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WANTED:
ROOMMATE, CLEAN, NON-SMOKER…
He knew
that the ad continued, but he didn’t care. All he knew was
that person needed a roommate and thanks to this morning’s
fiasco he was in need of a room. Preferably an anonymous
one. Scanning the ad one more time, he saw it had just
posted today and flipping open his phone he called the
number while the charred smell of his belongings filled his
nose.
“Hello?”
he spoke slowly as a voice picked up on the other end. “I
was…um…calling about the ad you placed for a roommate.”
“Wow that
was fast,” a husky voice replied. “Well, okay. Do you want
to come by and see it?”
“If now
is a good time, I would appreciate it.” His jade eyes swept
over the ashes that seemed to mock his very existence. He
shifted his weight so the crutches didn’t continue to dig
into his armpits.
“Sure.
Let me give you directions.”
Waving
for a cab, he maneuvered his way down to the curb and
climbed in before saying, “I just need the address. I’m in a
car.” He tried not to focus on how soothing the voice was to
his already rattled nerves.
The
address was rattled off in his ear and he relayed the
information to the driver. He closed his phone after saying
he was on his way and watched as a blonde woman walked out
of the house and placed her hands on her hips and glared at
his retreating cab. The urge to turn around was strong but
he ignored it, knowing full well what he would see. Sparks
shooting out of her blue eyes and her Jimmy Choo covered
feet tapping out an irritated cadence on the sidewalk. And
beside her, would be the burnt remains of his personal
items.
Nope.
Turning around was not anything he wanted to do. All his
sports memorabilia gone. Those baseball cards that
were…correction…had been worth a pretty penny, sat beside
his burnt clothes, in the fire pit that had been severely
misused.
The only
reason his cell phone hadn’t gone up as well, was it had
been attached to him at the doctor’s office. This was
definitely not a good way to start off a week.
The cab
slowed and the man driving turned and gave him the total
due. Opening the cab door, he carefully transferred his
lower body out of the vehicle before lifting the rest of the
way out.
“Hey,
Mister,” the cabbie hollered out of the open window. “Want
me to wait?”
His
string of bad luck flashed through his memory banks,
tempting a ‘yes’ to slip out of his mouth, but he clamped it
back and shook his head. “No. I’ll be fine. But thanks.”
Hope my luck changes.
Shoving
his toothpick back in his mouth, the driver shrugged. “Your
call, man.” He put his car in gear and drove away. Eyeing
the five stairs that led to the brownstone, he sighed and
slowly made his way up to the door and knocked.
****
“I can’t
believe you put an ad in the paper!” the woman screeched.
Not even
trying to contain her frustration the other woman shoved a
hand through her short asymmetrical Cleopatra hairstyle.
“Stop yelling at me, Cami. Jesus, I’m not a kid.”
Camilla,
aka Cami, crossed her arms and glared at her little sister.
“You are acting like one. Putting that out there. Do you
know how many weirdoes will get your address and come after
you? What on earth would ever, ever make you do
something like this, Jaleza Ellamae Maxwell?”
Jaleza
Ellamae Maxwell.
“Wow, you
must be pissed. I got the whole name this time.” The
woman being yelled at responded in a tone that dripped
sarcasm.
“Jem,
I…I…I just don’t get it. Why do this?” Cami realized she was
going to make no headway by yelling at her younger sister.
All that did was get her to stop listening.
“Cami,”
Jem said. “I figured with rent I can put more money towards
my dream.”
Her
sister arched a brow. “What dream? Not that stupid—”
“I think
you need to leave now. I don’t criticize you about all your
stupid choices.” Jem placed her hands on her hips and glared
at her sister. “
Cami’s
brown eyes flashed. “My stupid choices? My?” She took a step
closer to her younger sister.
Eyebrow
still raised, Jem didn’t bat an eye. “Yes. I know you ain’t
about to stand there and tell me you haven’t done
questionable things.” Her harsh tone hid the hurt she felt.
“And I don’t criticize your dreams.” Well, I wouldn’t if
you ever had one.
“It is my
job to make sure you do all you can do to succeed.”
And
apparently make me feel like dirt.
She forced a smile. “Oh. Well, I’m doing fine. Don’t you
have, like a family to go to?”
Cami
huffed. “As the eldest sibling…”
Jem
rolled her eyes and walked away. She highly doubted her
sister would even know she had left. The ring of her phone
made her smile. Another reason to ignore her.
