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  The Roommate Pact

  Glenna Maynard

  ©2016 The Roommate Pact Glenna Maynard

  All rights reserved. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission of the publisher, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

  Cover Art and Formatting by Glenna Maynard

  The Roommate Pact is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book either are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, events, or location is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. Please do not take offence to the content, as it is FICTION.

  Trademarks: This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders, the author acknowledges the trademarked status in this work of fiction. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  The Roommate Pact

  Down on her luck, Fiona turns to the one man who has never let her down. Her best friend Devlyn, the man who has always loved her. Enter the roommate pact. A pact to live together with no strings attached. When Fiona tries to draw the lines of their friendship they soon become blurred.

  This is a short story that gets straight to the point of this friends to lover’s tale. Previously published in the Bleed Blue 69 anthology but extended for re-release.

  Dedication

  To those stuck in the friendzone. Never give up. Your one is out there.

  Acknowledgment

  To Dawn, thank you for pushing me to finish this. You are the best.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Acknowledgement

  Fiona

  Devlyn

  Fiona

  Devlyn

  Fiona

  Devlyn

  Fiona

  Devlyn

  Fiona

  Epilogue

  About Glenna

  Available Now

  Luck is a very thin wire between survival and disaster, and not many people can keep their balance on it. -Hunter S. Thompson

  Fiona

  Groaning and stretching, I scrub my hands over my eyes, still crusted with last night's makeup.

  I often wonder if I pissed on a leprechaun's rainbow at some point in my life. Every day it seems I am down on my knees begging luck for mercy. Have you ever met someone who appeared to have a black cloud hanging over their head? That would be me—Fiona.

  In the kitchen, my coffee pot is ready and waiting but isn't producing my life juice...my caffeine. Flipping the top open, peering at the filter, my beans sit patiently waiting to be brewed. I flip the power off and on a few times before giving up and straggling to the shower.

  In the bathroom, I realize that not only is there no hot water, but I don’t have any electricity either.

  “Son of a bitch!” I shout, as I bang my palm against the wall a bit too roughly as tears prick in my eyes.

  Throwing on what I hope are clean clothes, I make my way downstairs to the tenant parking. I start out the door when I spot Bill, the building super, getting in his truck. I lurk a few minutes in the breezeway, avoiding him. I’m a week late on rent. I know he will toss me out on my ass any day now. I don’t know what in the hell I’m going to do. I don’t have parents who I can call for help. My mom struggles to get by as it is back home in Kentucky. She works two jobs to take care of my younger siblings, Eva and Evan. Eva is in ninth grade and Evan is graduating this year. He’s going places. He was awarded a full scholarship to Ohio State for the wrestling program. He maintains a 4.0 GPA and works part-time at Taco Bell.

  Eva though, that kid has issues. She’s manic depressive and always running away. I wish I could do more for them and help mom out with them, but that was the whole point of moving to New York to start with. I went to the city for a better education and a higher paying job.

  I snort at the thought as I walk across the small parking lot to my rusted gold Plymouth Horizon; it’s a better life all right. I’ll be lucky to get another three months out of the damn thing. Though I must admit, Stella has been good to me. Yes, I named her Stella. Don’t judge me.

  The seat squeaks as I get in. Patting the steering wheel lovingly, I coax her, “Come on, girl, don’t let me down.”

  Sticking the key in the ignition, I turn it and nothing happens. Taking a deep breath and trying to keep my cool, I reason with her once more, “Alright, Stella. I know I’ve been rough on ya, girl, but I really need you to get it together.”

  I crank the engine; she’s dead. Smacking the wheel, I cry, “Damn it Stella! You fucking whore! I’ve got shit to do today!”

  Getting out and raising the hood, I discover her problem. Someone stole my battery! “Are you shitting me, Life? What did I ever do to you? What!” I scream, kicking Stella in full panic mode. I don’t have the money for a new battery and filing a police report in my neighborhood…forget about it. Devlyn begged me not to move into the area, but I had no choice. The rent was cheap, and I could afford it when I was still working.

  And there was Chase. He talked me into moving him in with me. What a disaster that turned out to be. Shaking my head, I focus on the task at hand—getting away from there before Bill returns.

  I’ll call Dev if my cell isn’t dead or shut off for non-payment. As I dig in my purse for my phone I remember it is his first day at his new job. He got a huge promotion. If I had cable or the electric to watch it, I’d possibly see his face broadcasted from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade tomorrow morning.

  He’s the newest member of the Elite Emergency Services Unit and will be working the parade.

  I’m so proud of him. He’s having a get together at his new apartment tonight to celebrate.

  Devlyn has been coming to my rescue for years. I won’t ruin his first day. I start trekking to the bus stop. Thankfully, my phone isn’t dead, and I shoot April a quick text, asking if she can nab me from the station. I bought Dev a new coffee mug to celebrate his promotion and plan to drop it off to him. It reads: I like big bust and I cannot lie.

