Roommaid

by Sariah Wilson

I wanted a man who would love and accept me. Someone who didn’t care about money or who my family was.

“So this Tyler guy wants someone to live in his apartment who will clean up after him, look after his dog, and not have sex with him. Don’t they usually call those people wives?”

“When I love something, I don’t do it halfway.”

“My people are look-down-their-noses-at-you rich. So I am fluent in snob. I could teach you.”

“I’m serious. You were unquestionably the belle of the ball tonight. Did you leave behind one of your shoes just in case?” This time he did actually laugh. “I’m not trying to land a prince.” “You’d be the only one.”

“That’s excellent,” she informed me. “Why?” “Because a man who spoils his dog will definitely spoil the woman he’s in love with.”

“Ha-ha. I need it. My face needs it.” “You don’t need it. You’re beautiful.” “It’s why I’m beautiful!”

“Come on, you’re easily the hottest girl in this apartment.”

“Maybe I don’t mind taking care of you.”

“You could get colored contact lenses, but I don’t think you should because you already have beautiful eyes. I like how they change.”

He looked up and saw me and just . . . stared. Like, awkwardly. Or maybe I was the only one feeling awkward. But it seemed to last a long time and there was a strange tension in the air that I didn’t know how to explain.

By making me feel like I was never good enough for him, he had ensured that I spent all my time trying to change his mind.

Loud music was playing and Tyler was gleefully dancing around the room with Pigeon yipping at his heels and bouncing along with him.

“I could kiss you.”

But it is your decision, hard as it may be. Someone told me recently that we always have a choice. Make the one that will make you happy. Not our parents.”

I did as he instructed and nearly gasped when I found a Hello Kitty level. “You’re kidding me with this,” I said. The smile on his face let me know that he’d done it for me.

I’d fallen in love with him. Slowly, day by day, he had become the most important person in my life.

“This is your home, too. And I’m so glad you moved in. It’s hard to remember a time when you weren’t part of my life, and even though we came together under some unusual circumstances, I’m really grateful for you.”

Shay gasped. “I don’t know what he’s here to fix, but mine just broke.”

“I want to be with you. I want us. Together. Dating.”

You’re just Madison to me. My Madison.”

“Of course I did. You’re important to me. You, not your family. I don’t care who your parents are. I hope you know that.”

“Here’s the thing I wanted to talk to you about. I should have been more honest with you,” he said. “I wanted to tell you how much I loved coming home to you every day. That I found myself heading home early even though I should have stayed at the office. At some point you became more important to me than my job. I wanted to be with you, all the time. I couldn’t admit it out loud, but I knew that I was falling for you.” “Oh.” That was the absolute sweetest thing ever and I didn’t know what else to say. “Because from the very beginning you made me feel invincible. Like I could do anything I set my mind to. You believed in me in a way no one else had in a long time. I had to pretend in so many parts of my life, like I was playing some role. But I never felt that way when I was with you. I was always just me, and I loved that. And I also loved that you were bad at things like crafting and cleaning but you did them anyway and always gave it your best.”

“I was only saying what I thought you wanted to hear. I said I didn’t want to date anyone else because I was in love with you!”

“Just Pidge?” I teased, loving that I could be like this with him. That we were us again. “She won’t leave your room. She needs you. I need you. I’m lost without you. I was content in my life before I met you, but I can’t go back to how things used to be. There’s only being with you and missing you. The only life I want is one with you in it.”

“You are so good and kind and smart and funny and brave and I adore you.” “Just adore?” Taking one of my hands, he put it against his chest, over his heart. “I love you in the worst way possible. With everything that I am.”

I know you. I know who you are and what you want and I love everything about you, good and bad.

“I didn’t like my life growing up, so I hid it. I got the right job, the right clothes, leased the right apartment, dated a certain type of girl. I hid behind all of it. Nobody ever got to see the real me. Until you. When I’m with you, I never feel like I’m hiding. You see me. You’re the only person I’ve ever been able to open up to. I’m always going to be honest with you. I’m always going to love you.”

I grinned at his stupid joke and was excited to think about the fact that I was going to spend a long time grinning at dumb things he said. “I’m going to have to get a cheaper apartment when the lease is up,” he said. “Which is good, because we’re only going to need one room.” “Are you asking me to move in with you?” “What I want is for you to marry me. But we can talk about it when you’re ready.”

“Orb weavers.” “Did you just say orb weavers?” he repeated, laughter peppering his voice. “They put out this pheromone that makes moths fly to their deaths, and Delia asked us what that scent would be for us. This, you, you’re that scent. You smell like freedom. Possibilities.” “Funny,” he said. “I was just thinking that you smelled like all of my tomorrows. My future. My wife.” “That’s closer. Next time, make it a question.” The next time, he did.