“Hello?”
Jem murmured into the phone as her gaze drifted back to her
sister who was still rambling on as if she were still there.
“Hello?”
a masculine voice said. “I was…um…calling about the ad you
placed for a roommate.”
Jem
frowned. She hadn’t expected a man to call her about an
apartment. But the slight hesitation in his voice made her
frown crinkle up into a grin. Focus on the money, Jem.
You will be all the closer to your dream.
As if
realizing she no longer had an audience, Cami shut her mouth
with a snap and walked over to stand before her sister. Her
mouth opened but she kept her comments to herself as Jem
flashed a hand before her.
Anger
lurked in her eyes as she waited for her sister to finish on
the phone but when the call ended, Cami exploded, “Was that
someone about the ad?”
“Actually
it was,” Jem said. Her mocha eyes twinkled as she added. “It
was a guy.”
“WHAT?!”
Cami’s screech reverberated through the brownstone. “No. No.
NO! I forbid it. You will not live with a man.”
With a
sigh that bespoke of extreme familiarity with the demands,
Jem remained calm. “Actually, I can. If he is the roommate
that works the best, I will.” I wonder how many years I
would get for killing my sister.
“You are
just going to be a slut. No matter how much I try to help
you, you are still just a slut.” Cami stated with disgust.
The
twinkle died and was replaced by the glow of anger. “Well
now,” she drawled with a thick syrupy tone. “I think I have
had just about enough of your constructive criticism.
You know where the door is.”
Camilla
seemed to realize she had pushed it too far. “Look, I didn’t
mean that. It’s just, what kind of message are you sending
if you let some man live here with you,” her tone placating.
It had no
effect on Jem. “Yes you did. You always assume I am going to
jump into bed with a guy. I won’t be sending any kind of
message except we will be roommates.” Jem was directing her
sister to the door.
The knock
wasn’t heard by either of the women, for it was very light.
Cami
jerked it open, looking back at her sister angry herself
now, sneered, “Well one of us has been pregnant.” Spinning
around she froze. “Who are you?” she snapped.
****
Chad was
stunned by the venom in the woman’s voice who yanked open
the door. I did call. “I’m here about the apartment.
I called a little bit ago.”
“You’re
white.”
He pursed
his lips. Okay, this isn’t going well. Seconds before
he could say anything back, another woman appeared beside
the first one. Her gaze was much kinder as she looked at him
and sent him an apologetic smile.
“Hi. You
must be the one who called about the apartment?” Her voice
rang familiar to him as he recalled the huskiness from the
short call.
“I did.”
Chad wished he looked a bit better, he felt like he should
give a better impression. Unfortunately all his clothes were
ashes by now. “Perhaps now isn’t a good time.”
“Nonsense. I’m Jem, come on in and I’ll show you the room.”
“Jaleza!”
Cami stepped in front of the man on the porch. “I know you
aren’t about to bring a white man in here.”
“Camilla,
you were just leaving. Goodbye.” Jem gave her sister a not
so gentle push and held the door for the man on the porch.
Following his slow movements inside the brownstone, Jem shut
the door on her sister’s rant.
Her eyes
traveled over the potential roommate. Well, he was white,
and scruffy looking. His brown hair was a shaggy mess on his
head. He was hunched over his crutches like he was in a lot
of pain. Wafting from him was the faint smell of ash. “Do
you need to sit down?” Jem asked, watching him shift
uncomfortably.
“If you
don’t mind. I’m still getting used to these things.” He
turned his head and met her gaze, the faint hint of a smile
drifted across his lips.
Green.
Jade green eyes met Jem’s stare. They were intense and
hinted of passion that seemed to be in seclusion yet tempted
her to try and bring it out.
“No prob.
I can answer any questions you may have. Would you like
something to drink?” Jem didn’t understand why she wanted to
make him feel at home. But despite the shaggy appearance she
felt drawn to him.
“Water
would be wonderful,” Chad said.
His eyes
traveled over her retreating form. She was a beautiful
woman. About five-five with a nice hourglass figure, and she
had shiny straight black hair that complemented the toffee
color of her skin. Full lips sat below a cute nose. She had
looked directly at him with her big pooling mocha eyes,
despite the nasty words that were coming out of that other
woman’s mouth. Funny, he couldn’t even recall what the other
woman looked like.
“Here you
go,” Jem broke in. As he looked up he handed him the chilled
bottled water.
