Page 10 of The Roommate Game
“A shindig?”
“Yes, a party. A gathering of like-minded dudes and dudettes.”
Gus bugged his eyes out over the rim of his coffee mug and chuckled. “Oh, yeah? That’s awesome. I’ll buy the beer. I’m abstaining myself for a while, but?—”
“No, that’s okay.”
“I insist. I’ll stoke you out too. I owe you one.”
“You owe me more than one,” I grumbled under my breath. “I can handle refreshments, but I’d love for you to be there.”
He smiled, wide and guileless. “I’m in, roomie. We’ve got a game Friday night. I’ll bring my buddies by afterward to help set up?—”
“No. No.” I shook my head so hard I was in danger of dislocating my neck. “Don’t trouble yourself. Just be ready to rage on Saturday.”
Gus held up a hand for a high five, grinning as I smacked my palm gingerly against his. “I’ve been thinking we should do some roommate bonding. Let me know what I can do.”
See? He was the worst! Gus even managed to ruin revenge.
Why did he have to be nice?
I focused on the yellowy liquid near the fridge and wrinkled my nose. “All I need is for you to clean this mess.”
“Already on it.” He lifted his mug. “After my java.”
My smile was tight and didn’t come close to being sincere, but Gus’s phone was going off and he was immediately distracted by a bigger name on the line. If history served, he’d forget this conversation within the hour. I’d have to remind him…repeatedly, and he’d undoubtedly still invite a bunch of friends over on Saturday.
Good. I kind of hoped he would.
“A yoga class?”
“No, a yoga retreat. An all-day, all-night affair with meditation, soft-spoken poetry, all-vegan appetizers and a juice bar. What do you think?” I rubbed my gloved hands together as I skated beside Celine. “That’s a rhetorical query, hon. We both know my genius is showing.”
Celine snorted, gracefully turning into a backward glide. “It’s inspired for sure and a fun idea, but…yoga retreats take lots of planning and money. You’d need quality instructors. Do you have any idea how much some of them charge? I’d estimate that their fee and the vegan bar alone would cost a thousand dollars.”
My jaw dropped. “A thousand?”
“Yep. Who would you invite, anyway?”
I closed my eyes briefly, opening them in time to veer away from Lola and Amber, our best solo dancers on the team…after Celine, of course. “I’m still hyperventilating over the phrase ‘costs a thousand dollars.’ Don’t do that to me.”
“Sorry, Rafey, but someone has to keep it real.”
“I know and I appreciate that and—” I snapped my fingers. “What about Penny? She’s a yoga girl.”
“Pilates.”
“Same difference.”
Celine frowned. “It’s not, but she does teach yoga at the Y. I bet she’d do it if she’s free. I’ll ask her. Jackson’s a great cook. He’ll help with food if we ask real nice.”
“This already sounds amazing,” I gushed, skating on my right leg as I lifted my left in an arabesque. “I can run a smoothie bar too.”
“I love your smoothies!”
“Thanks.” We raced along the perimeter of the rink, discussing smoothie flavors. Banana blueberry spinach, carrot juice and coconut, peanut butter banana kale…“I have a hundred dollars I can put toward this venture. Is that enough?”
“I don’t know. If Penny and Jackson agree to do it pro-bono for promotion purposes…maybe.” She threaded her arm through mine. “Rafey, I applaud your ingenuity. You know I do. But I have to ask…what do you get out of this?”