Roomies

by Christina Lauren

“I’ve never met anyone who loved my playing enough to want to put a ring on it.”

“I’d also have a beautiful wife. What would you have? Other than a famous Broadway musician husband, that is.”

The grin that comes over him is probably the best thing I’ve ever seen. It’s wide, showing teeth, crinkling his eyes. “I knew I’d like you.”

Calvin opens his mouth to answer, but seems to figure out what I’m doing. “You little shite!” I laugh, ducking the pillow he lobs in my direction.

Calvin and I exchange a look, and something giddy is born inside me at the way it feels like we have an unspoken language of snark.

But I also think she sees herself as a supporting character, even in her own life story.”

“Besides,” he says quietly, “you’re too beautiful to be inexperienced in love.”

“Yeah, I did.” He smiles down at me, proud. “It’s a great shot. You’ve got all these gifts you don’t even realize.”

Robert finds him, finally, and the two men embrace, clapping each other on the back. But again, when Robert pulls away, Calvin looks up and only then only when Robert points only when Calvin grins so wide do I realize he’s been searching for me.

“I have no idea what I want to do. I want to write and read and talk about books with people. I want to listen to music, and go out to dinner, and just live.”

“Honey, you are only twenty-five. You don’t need to have it all figured out.”