Page 4 of Loud Hot Roomie (Taboo Streets #4)

Riko

Sometimes I act before I think. I sure as shit speak before I consider the ramifications. I’ve fucked up and I know it. The look on Derek’s face before he stormed out of the house this morning has remained etched in my brain.

He hates me.

Can’t say I blame him.

After the thrill of riling him up passed, I was overcome with guilt and shame. There’s no reason to torment the poor guy. Sure, he’s hot. Would I love to make good on all the teasing? Hell yeah. But, I enjoyed the thrill of poking the bear for no other reason than my sole entertainment.

I’m a shitty roommate.

And, if I keep up my antics, I’ll have to run my ass back home with my tail between my legs.

That can’t happen which is why I’ve spent the whole damn day cleaning the house. Plus, I literally have nothing else to do. When you decide to quit college, it frees up quite a bit of time.

After bagging up an embarrassing amount of trash in my bedroom, I make my second trip to the dumpster for the day.

It’s not exactly close, but not far enough to drive either, so I make the trek past a couple of other units on foot.

Having been on my feet all day, my hamstring is aching.

Unfortunately, ibuprofen isn’t cutting it.

One of the units directly across from the dumpsters has a neat and tidy front porch.

However, their neighbors are ridiculous.

There are lawn chairs all over the grass and empty beer cans overflow from a trashcan in the middle.

Hanging from two trees is a barrel painted to look like a bull.

These neighbor seem fun. Too bad I didn’t get set up with them instead.

And miss the hottie in his brown uniform?

I just need to make peace with my roomie. It’s all good. Doesn’t mean I can’t come introduce myself later to these people.

On my way back, I pass the tidy unit, another unit, and stop in front of the third unit when a soccer ball rolls right over to me. I whip my head up to see two school age kids grinning at me.

“Want to play with us?” the boy asks. He’s missing a tooth.

“We saw your shirt said Ronaldo on the back,” the girl chimes in. “We know you like soccer too.”

I’m not sure the girl is old enough to read.

“I play college soccer,” I say with a nod. “I’m Riko.”

“This is Eloise,” the boy tells me. “She’s five. I’m Topher and I’m seven.”

I pick up the soccer ball and then toss it in the air. The kids shriek with excitement when I show them my skill as I keep the ball in the air using my feet, shins, chest, shoulders, and head.

“Keepie uppie,” I tell them with a grin. “I started doing this when I was Eloise’s age.”

She rushes over to us her curly red pigtails bouncing. “Will you teach me how?”

I play with the kids until I’m dripping with sweat. They’re full of energy and I love it. It’s the most fun I’ve had all week. Eventually, a woman with long red hair and a smattering of freckles emerges from her unit, wild eyed with worry.

“I told you two to stay in the house while Mommy naps,” she chides, shooting me an uneasy look. “Who are you?”

I try not to bristle at her tone. “Riko. I moved in with Derek next door.”

This relaxes her and she offers me her hand. “I’m Linda. These are my precocious children who don’t listen.”

“They’re awesome,” I tell her genuinely. “My new little soccer buddies.”

Both kids nod in agreement with matching grins. Linda tilts her head to the side and studies me as if I’m bullshitting her. “You’re being serious right now? Usually, I have to get onto them for bugging everyone.”

I chuckle because I’m sure my parents felt the same way about me. I’ve always been difficult. “Eloise told me all about her Barbie doll collection. She said she has three-hundred and fourteen dolls. Impressive.”

Eloise beams at me.

“Something like that,” Linda says with a grateful smile.

We both know Eloise has fourteen dolls. Topher already tattled. But, Linda likes that I play along.

“I was about to cook supper,” Linda says. “Want to eat with us?”

“Maybe another day. I need to make up with Derek. I think I made him mad this morning.”

She nods. “Well, do that. We need good people like you around. Do you mind watching them until he gets home? That would help me out a ton as I prep dinner.”

“Who wants to learn more soccer tricks?” I say to the kids.

“Me!” they both scream in unison.

Linda mouths, “thank you,” and then me and the kids get back to our fun.

I wanted to be waiting for Derek when he got home, but the kids wouldn’t let me leave when he pulled up. Linda saved the day when she told them dinner was ready. They both hugged me and then I was free to deal with my roomie.

By the time I get home and upstairs, I find that he’s already showered and is in his room with the door closed. I take a moment to quickly shower and then meander downstairs to find something to make for dinner since I’m indeed starving.

After locating some ground beef in the freezer, I start cooking it on the stove, annoyed at the slow process.

If I would have used my brain, I’d have thawed it out earlier.

My one-track mind, though, was dead set on cleaning the house for Derek.

As I cook up some spaghetti, I’m careful not to make a huge mess.

“Something smells good.”

I nearly jump out of my skin from being startled. “Holy fucking shit, you can’t sneak up on a guy like that.”

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he says, voice lighter than from earlier. “Someone’s been busy today.”

I finish draining the noodles and return them to the pot before finally eyeing him. He looks good in a tight black T-shirt and gray sweatpants. Too good. I chew on my bottom lip to keep from saying something to piss him off.

