Page 30 of The Roommate Subtext

Maggie elbowed Blake. “He doesn’t know how good he’s got it.”

“Hearing your past roommate horror stories, I’ve got a pretty good idea.” Blake shuddered.

“This is why I’m never going to live with anyone ever again.” Andrew grabbed another few fries, then paused. “Outside of a relationship.”

A small smile curled Zane’s lips. The two of them would have been adorable if Maggie wasn’t suddenly stabbed by a pang of jealousy. She’d have escaped to get more food if she wasn’t still eating this ice cream sandwich (which was delicious, but yes, absolutely too big).

“I might bail on this ice cream sandwich for those fries,” Blake said, like he was reading her mind. “Maggie, do you want to split one?”

Maggie nodded. “Want me to come with you?”

“No, I’ve got it.” He was up on his feet before Maggie could protest. Great, now she was the third wheel again, this time with a couple she didn’t even know.

“I think you’re good for Blake,” Andrew said. “He’s been happier lately.”

Maggie’s face grew hot. The compliment made her feel … something. “Me? What? We’re not even that close.”

“You’re friends though, right?” Andrew leaned closer.

“I guess.” She didn’t have too many friends, but she would count Blake among them in some form. “So I’m good for him? What, was he starting to talk to his plants or something?”

“He always talks to the plants. That’s not new.” Andrew’s expression remained deadpan. “But living alone isn’t good for him. He’s social. Back before he worked at PlantSeed—” He stopped talking abruptly, like a switch flipped, and Maggie was about to ask more when a shadow fell over them.

“Found you!” Cora and Vanessa joined them on the grass, and whatever Andrew was going to say was gone. Vanessa immediately launched into a description of the giant baked potato they’d shared and the ridiculous number of toppings they’d managed to add. Cora nodded along, adding a few descriptions at regular intervals. Maggie shifted to watch Blake at the front of the French-fry line. He was the only guy in line not on his phone, looking around him, taking in the beautiful day.

What a dweeb.

She realized she was smiling and turned back to the group, where Andrew was giving her an intent look. Instead, she shifted her attention to Cora, who was responding to Zane’s question about the latest work their lab was doing. Vanessa brought out a different side of Cora, much more animated than usual, and Maggie decided she liked it. Even if it was unexpected.

Blake rejoined them and flopped down next to Maggie. “Hey, the gang’s all here. What did I miss?” Unlike Zane, he apparently hadn’t eaten any of the fries in the walk over; the cone was still full.

Maggie grabbed a few fresh, hot fries. “Just getting to know each other. We saved the intimate questions for your return.”

He moved to stand up again. “That’s my cue to go—” and Maggie pulled him back down once more, all of them laughing. His arm was surprisingly strong under her grip; corded lean muscle. When he looked down at her hand, she snatched it away. She should have let go earlier.

Across from her, Andrew was giving her that look again, the one that indicated he saw more than he let on.

Too bad Maggie couldn’t be sure what he saw.

EIGHT

Blake was going to need a nap to recover from that food truck festival. What had begun as a nice excursion to socialize and get lunch had turned into a multi-hour eating fest, far more expensive than he’d planned and absolutely delicious. He collapsed down on the couch.

Maggie sagged onto the recliner. “That was amazing. I think I’m going to die.”

“Same.” He shook his head. “The waffles were a bad idea.”

“They were incredible.”

He winced, stomach gurgling. “Incredibly heavy. I need a nap.”

“That sounds good.” Maggie yawned. “Food coma.” She still looked cute, wearing jeans and a bright orange linen blouse that welcomed fall. He’d been distracted all afternoon by the way the neckline kept shifting and revealing her collarbones, something he’d never considered sexy before.

“You’re not expecting dinner, are you?” Blake winced. “Please tell me you’re not going to ask me for food or order food or do anything related to food.”

“God, no. I don’t think I’ll eat for a week.” She sighed, leaning her head back, long column of her neck exposed. “That’s a lie. I’ll be hungry by breakfast.”

Blake laughed. “I’m going to nap. No guarantees that I will wake up before tomorrow.”