Page 7 of Roommate Wanted (Knotty #1)

Nia

Ipatted my bed, trying to feel my phone because my eyes felt like they had been super-glued together.

My grunts got louder as I failed to locate the blaring alarm.

I forced my eyes open and stared across the room until I could focus.

The nightstand. I grabbed the phone and hit the big red button, ending my suffering, only to remember that I had work today.

“Oh, no,”

I whispered as I remembered the tall, sexy Scotsman.

“No. No. No.”

I sat up, trying to think about what I did last night.

How could I be so thick? I let a random stranger into my flat.

“Oh, God. No,”

I said, feeling sick when I remembered fondling his—

I slid my legs off the bed and tiptoed around the flat. After checking every room, I concluded the man had left. I glanced at the clock and rushed to the bathroom. Claire would write me up for disciplinary action if I were late.

**

I sank into my chair, closing my eyes and drank my coffee. My delicious creamy coffee full of sweet coconut milk with a dash of cinnamon. I should have bought two today.

“You need to call him and tell him he can't move in, Nia. What the fuck?”

Amara said.

I opened one eye.

“Should you be swearing?”

I said, circling my finger around her hijab.

“Have you ever watched the movie Single White Female?”

she asked, blatantly ignoring my question.

When I gave her a blank stare, she let out an exasperated breath.

“A woman moves in with a roommate and takes over her life. She does all sorts of creepy stuff.”

“How can a man take over my life? Does he want a sex change? Wait. He is white. Does that mean I want to become him? I’m confused. How can I turn white?”

I said before taking another sip of my coffee.

It was hilarious to see Amara when she flew off the handle. She was very inventive with her words when she vented. Her arms crossed over her chest.

“Didn't you tell me your knickers were going missing?”

she asked, tapping her foot on the floor while I choked on my coffee.

A crashing sound made us look over at the maintenance guy, who was working on a light fixture.

“Wasn't he here yesterday?”

I asked, staring at the sturdy fellow.

“Knickers?”

“Oh my god. Will you stop? Someone will hear us. And it was Addison who was stealing my underwear.”

Or the washing machine was swallowing them.

“You don't know this man from Adam, and you're going to let him move in with you?”

she said, pointing her finger at me.

“If you die then I’m stuck in this shit hole all on my own.”

“Oh, wow. And here I thought you were concerned about me,”

I said, hiding my smile behind my mug when she immediately looked guilt-ridden.

“People can be terrible. I just want you to be safe,”

she said softly.

I put my mug down and stood up to give her a hug.

“I’m messing with you. I’m going to tell him I can’t have him as a roommate.”

He was a sinful complication I couldn’t have in my messy life. My home was my sanctuary from the world.

Amara hugged me back but let go before the viper came out of her office.

“If I get evicted, tell your mum to expect me at her door.”

“You know she would take you in.”

I knew that, but that wasn’t the point. I’m an adult, and I should be able to keep a roof over my head. My parents would have me back in a flash, but I needed my space. I picked up my phone and messaged Lyall MacDugall.

Me: Hey, it’s Nia from last night. I’m sorry, I was very drunk last night. I’m actually after a female roommate. Sorry.

There was no response, and I saw Claire opening her office door. She stood at the doorway and sniffed the air before going back into her office.

I kicked Amara’s chair.

“What was all that about?” I asked.

“No idea, but I went into her office this morning and something smelled off,”

Amara said with a frown.

“What do you mean?”

I asked, confused.

“Something smelled fishy,”

she said with a shrug.

She was winding me up.

“Fuck off. She is always up to something fishy. She sucks the life out of everyone except for her office pets. Her shitty little spies.”

“No, I’m serious. It literally stinks of fish in her office.”

I began to cackle, and she cracked up as well.

Oh, how the mighty fall.

“Might be her fanny,”

Amara snickered.

“Might be a yeast infection gone wrong,”

I said, but when I looked into Claire’s office, she was glaring at us.

“She’s watching us.”

Amara turned to face her computer, and I picked up my phone to message her.

Me: Might be her soul rotting. Oh, wait—she doesn’t have one.

I heard her giggle before she messaged me back.

Amara: You’re going to get me sacked.

Me: I will be dead. Murder by Single White Male: The Sequel.

With a smile, I shook the mouse and brought up my spreadsheet. It was time to get back to work. The numbers blurred as I thought of Lyall. He’d been a perfect gentleman last night. He helped me into bed before he left, but I could have sworn his eyes glowed in the dark. I shook my head. Drinking midweek had been a terrible idea.

I needed to go above Claire and ask Alan if I could do a hybrid work shift. Splitting my time between the office and working from home would be much better than having her hanging over my head 24/7.

She was beginning to make me anxious, and the thought of coming into work made me feel sick. Were it not for Amara and a few of the girls in the accounting department, I’d be on antidepressants.

A sexy Scottish stud was not in the cards for me.

I sighed heavily and picked up my coffee.