  When we were in college, the three of us became fast friends over a love of the library and a mutual hate of country music. April was my roommate and I had known her forever, so calling her my best friend is an understatement; she is more like my sister. I wouldn’t have made it in the city without her. She was responsible for me meeting Devlyn; he was one of her boyfriend’s roommates, and we all went out together a lot.

  Dev and I could go out to clubs, the movies or wherever without our relationship being awkward or feeling like a date. April always had a boyfriend, so it was up to him to be my companion everywhere. We were simply two friends having a good time. Then, as our friendship progressed, his feelings for me evolved into more. I do love him, but not in the way lovers did or should. Really, he’s too good for me.

  Despite him knowing my strong feelings on the subject of us giving the whole dating thing a try after many failed relationships, he pushed, and I caved under the pressure and a broken heart. Chase had cheated on me and I had recently found out. I gave in and went on a real date with him—Dev. I was so nervous; I took three
shots before he came to escort me to dinner. I rarely drank at the time; I had never been a heavy drinker. I knew better, but I was so afraid he would kiss me, and I would or wouldn't feel something, and that it would change the dynamic of our once carefree friendship.

  I was right—everything changed that night. Once we arrived at the restaurant, he ordered an expensive wine, and I kept consuming it, needing liquid courage to function. I was sloppy drunk, and by the end of dinner so was he. I often thought it may have been his plan all along—thinking I would be too drunk to care. The truth is I was, and whether or not he planned the night that way, we slept together. He wasn't a bad lover. Dev was sweet and attentive. He showed me how a man should love a woman.

  Everything was about pleasing me. Every kiss, touch, bite, scratch was all for me. It started off magically. His mouth was sweet agony, the way he teased my clit, sucking and humming against my sensitive bundle of nerves…sated bliss. Things didn’t go south until, I started to ride him. When I looked into his eyes, I felt the love he had for me and my guilt kicked into overdrive. I used Dev to get back at Chase and he deserved better.

  If we both hadn't been drunk, maybe we could have shared something beautiful, but the night ended with me puking on his bed.

  He didn't even care. He put me in the shower and cleaned up after me.

  See…perfect, but no butterflies. No heat. No burning desire—at least not on my end. At least that was the lie I told myself. I had to protect my heart. Chase broke me. He cut me to the bone. I wasn’t over that and Dev deserved so much better than me—the disaster.

  I wish I could allow myself to fall in love with Dev; he’ll be an amazing husband someday. Whoever he marries had better fucking be good to him. I will cut a bitch if she ever hurts him. I have kicked ass for Dev before. My junior year of college he had been dating this slut named Toshi and she was such a flake. She always had excuses for not showing up for their dates. She was in a sorority and something always came, up, but she would make an appearance in his life when she needed help on a paper.

  I caught onto her game quickly and one night at a party, I spotted her with her real boyfriend. The bitch laughed and bragged about using Devlyn to ace her classes. I’m not an overly violent person, but hearing her talk about my best friend that way when I knew how good he was, I snapped. I didn’t say anything at all. I walked over to where she stood and as she threw her head back howling with laughter, I grabbed her by the ear and twisted it like I would my little brother’s when he was in trouble.

  At first, she was in shock and didn’t understand what was happening. Her friends thought it was some sort of joke until I smacked her across the mouth and split her lip. I dared her to contact Dev again.

  To this day he still doesn’t know why Toshi dumped him without a peep.

  The rumbling of my stomach interrupts my trip down memory lane. I was in such a rush that morning I forgot to eat. Luckily, I have a Snickers bar tucked in the side pocket of my purse. I never leave home without an emergency supply of chocolate. I feel a pair of eyes on me as I devour my sugar laced breakfast of champions. Looking over to the seat across from me, I find the wide as saucers starving eyes of a little boy. Licking his lips, he stares at the other half of my candy bar. His mom is busy on her cell phone arguing with the electric company about her bill. Smiling softly at him, I give him the last of my chocolate as my stomach cries in protest.

  The small boy blows me a kiss, shoving the small portion in his eager mouth. The rest of the bus ride he sits next to me, and I share my headphones with him. His mother smiles weakly at us and whispers a silent, “Thank you.”

  When I arrive at the precinct, Dev is in a meeting, so I leave the mug at the front desk. He worked so hard to get to where he is, I want him to know I am thinking of him.

  Flattening against the wall, I inch toward the door as an irate woman enters, shouting about her son being arrested for murder.

  Outside, I escape the woman’s depressing sobs.

  “Fiona!” April shouts my name as she runs across the street, waving frantically.

  “April,” I squeal in return, dropping my bag as she tackle-hugs me.

  People are staring but neither of us care. We haven’t seen each other in weeks. She stays busy working in the emergency room at Bellevue Hospital.

  “Fifi, I have big news. I think Randy is going to pop the question.”

  We shout, “Eek,” in unison dancing like fools. She embraces me again before leading me to her car.

