IOU

by Kristy Marie

At this point, though, you’re probably wondering why I’m screaming, ‘Fuck you!’ instead of grabbing some water and helping Tucker pull the curtain rod down. It’s simple. I hate Tucker and hope his dick catches fire.

At least Tucker is covering his junk. Wait. “Why are you covering yourself, Tucker? Your dick has to be more useful than fucking my roommate. Pee on the fire, why don’t you? Do at least one redeeming thing tonight.”

I don’t know who she thinks she’s fooling, but she’s not masking that horrific squall of pain. It sounds like a coyote screeching into my throw pillows while attempting to guzzle a beer.

“A sandwich is fine.” She smiles casually as if she won some internal argument. “Okay. I’ll leave the stuff out for you.”

I love her

I can't take much more crying. Never in my life have I lost so much sleep worrying over someone. And she's only my roommate.

Last night was . . . eye-opening. I care for her. God, I think I might be in fucking love with her.

Paul is a hard no. I don’t care if he did graduate from Harvard and has been running an independent brokerage for eight years. He looks like he farts in paper bags for fun.

I want everything from Ainsley James. Every second of crazy. Every angry word. I want it all. Every inch she’s willing to let me see.

“I won’t let anyone come between us,” he murmurs, moving the hair off my neck and placing a soft kiss against my heated skin. “It’s not about staking a claim, but about protecting a future.”

“I’m sorry,” I say earnestly. “I should have told you about Bostic and his fucking favor, but I didn’t know we would become friends.” It was a shock to me too. “I thought I would let you stay a couple nights and then you’d be gone.” But then she had to ask me to look into her eyes and see if I saw two shits or a fuck. “I didn’t know I would fall in love with you.”

“I found myself making excuses as to why the place wasn’t right for you.” Here goes nothing. “But the truth is, Ains, it wasn’t right for you because I wouldn’t be with you. I like living with you.” I correct myself. “I love living with you.” I test moving one of my hands up her arm. “I love buying toothpaste once a month because you use all mine. I love waking up to you in my bed and burning macaroni and cheese on the stove.” A tear rolls down her cheek. I swipe it away and replace it with my hand. “I love watching your stupid walrus show.” That gets a laugh out of her. “They are sea lions, don’t act like you don’t know the difference.” My heart aches at the teary strain in her voice. “You were the best thing to ever happen to me,” I admit. “I don’t care that you love Lawrence more than me, I’ll settle for being second best in your life.”

There, scattered all over the green felt, looks like all the IOUs he’s written me over the past six years. “The way I see it, you’ll never pay off all of this debt. It would take you a lifetime.” He rubs the scruff on his face, pulling me closer. “So, a lifetime is what I will take.” He pushes me back so he can stand and then . . . kneels while digging into his pocket and pulling out a black velvet box. “Ainsley James. I’m full of total shit.” I burst out laughing at his vulgar beginning. “You owe me nothing and everything. I’m a man who played his odds. The over-under for a woman as incredible as you ever being with a man like me was ridiculous. I knew I didn’t deserve you and I never will. You see me. You got to know me when no one else did. You make me a better man. Marry me⁠—” He doesn’t phrase it like a question. “And let me be indebted to you for a lifetime.”

The man who scared an entire university bows his head and places a kiss to my stomach before pulling up and leveling me with a look of resonation. “Let me try again?”

“Ainsley James.” He clears his throat. “I love you more than life itself. Let me owe you a lifetime. Let me attempt to be the man and the father”—he kisses my stomach again—“you both deserve. Marry me.”