Page 2 of Their Little House Tristan (Five Little Roommates #2)

Bellamy

There are two rooms open.

I finished up my work for the law firm but knew that no matter how much I got done, there would always be more. My daytime job was never-ending and filled to the brim with anxiety, pressure, and overwhelming business. I didn’t get as much little time as I wanted.

I gave my paralegal team a to-do list at nearly eight at night, right as I was about to go home. The team consisted of women and men fresh out of law school and some of them still working on their degrees. If I asked it of them, they would work all night, but I knew better. I wasn’t like the other lawyers in the firm. That would only make them work slower the next day, and they would grow to resent me.

Their work would suffer. They were my legs on the ground. I needed them just as much as the firm needed me. If they were unhappy, I was unhappy and vice versa.

“Go on home,” I said, placing a stack of papers and folders on their shared table. “Get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day and next week, we go to trial.”

The group stood up, all smiling, and some of them high-fived each other. I walked with them to the elevator. They were making plans for dinner and drinks, but I didn’t expect an invitation, of course. Dinner and drinks were no fun if you invited the boss, which was weird because I was their age. I finished high school at sixteen and law school at twenty-four. I was immediately picked up by a local firm, so the team in the elevator with me, well, most of them were my age or older.

It could’ve been awkward, but we respected one another. Made it work.

But still, going out with the boss wasn’t cool no matter what age I was.

“What are your plans for tonight, Bellamy?” I’d nipped the sir nonsense in the bud the day each one started.

“You all know me.” They absolutely didn’t. “I’m going home to relax and enjoy my rest.”

They laughed but didn’t press for any further information. I didn’t lie exactly. I was going to go home and enjoy my rent. How I chose to spend my free time was none of their business. My private life was just that.

After picking up a meal from a new restaurant that offered the best kids’ meals in town, I drove home but wasn’t as happy as I once was, going to what we all called the Little House. Of course, it was a safe space for us, but things had changed of late.

The house seemed lonelier since Colter and Dallas moved out to be with their forever daddy. I was happy for them, but it left the house a bit quiet. Less activity. Movie nights weren’t as fun. There were more chores with fewer renters.

I wished some new littles would move in so I could have some new friends. Even the toys in the playroom were getting boring.

Ugh, I really needed to stop complaining so much.

At home, I sat down at the table to eat. Still wound tightly from work, I would have to unwind before I could even enjoy myself.

“Up for a movie later?” Monroe, the owner of the house we all lived in, sat across from me.

I sighed. “I don’t know. What did you want to watch?”

“The anime cartoon we’ve been following. There’s a new episode.”

“That’s not a movie,” I laughed around a bite of creamy macaroni and cheese. The highlight of the meal was tiny corn dogs, but I’d put down a dozen of those immediately. They had given me a chocolate lava cake with the meal, and it was calling my name.

“Oh, that’s true. But we could watch one after the episode.”

I nodded.

His brow furrowed. “Bell, what’s wrong?” My roommates were the only ones who could call me Bell and get away with it.

“I don’t want to complain.”

“Just tell me how you feel. Is this about Colter and Dallas moving out?”

I polished off my macaroni and cheese and offered Monroe some of my cake. He grabbed a spoon and a couple of juice boxes for us and joined me. “It’s just quieter around here. Not as fun.”

He nodded. “I get that. I’ve placed ads all over the place, but we haven’t gotten many bites. I hope we can find someone soon. Are the chores too much for you? I can pick some of yours up if that’s the problem. You work so many crazy hours. You must be exhausted.”

“It’s not that. I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like I don’t really fit in here.”

Monroe stopped chewing. I thought he might scold me, but he cocked his head to the side. “You don’t? I think you are a great fit. The others really seem to like you.”

I didn’t realize anyone liked me. I thought they were just being nice.

“Still, I hope we get some more roommates soon.”

“Is the rent a problem? You know that I would never raise the rent just because someone moved out. Your rent and everything about your rental agreement stays the same.”

“I know. I’m just tired. I think I’ll go change into my jammies and take you up on that movie offer. When I come back down, I’ll gather the snacks.”

“Sounds good. I’m really glad you’re here. Just so you know.”

“Thanks.”

I ran upstairs and took a quick shower. There was something about the law office and their air-conditioning system that left a film of scent on me. I smelled like office and didn’t like it one bit.

Once I got out, I hung up my suit and prepared another for the next day just in case I fell asleep during the movie and didn’t want to do anything else.

Downstairs, I popped popcorn and drizzled it with caramel then sprinkled salt over that. It was one of Monroe’s favorites, and he had been kind to me, not only today but ever since I moved in. Along with that, I took out a package of mini donuts and a couple of tiny waters. We had enough sugar as it was.

The other thing about having fewer roommates was that more people distracted me from my loneliness. Sure, I was happy for my friends and their new daddy, but I wanted to find my own to take care of me and be my partner in life.

Some days, it seemed like I might never find that person.

What a sad thought.

“Here we are,” I announced to Monroe but, as I came around the corner, I saw everyone had joined in for the fun. More people meant I felt even more out of place. It wasn’t them. They had tried to include me in every facet of living in this place.

I simply never felt good enough.

“Thank you, Bellamy,” they all replied in unison.

“You’re welcome,” I said sheepishly and sat down in a chair while the rest of them sat together on a couch or on the floor. Everyone had their jammies on and were comfortable. This was where we relaxed and let the knots and stress of the day go away.

As soon as the cute, upbeat music of the new episode came on, my spirits immediately lifted. The issues remained, but for now, I was comfortable and happy.

And free to be me.