Page 36 of Against The Boards

“I’m gonna look at apartments today. Hey, do you know the best way to get to UPenn? The first one I’m looking at is near there. Should I take SEPTA, or should I drive?”

“I’m coming with you,” I said sternly.

She balked and shook her head. “No!”

“You don’t know the city, and these landlords could take advantage of you because of your Canadian accent.”

“I don’t have an accent!” she protested.

I stared her down.

She growled. “Fine, but I’m getting a shower, you dick.”

She stormed off to TJ’s room to use the shower, and I started making breakfast because I wasn’t dealing with a hangry Rox. Just when I thought we'd come to an understanding, I pissed her off again.

I was plating some eggs and toast when I heard her heels click-clack against the hardwood floor. She looked all professional in a black pencil skirt and a smart white blouse. I scratched my beard and decided I should shave it. It got too hot during the summer, and Philly humidity was the worst. Plus, the clean-shaven look might help with appearances.

Why did I care about that? I wasn’t looking at apartments; she was.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” she said. She took the plate I offered and sat down to eat. I shoveled food into my face and then went to go shower myself.

She was doing the dishes when I got out of the shower.

She glanced at me and then did a double-take. “You shaved.”

I rubbed my hand over my jaw. “Yeah, it gets too hot in the summer.”

She squinted at me.

“What?” I asked. I didn’t like the look she gave me. Did she like the beard?

“Hmm.”

“What does ‘hmm’ mean?”

She shrugged. “You looked better with the beard.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, hides all the ugly,” she said, but she smiled, so I knew she was teasing me.

I rubbed my face. Huh. I didn’t know that she had a thing for beards.

“Benny?”

“Hmm?”

“About last night…”

I smirked. “You want a repeat?”

She glared at me. “Why do I even try? You aren’t coming with me today, you ass.”

“Relax, feisty. What’s on your mind?”

She dried her hands on the hand towel and bit her lip. “Can we keep that to ourselves?”

Oh, that was the problem. I guessed she realized that explaining it to any of our friends could get awkward. If word got to Noah, I was sure he would tell TJ I banged his sister. He would break the bro-code if he didn’t. If last night was a one-time thing, it was better to not tell a soul.