Getting up, I grab the dirty plates. I don’t want to continue this conversation anymore. I’m getting emotional whiplash with Logan, and I am tired. Plus, Ben didn’t even notice my new hair. I try not to let it bother me, but I thought I looked good.
I’m washing the dishes in the sink when I hear Ben come in with the empty pizza box. He takes care of the trash, and we head to our prospective bedrooms.
Our bedrooms share a single small hallway with the bathroom in the middle of both bedrooms. Ben heads into his room as I go into the bathroom and get ready for bed. As I leave the bathroom to head down the short hallway to my bedroom, Ben comes out of his room.
“Hey,” he says to me, and I look at him over my shoulder. “I like your new hair.” He smirks at me.
I murmur a quiet thanks, say goodnight, then hurry into my room and shut the door behind me. I lean against the door with a smile on my face. Those damn butterflies are swirling around in my belly again.
I fall asleep easily for the first time since moving into the apartment.
13
emily
We get into a pleasant rhythm over the next week. Ben works as an engineer and has a standard nine-to-five job. He seems to be a bit of a workaholic, though. Since I still have about a few weeks left of training for my new job in the ICU, I’ve been stuck with the same hours as Ben. I never realized how exhausting it was to work five days a week instead of shift work.
One morning, as I get ready for work, I hear a knock at the door. My automatic reply is to tell them to come in but then realize that probably isn’t appropriate for acquaintances, much less new roommates. Instead, I yell out that I’ll be out in a minute.
Normally, I shower at the end of a grueling, back-breaking shift at the hospital, but since I’ve had this training, I’ve had to get ready in the morning. I walk out of the bathroom, and Ben is in the kitchen making breakfast.
“Good morning, the bathroom is free for you,” I say to him as I head back into my room to get dressed.
I hear him get into the shower as I grab my work bag from the bedroom. I pass through the kitchen on the way out the frontdoor to find that Ben left a note on the small table we bought for the apartment.
“Made some breakfast for you. Have a good day—Ben.”
I can’t help the smile that stretches across my face. This is the first breakfast he has ever made for me. To avoid the morning commute, I usually leave early for work and don’t have time for breakfast.
I’m so touched by his unexpected and thoughtful gesture. Logan’s never done anything remotely similar for me before. I’m giddy with excitement as I pack my work bag. Feeling like a schoolgirl whose crush has finally noticed her.
I grab the food he made for me, shoot him a text to thank him for breakfast and head out the door. I’m eager to start my day.
After a grueling work week, I am exhausted. I can’t wait for training to be over so I can get back to my three-day work weeks of twelve-hour shifts. Yes, the days are longer, but I have more days off to recover. I’m about to change into pajamas and call it a night, but I think better of it.
I text Ben and a few of our mutual friends to invite them to happy hour. Nearly everyone sends a reply that they want to go, except Ben.
I throw my phone on my bed and walk over to my closet to find an outfit for tonight when I hear the front door open. He must have been driving when I sent my message and probably hasn’t seen it yet.
I walk out of my room to greet him and come to an abrupt stop as I almost run right into Ben, who is heading into his room.
“Oh, I didn’t see you there,” I say, my breath caught in my throat.
“Hey, roomie,” he says in greeting.
“Did you see my text about happy hour?” I ask in a rush.
“Are you asking me out, roomie?” He smirks.
“Well… I mean, yeah, if you want to go. I invited some of our friends, too.” His smile dims a little before he perks up again.
“Yeah, let me get changed first.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you in the living room, and we can walk down together.”
“Sounds good,” he says before moving around me in the narrow space. Our bodies don’t touch, but I can still feel his body heat as he steps away.
I shiver and head back into my room to finish getting ready.