“I fucked up,” I admit as I toss in some olive oil with the noodles to keep them from sticking. “I’m going to do better.”

“I’m impressed to be honest. Didn’t expect to come home to all this.”

I can’t help but preen at his words, shooting him a bright grin. “Made you dinner, too, hubby.”

He snorts in amusement and I’m thankful he actually can take a joke. “Thank you. I’m hungry as fuck. My mouth is watering right now.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to toss out something sexual to rile him up, but in a rare show of maturity, I bite it back. If I’m being honest with myself, I want Derek to like me. I don’t want him to treat me like my parents do.

“You grab the beers and I’ll set the table,” I instruct. “I swear I won’t tell your cop friend.”

He makes a chuffing sound that I think is laughter. It makes me feel high as a kite.

Once we’re seated, I take great satisfaction in watching Derek inhale my food.

I may have grown up with a silver spoon in my mouth, but it was always covered in good food.

Mom taught me a lot in the kitchen. We could afford to have staff do the cooking for us, but it was something she always enjoyed, and now that I’m on my own, I’m thankful she taught me everything she knows.

“I didn’t even know we had all this stuff to make this,” Derek says before shoving another mouthful of food in. “Incredible.”

“I picked up more things at the store last night when you were asleep. I was out of energy drinks.”

He sets his fork down with a clatter and pins me with a firm stare. “About those things. You know they’re bad for you, right?”

“So is living off protein powder, but somehow we’re both still alive.”

The snark in my voice cuts like a blade and I immediately regret it. His entire demeanor seems to close up when I just got him to open a little. Me and my stupid mouth.

“Okay,” he says finally. “You got me there.”

I whip up my head in shock. “I do?”

“I know it’s a shitty routine.” He wolfs down another bite before saying, “I was spoiled to my mom’s cooking when I laid low with her and Dad for a few months. The protein kept me full, so I figured it was fine. I sure as hell couldn’t come up with the meals she did.”

“Oh, Dere-Dere.” I playfully nudge at his bare foot with mine under the table. “I’m going to keep you fat and happy.”

His lips curl into a cute grin that has a dimple popping out one cheek. Oh my God. How sexy is that?

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Riko.”

A flash of heat burns up my neck and settles on my cheeks. Are we flirting? Impossible. I’m not sure Derek would even know how.

“Also,” he says with faux annoyance. “Don’t call me Dere-Dere.”

Well now, obviously, I have to always call him Dere-Dere.

Derek polishes off his food and then goes for seconds. This pleases me to no end. The way to this man’s heart is through his stomach. Noted.

“I saw you got roped into babysitting Linda’s monsters.”

I frown at his back. “Topher and Eloise aren’t monsters.”

He turns around, shock on his face. “Are we talking about the same two kids?”

“They’re cool, man. They love soccer like me. We played for a few hours, but now I’m regretting it.”

I absently rub at my burning thigh. I can feel the heat of the inflammation through my basketball shorts.

“I knew you liked soccer, but I didn’t know you still played it,” Derek says as he sits back down. “I feel like there’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”

That’s because you spent all week hiding from me, Dere-Dere…

“Soccer is my life.” I sigh heavily, the spaghetti roiling in my stomach. “Was my life. Injured my hamstring and it fucks up every time I overuse it. Playing so hard today was a bad idea.”

Please offer to rub it out for me.

Derek doesn’t take the hint because, next, he says, “My ex could probably help you. Want me to reach out?”

Yeah, sure, Dere-Dere. I totally want your ex to rub all over me instead of you. Not.

“Thanks, but I have my own sadist. I’ll call up to the clinic tomorrow and get an appointment to see my PT tormenter.”

Derek motions around the house with a casual flick of his wrist. “When exactly do you go to college?”

I try not to grimace but end up doing it anyway. “I dropped out. Sorry I lied.”

His eyebrows furl together as he studies me. “Why did you drop out? No judgment. I fucking hated the one semester of college I did. Just curious.”

“Stupid leg,” I say bitterly. “Was there on a soccer scholarship but I can’t fucking play soccer anymore without immense pain.”

“I’m guessing you come from money, though. You probably didn’t need the scholarship to go. For someone who doesn’t appear to work, you have a nice-ass car and an unlimited amount of funds it would seem.”

“Trust fund baby.” I shrug my shoulders. “My parents are pissed that I’m not doing college or soccer. They can afford to pay for it without the scholarship. I think they just want to control me. It’s fucking stupid.”

Derek is quiet for a beat and then excuses himself. A few minutes later, he returns with a small blue box.

Not Tiffany’s-engagement-ring-small. Shame.

He thrusts it at me. “Maybe this will make you feel better.”

Curiosity has me ripping it open. Inside are two snickerdoodle cookies. My heart stumbles over itself.

“Just so we’re clear,” he says with a crooked, one-dimpled grin. “Cookie is not a euphemism for a blowjob. It simply means cookie. And you earned your reward.”

I beam at him, touched that he brought me cookies. “So, you’re saying I’m your good boy?”

“Something like that.”

This man doesn’t even know he’s flirting, but he totally is.

And me, I’m falling. Hard.