Page 276 of Burn Bright

I have a visual of Eliot passing out after Charlie and Beckett tried detaching a very incessant girl off him when he was far too drunk to consent. I honestly debated whether she slipped him something that night.

“Maybe that’s a good thing,” I tell Tom.

Eliot outstretches his arms, clutching a stack of envelopes in one hand. “Rooming with me is the better option.”

“I can also wear headphones,” Tom says, more to me than to Eliot. “You’ll barely hear my music.”

“That’s a good point,” I tell Eliot.

“See,” Tom says. “I’m thebestoption. You heard it straight from Ben.”

“Roll the tapes,” I smile over at him. “I’m pretty certain I said you’re both good options.”

Eliot raises his brows at Tom. “You aren’t a Virgin Mary. What happens when you bring over RJ?”

“My band is on life support. You think I have time to reignite that?”

“That’s exactly why you will, brother.”

Tom groans up at the elevator’s escape shaft.

“You seek him out when you are emotionally?—”

“Okay, okay, okay,” Tom says quickly. “How about I delete his contact? Because I will.” He pulls out his phone.

“Whoa, whoa,” I cut in, holding out a hand to stop him. “Let’s not nuke your relationship because of me.”

“It’s not arelationship,” Tom emphasizes. “It’s a casual—casual,” he repeats to Eliot, “situation.”

Eliot is mouthing to me,relationship.I have a feeling the truth is somewhere in the middle, considering something with even an ember of emotion might be deemed as “serious” to Eliot.

As they go back-and-forth again, I glance between them and catch myself smiling. I never thought Tom and Eliot would fight over me this hard. Both even liked the idea of me rooming with one of them over them sharing. To be honest, I think they want to keep an eye on me, to help me, and being further isolated isn’t the way.

Having one of them as a roommate isn’t forever, but it’s a “for now” I’m not ready to end that quickly. I’m at a time in my life with my brothers we won’t ever get back. We’re young, unfettered—able to be more selfish, follow our ambitions, fuck the night away, and let it all go.

I finally understand what Beckett meant about living in the city with them. It’s moments I will never recapture, and I want to exist inside each one instead of shoving them away. I can’t let my mind steal anymore from me.

Easier said than done, but I’m trying. I’m going to try with all that I have in my body and soul.

The elevator beeps. Doors slide open, and they continue this debate in the hallway. As things grow heated again, I cut in,“Instead of trying to figure out which one of you is better for me, why don’t you decide who’d rather deal with me? Because I might not be the world’s greatest roommate.”

“Hogwash,” Eliot denounces.

“Yeah, bah humbug, Ben Pirrip,” Tom also says. “You don’t snore. You’re not throwing dirty laundry everywhere. You’re quiet when you wake early. The worst thing about you is your girlfriend—it’s a joke. It’s ajoke.”

I’m glaring.

Eliot walks backward in front of us and extends his arms. “I love your girlfriend. This settles it.”

“No,no.” Tom cinches his face. “I was joking. Okay, Harry and I have an actual back-and-forth. What do you have with her, Eliot?”

“We also have a back-and-forth, thank you for asking.” Eliot lifts his brows to me. “We’re friends. Best friends.”

I try not to laugh. “That makes a ton of sense, actually,” I banter. “Seeing as how she’smybest friend.”

“I’ve might’ve unseated you, brother.”

“Yeah, that’s not possible.”