“Thank
you.” he smiled. “By the way, my name is Chad.”
She
smiled. “Well, that’s a good thing to know.” Jem maneuvered
herself over to a different chair and sat down. Jean clad
legs were crossed in front of her and she put those
searching eyes back on his face. Well, he sure isn’t much
to look at. Although those lips are pretty nice.
*
Jem was
amazed when she looked at her watch and found that it was
nearly dinner time. She had just spent her entire afternoon
with a man she didn’t know from Adam and it was one of the
best days she had had.
He was
genuinely a nice man. Chad looked in her eyes when she
talked and it seemed actually listened to what she had said.
Pushing up from where she sat on the couch, Jem glanced at
the man who sat in an overstuffed chair, his cast propped up
on a footstool.
Those
jade eyes of his were alert, regardless of the sleepy look
he portrayed. The hooded look they had peeking behind from
those thick lashes were misleading. Jem swallowed as she
stepped toward the swinging door leading to the kitchen.
“So, what
do you think?” she asked, pausing beside the door.
“I
think.” Chad pushed up from the comfortable seat and put his
crutches under his already sore arms. “I would love to rent
a room here. If you feel comfortable living with a man, that
is.”
“Well, we
seem to get along, so if you can handle the down payment
then sure, I’d say it was a deal.”
“No
problem. I’ll call a cab and get to the bank. First month,
last month and a security deposit, right?”
“A cab.
Nonsense, by the time one gets here and you to a bank, it
will be closed. I’ll take you.” Whoa, Jem. What the hell
are you doing?
“I don’t
want to impose on you.” Chad pulled out his cell phone.
“I’ll call a cab.”
“Don’t
worry; I’m out to go shopping anyways. Um, when do you want
to move in? I don’t know when you can get your things here.”
A
beautiful blush ran up his face. Clearing his throat, he
licked his lips. “Remember my ex that I told you about?”
“Yes. The
crazy woman.” Her eyes narrowed. “She isn’t like a stalker
or anything is she?”
“Stalker,
no…I wouldn’t say that. But she did just burn all my
possessions today.”
“You
shittin’ me?” Jem was aghast. “Her ass in jail?”
“Not a
chance. Brittany doesn’t go to jail. Her highness doesn’t
do jail, would perhaps be a better way of putting it.”
Jem
laughed, she couldn’t help it. Brittany. “Oh that’s
priceless. What’s her last name?”
Her
laughter wound into his bruised heart and soothed it,
kissing away the pain and opening his eyes to the fact that
not all women were like Brittany. “Brittany Gates, her name
is Brittany Caroline Gates.”
Jem wiped
her eyes as she continued to roll with laughter. “She
sounds…sounds…special.” She reached for her keys and said,
“Well let’s get going.”
As he
turned toward the door his cell phone began to chime.
“Chadwick,” he snapped into the receiver, a bit upset at the
interruption. From the corner of his eye he noticed that she
slipped back into the kitchen to give him some privacy.
“Hey,”
Chad’s voice broke into her revive. He had pushed open the
door and stopped. Jem stood by the sink staring out into the
backyard. For a moment, Chad indulged in a fantasy. A brief
one that included him and the woman he had just met.
His green
gaze moved over her dark jeans and up the teal jacket she
had slipped on. He pictured her waiting for him after a long
day of work, with that amazing smile she had. His arms could
hold her properly, instead of the crutches. What was love
really like?
“Ready?”
Jem asked as she turned to face him.
“Actually, that was a friend of mine; he is on his way with
the money and some clothes I had left at his place.” Chad
tried to read her reaction. Was that disappointment he saw
in her eyes?
“Ok, um,
well then I guess I’ll go.” She fiddled with the string on
her jacket.
“Hey, I’m
not gonna rip you off. I am grateful you are taking me in as
a roommate. Trust me.” His eyes implored her belief in his
honesty.
Despite
everything she had been told about white men, most of it
from her angry sister, Jem found herself believing his
words. “Ok, in that case, you know where your room is and
I’ll see you when I get back.”
His head
nodded as he smiled. “See you then.” Chad followed her back
into the living room and sat back down on the couch. He kept
his gaze on her as she opened the door and left. Her
hesitation was obvious as was her desire to turn around, but
she kept right on going.
As the
door closed quietly behind her, he smiled. “Maybe this day
isn’t so horrible after all. Guess I may have to thank
Brittany for being such a bitch.” |