  “Where is he taking you, you never said in your email.” I fiddle with the radio as she navigated us into the midday rush.

  “He says it’s a surprise. Oh, Fi, I am so happy.” She smiles brightly, cooing about Randy and how wonderful he is, warming me with her excitement.

  “I'm happy for you, April. I hope Randy and you get married, and still fuck like rabbits, and give me lots of babies to spoil. If I ever get a decent job,” I tease.

  She grins. “Leave it to you to put things so tastefully.”

  I wink as she switches lanes preparing to pull into her parking garage.

  “So, how are things?”

  Rolling my eyes, I make the “kill me now” face.

  “That bad?”

  “You have no idea. I don't want to spoil your excitement with my depressing, fucked up shit.”

  She offers me a sympathetic pout but doesn’t press me. April knows how horrible my luck is. She’s helped me out of a few jams too, but nowhere near as many as Dev. April is my opposite. She has her life together and mine is scattered into pieces.

  “Randy said that this interview with Lukas Cross is just a formality. You basically have the job already.”

  I smile in relief.

  Randy, April’s longtime lover, set up an interview for an assistant position for one of his clients at his firm. Randy is a shark in the courtroom. Lukas Cross is filthy rich and happens to own several night clubs in the city. I am so underqualified for the position, but Randy thought I’d be a perfect fit.

  Randy is waiting upstairs for us. When we step off the elevator, he’s pacing in the hall, wearing holes in the tile flooring. April shoves me inside, hastily grabbing a few last-minute toiletries she forgot to pack.

  “April, we have to go, babe,” Randy calls, nervously.

  Oh, he is definitely going to propose. About damn time too.

  “Go beat off, she'll be out in a few,” I tell him with a slight snicker.

  “I’m leaving you the keys to my car. I know you will need it. I have the perfect outfit for your interview. Wear my little black dress, the matching shoes and clutch are marked on their boxes under my bed. Love you Fifi. Make yourself at home.” She hugs me with tears in her eyes. Then squats down to Milo, her pug who is being his little lazy self, lounging in his doggie bed. “Be a good boy for Auntie Fiona.”

  He licks her hand and went back to sleep.

  “Go get your ring.” I swat her on the rear playfully as she rises with a yelp, rushing out the door.

  April's apartment is perfect. Located in a great neighborhood that’s quiet, clean, and close enough to the popular local attractions. The apartment I am about to get booted from is livable at best and far from the good stuff. April earns great money working as the head nurse in the Emergency Room at Bellevue Hospital. She’s so put together while I’m a walking disaster.

  My friends are real adults while I am simply meandering about as though I’m still enrolled in college and undecided in a major. April said some of us just take longer than others to find their calling. She always knows what to say, unlike me.

  Thankfully April and I are similar in height and build, but other than that we are complete opposites. Where she has blonde bob cut hair and blue eyes, I have long auburn curls and muddy brown eyes. Dev calls my eyes dark fudge.

  Scouring her clothes rack, my eyes land on the black dress. It’s perfect. My hands run over the contouring panels under the bust line. My curves are going to be banging. Taking it
from the closet, I lay it across the bed and go down to my knees to find the coordinating shoes and clutch.

  I nearly knock myself out when the ringing of my phone jars me while I am under the bed.

  Chase, my loser ex-boyfriend who left me high and dry when I lost my job, keeps trying to call me. I can't deal with him. Switching my cell to vibrate I tuck it in my bag so I can get ready in absolute peace.

  Chase thinks he’s hot shit because he plays in a band with a bunch of drunken potheads. I might’ve been inclined to feel differently if their music was decent, but it’s terrible.

  Intent on making an impression tonight, I tune Chase and my shitty morning out.

  Sunk down in April's tub with cucumber slices resting on my eyes, I feel relaxed—finally, with my favorite conditioner pampering my hair. It has the most intoxicating scent—cherry, white almond, and vanilla.

  I hope Randy is making all of April's fantasies come true. She deserves the best. We met in second grade when we ended up in a hair-pulling match over Todd Crisp. He had promised us both a teddy bear for Valentine's Day. Needless to say, he only produced one bear. I laugh silently at the memory. We were put into detention together where we concluded neither of us liked Todd. I ripped the bear's head off and gave the brown fluff to her as a peace offering. We have been besties ever since.

  My skin eventually begins to prune and my water has turned cold.

  After toweling off and going through my beauty regimen, I am all set to meet Lukas Cross. Our email exchanges have been brief, but I’ve gathered he is quite a flirt. I hope he tones down the innuendo for my interview.

  With nothing to do until my meeting, I fire up my laptop and log into my cloud to go over my notes. Milo hops up on the couch curling against my side. I stroke his soft, warm head while I wait for my page to load.

  I’ve never been a personal assistant, but I am certain I can manage.

  My phone is already buzzing with more messages from Chase. I’ll have to talk to him at some point, but I don’t have the energy to listen to him.