Page 1

Taylor

“Tay, you don’t have to,” Olivia begins, but I quickly interrupt her.

“Liv, really, I don’t mind.” And I truly didn’t mind. My best friend frowns, pulling me into a hug.

?Olivia had finally done what she’s always wanted. Own a bar, find a man to settle down with to marry, and then eventually have kids. She’s so happy she nearly glows. When Liv smiled, it was like the sun rose in any room she walked into.

?I’d offered to move out the same minute she’d mentioned that she and her boyfriend might be ready for the next step- living together. I’d miss her as a roommate, don’t get me wrong, but I am not going to be what stops her from happiness.

?“I love you.” She said into my hair. The emotion bubbles into her throat, making my eyes water. I push her away and hold her shoulders at arm's length.

?“Liv, I’m literally moving three minutes down the road,” I tell her with a chuckle. She wipes her tears with a laugh.

?“I know, I know.”

?“And in case you forgot, I’m your best bartender,” I say with a smile. Our apartment- well, now her apartment, was on the top floor of the bar. I only lived there for… God, has it really been five years?

?“Yeah, and you better be on time tomorrow.” She says with a smirk as if I’ve ever shown up late for a shift.

“I should get going,” I say, walking out from behind the bar.

?“I can’t believe we’re both going to be living with boys,” Olivia says with a grimace. When I searched for an apartment, I applied to the one that was the closest to the bar. Three-bedroom apartment, one bathroom, and two pre-existing residents. Will and Simon, according to the listing. They accepted quickly, without meeting me, and I counter-accepted without having seen the place.

?The photos look nice enough, what could go wrong?

“I know, we’ll never see a toilet seat down ever again,” I respond, mirroring her grimace.

?“Do you need any help bringing over your things?” Olivia asks, eyeing the box I set down on the bar top.

?“Nope,” I respond with a smile.

“Alright. Go, before I decide to keep you forever.” Olivia says with a grin. I turn and head for the front door, hearing it jingle shut behind me as I open the car door.

I risk a quick glance at the bar as I get in, and my heart squeezes as I read the sign.

‘Liv I only noticed just how tight the shirt was.

I really need to get my head out of the gutter.

“Yeah, Simon and I are both in the military.” He responds. Simon, that’s the name of the other roommate.

“What branch?” I ask.

“I’m an Avionics Equipment Specialist in the Army.” He responds, tucking his hands in his pockets. “Simon’s a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant.”

“Work on anything in particular?” I ask, my curiosity thoroughly peaked. Equipment and… weapons?

“I typically specialize in Black Hawks, but I can fix anything that flies.” He responds with a smile.

Will glances around the room briefly before clearing his throat.

“Do you have any boxes?” He asks, his sandy brown hair falling in his eyes.

“Yeah, in the-,.”

“I’ll go get them.” He responds, turning and leaving before I can protest. I glance around the empty walls, then to the bed that sits in the middle of the room. I slowly study the unfamiliar area, noting that the bathroom is across the hall. I enter the hallway, chuckling at the closed toilet seat.

It's nice to know that some men are still decent.

The click of a door closing turns my attention to the end of the hallway.

His dark eyes narrow on me and my breath evaporates. My eyes shamelessly drink in his presence. His black hair is cut short on the sides, and longer on the top. A classic military cut. Those arms could crush a man, and… damn, how tall is he? His frame takes up the entire door. Both his shirt and pants match his hair, black as night.

Trying to describe this man in words would just be a lost cause.

Oh God, say something. Don’t just stare.

“I’m Taylor, your new roommate. You must be Simon?” I barely get out.

Simon’s jaw clenches before he takes off down the hall, brushing by me, not even giving me a second glance. I stand there like an idiot, trying to grasp whatever it was that just happened.

I look to the stairs as a voice carries from the kitchen. My footsteps are quiet as I sneak down a few stairs, my ears straining to listen.

“I didn’t know she was a chick, man,” Will said. “I saw the name Taylor and just assumed.”

“That’s why you don’t make assumptions.” A deep voice snapped. Simon.

I sneak back up the stairs and into my room, closing the door quietly behind me. That must be why Will was confused to see me, he thought I was a guy. I sigh, looking at my nearly empty room.

This is going to be fun.