Page 17 of The Roommate Game

For the first time in a week, my smile didn’t feel forced. “Hey, you’re the bacon hater.”

“That’s not entirely true. Moderation is key,” he replied in a honeyed tone.

“I don’t think that rule applies to bacon.”

His lips quirked on one side. “Oh, really?”

“No, more is always better. I know what I’m talking about. No other food is as versatile.” Wow, this was good. My synapses were firing at full capacity as I continued, “Can you put potato chips in vanilla ice cream? No. Bacon…yes.”

Kelsi agreed but must have sensed that this was a one-on-one discussion. She mumbled something about refilling her cucumber berry spritz, leaving me with the hottie who?—

Screech.

Wait up. Kelsi said Rafe was with Eli, and Eli was tall with wavy hair, and he’d been holding pinkies with Rafe and?—

Shit.

This guy had flirted with me last week. I hadn’t imagined it. And when I’d asked him if he knew Rafe, there’d been no boyfriend shoutout. If anything, he’d given the impression that they were acquainted but not close. Maybe it was brand-new.

If so, why was he giving me a hungry stare with a side of “I’d like to climb you like a tree”?

What was happening here?

“Have you ever been to a yoga retreat?” Eli asked.

“Uh…no. I’ve never done yoga at all.”

“I bet you’d like it.”

Did he just purr?I was pretty sure that was a fucking purr.

“Maybe.”

“I’m relatively new to it also. I took my first class three years ago, thinking it would be so easy. I was wrong. It was very humbling.” Eli’s self-deprecating tone was oddly reassuring. Okay, I’d probably imagined the purr.

“Right.”

“The key is to breathe. Deep inhales, deep exhales…” Eli hiked a thumb toward the house and stepped into my space. “Want to try it now?”

Definitely a purr.

“Uh…”

“You’re here.” Rafe appeared out of nowhere, holding two glasses of sparkling water. He handed one to Eli and fixed me with a curious look.

“I am. My first ever yoga party,” I replied.

Eli tipped his chin playfully. “I think he likes it. Hey, I’m going to grab something to eat. Want anything?”

“No, thanks.”

Eli inclined his chin with a smile, squeezed Rafe’s pinky finger and my elbow before making an exit. “Don’t go anywhere.”

Rafe hummed in response, his brow knit as he watched Eli walk away. “You know him.”

It was a statement. Not a question.

“Eli? No. I met him last weekend at the market, though. I didn’t know you were together…like boyfriends.”