun?”

“I don’t mean the sleeping with my brother kind of fun. When’s the last time you went out with girlfriends and had fun?” She read the answer on my face and rolled her eyes. “You’ve been around too many bitches, clearly. I’m going to take you out. You deserve fun and I think you need it. You’re so tense and worried about shit but you’re in college, Harper! You’re too young to be so tense and worried all the time.”

“How does this help me feel better about this morning with Silas’ family?”

“You need to live a little, girlfriend. Once you have a little fun, you’ll realize that you’re worrying too much about if you’re good enough for those guys when what you should really be worried about is if they’re good enough for you. Come on. I’m treating you to a day out.”

I winced. “Fine but can we not go anywhere that we could run into anyone? I kind of told them I was going to work.”

She grinned. “Not a problem.”

Four hours, a mani/pedi, and an extravagant lunch later, I did feel better. It probably had a lot to do with the man named Victor who was rubbing a wonderful smelling oil into my back and shoulders.

Casey was on the massage table next to me, her own giant man rubbing her. We looked at each other and both laughed at the same time. She’d brought me to get a couples massage at a spa for fun. Rose petals and a bucket of champagne had been waiting on us when we arrived.

“Feeling better?” She groaned as her guy dug deeper into her lower back. “Yes, Michael, right there. That’s the spot I like to call my mother.”

I blushed at the husky tone of her voice as she made pleasure noises. She was so much more comfortable than I was. As much as I was thoroughly loving what Victor was doing to me, my lips were sealed tight because the second I made a single sound, I was running out of there.

“How is your mother, Miss Hayes?” Michael focused all of his attention on her lower back.

Casey snorted. “She’s still kicking. Why? Has she not been in to flirt with you lately?”

I gasped and mumbled into my table. “When the hell did I wake up in a soap opera?”

“Don’t be so scandalized, Harper. My mom doesn’t stray. She just likes to… I don’t know what to call it.”

Michael offered up a few words. “Tease? Peruse? Dance with the devil?”

“Sure. I think she’s a bit of a voyeur. She loves to come in here and watch the guys. Carter had to make Dylan and Silas start wearing shirts in the pool a few summers ago because the woman was eyeballing them so hard.”

I went up on my elbows and stared at her. “Are you kidding?”

She grinned and shook her head. “I’m not. Stick with me, babe. I’ll tell you all the dirty family secrets.”

Victor pressed his hand to the middle of my back and pushed me back down. “You, Miss Harper, are holding a lot of tension in your shoulders here. What should we name your troublesome spot?”

Casey giggled. “Would Dylan, Silas, and Carter be too much of a mouthful? I mean, all things considered, I’m assuming no.”

I choked on my saliva. “Casey!”

If I thought Casey was done with our day out after the world’s most embarrassing massage, she proved to me that I was thinking too small. She had our hair and makeup done at the spa and then a personal shopper showed up with a dozen dresses for us to choose from. It was insane. Every time I tried to tell Casey that I was starting to feel like Pretty Woman, though, she shushed me.

“We’re young, we’re beautiful, and it’s Saturday night, Harper! We’re not staying in and pouting over boys. We’re going out! Tonight, I’m your boyfriend, babe, and I know how to spoil my lady.” Smiling like a madwoman, Casey pointed to a deep green dress. “That one. You’re going to look amazing.”

“Did you just say that you’re my boyfriend tonight? What did Michael put in that massage oil?” I couldn’t help laughing. I’d never had a friend like Casey. She was going overboard with all the spending, yes, but she was kind, funny, and insisted on building me up. She hadn’t allowed me to feel bad about myself. She demanded I think better of myself. I grabbed her and hugged her tight. “Thank you.”

She cupped my face and huffed at me. “You can thank me later with a sandwich and a blowjob. Isn’t that what men say? I don’t know. This is my first time being a boyfriend. I’ll need to practice.”

“Honestly, I think you’re doing a pretty great job. You had Jake beat in the first five minutes.”

“Sorry to inform you, girlfriend, but that sandwich you’re supposed to make me would beat Jake at being a boyfriend.” She pushed me away and pointed at the dress again. “Get your butt in that dress and get ready to dance your butt off.”

Later, in a haze of drinks and shitty pop music, I danced with Casey like I didn’t have a care in the world and felt good enough. Good enough to be her friend when she was so amazing, and good enough to be with my guys, no matter what Terry McNeil thought of me. On the dancefloor with everyone else crushed into the small bar, I was the same as them. My past, my future, none of it mattered, only that I didn’t spill my drink or step on anyone’s toes.

Hugging Casey closer, I yelled in her ear. “You were right! I just needed to live a little!”

She bumped her glass into mine. “I’m always right! Let’s get another drink and request the DJ play something that isn’t whatever this crap is.”

I cheered. “Yay! More drinks and better music!”