Roommates

MAYA

My entire family left the hall, and I turned to Julian.

"I'm living with you now?" I questioned, and he rubbed his temple.

"That was just said in the heat of the moment."

"You weren't even meant to be here. This is my family matter. The last thing I need is your block head interrupting that!" I snapped.

The hall was almost empty, so I couldn't care less about what "the public" thought.

"You're welcome. Again."

"Stop saving me from my family. I can handle things on my own. Now, my darling fiancé, get me home. I'm sick of this!"

I sarcastically brushed my handkerchief against the wine Clara had spilled on my dress.

Wonderful! Now she had ruined one of my favourite dresses.

I pulled a ribbon from my purse and tied my hair up. The evening was completely ruined. I just hoped the charity event had gone well. I'd have to ask the finance department tomorrow.

Julian walked away without waiting for me, grumbling about me throwing my shoes at him.

He had made me a ridiculous proposal and still behaved like the absolute asshole he was.

I hurried after him, following him to where his car was parked. I stopped when I reached the vehicle.

The SUV was enormous. The door alone was almost as tall as my waist, and there was no way I could climb in without struggling.

"Do you need help?" he asked, a smug look on his face.

He was really enjoying this.

"No, I don't."

I threw my task board and purse onto the passenger seat before looking at my dress.

I had an idea.

I tore the fabric.

It would serve me no more purpose. It might as well do me some good.

My dress now stopped mid-thigh, and I pulled myself up, swinging my legs into the vehicle.

Jesus. I promised I wasn't usually this reckless.

I finally managed to get myself onto the seat and settled in.

I don't know what kind of car this was, but I needed to advocate for short people because this was ridiculous.

"You really are a stubborn little demon."

"Call me that again, and you'll find out exactly how much of a demon I can be. Now, drive!"

"You don't tell me what to do."

I turned to him and lowered my glasses slightly to meet his eyes.

"And you do? Because, last I checked, I'm your manager in every part of your sorry life, not just hockey. Tell me I'm lying."

He started the engine without answering. Before I could fasten my seat belt, he pulled away, sending me crashing against the headrest.

Lord, help me. I hoped I wouldn't end up behind bars for killing this man in a few months.

I ignored him for the rest of the ride, staring out of the window.

I never really concerned myself with the boys' personal lives, except for this one.

Julian made my job exceptionally difficult. I had to look for him, track him and know his parents because he was a grown man who somehow behaved like a paranoid child.

I'd heard about the countless managers who had quit because of his behaviour, but I was desperate for a job. If dealing with a man-child was what it took, then so be it.

And here I was, right in the middle of his shenanigans.

The car came to a stop, and my jaw nearly dropped at the sight of the house.

It was a penthouse, large enough to accommodate my entire extended family.

I tried to remain composed, but it was difficult. I knew Julian, but I'd never known where he lived. There had never been a reason for me to come here.

"Get out of the car, Maya!"

His voice made me jump. I hadn't even realised he'd opened the door.

I tried to climb down, but my foot slipped, and I fell hard onto the driveway.

He didn't bother helping me. He simply looked at me before walking away.

I hissed as pain shot through my knees and elbows. After picking myself up, I collected my things from the car.

My head throbbed from the impact, but I ignored it. The last thing I wanted was for him to know how much it hurt.

We walked into the house, and the space was enormous and quiet.

Peace.

I almost groaned in pleasure at the thought of being away from him. Maybe I could spend days without seeing his face.

"First room on your left," he called from the kitchen.

I didn't bother looking at him as I walked upstairs.

The entire house smelled clean. Don't get me wrong, I'd been to boys' apartments for no particular reason, but this place was something else.

It almost looked like he had OCD.

I opened the door to find a completely white room. I kid you not, everything was white. I was the only colour in it.

I pulled off my clothes and dumped them into the laundry basket in the bathroom. I needed a change of clothes, and I hadn't brought any.

I opened the closet and nearly went blind.

More white.

Even the clothes were white, except for one blue shirt.

How odd.

I picked it up and headed to the bathroom.

After a hot shower, I slipped into the oversized shirt and walked downstairs, ignoring the sting from my bruises.

It smelled like chocolate. A very bittersweet kind, to be precise.

I had barely reached the bottom of the stairs when I heard voices at the door.

I frowned.

Were his neighbours always this noisy?

The door suddenly flew open, and I froze.

"Hey, Jules, why did you..." one of the T-Twins started before stopping when he saw me.

The T-Twins and Gareth, the team's best defenders, stood at the entrance with travel bags slung over their shoulders.

"Stop ogling at her."

Julian's voice boomed from behind me. I turned, startled, just as he caught my arm to steady me.

"Jules, why is the team's PR manager in our house?" Gareth asked.

Our?

"She lives here now. She's my fiancée, and her parents are assholes."

He walked past me and into the kitchen as though he'd just announced the weather.

All three of them burst into laughter, but their amusement faded when they realised neither Julian nor I was smiling.

"You're serious?"

"Does it sound like I'm joking?"

He turned towards me.

"Maya, go upstairs. I'll bring you something to eat."

I gave them an awkward wave before hurrying upstairs.

This was going to be a long stay.

I could still hear their voices even after I shut the bedroom door.

"Dude, you gotta be joking?"

"I know she's hot and all, but aren't you meddling with both your careers?"

I wanted to scream.

That fool! He had made it look like he lived alone. How was I supposed to know I'd be sharing a house with three other players?

Were there more team members living here? Would they be seeing me with him all the time?

Oh my God. What was I going to do?

The door opened, revealing the very man I wanted to see, a sandwich in his hand.

"You didn't think it was important to mention that you live with them? No warning, nothing?"

I snatched the sandwich from his hand and took a huge bite.

Bite would be too little of a word.

"I forgot."

"You..."

I almost choked on the sandwich.

I turned away to swallow before facing him again, only to realise he was shirtless.

"What are you doing?"

He walked past me.

"What does it look like I'm doing? Getting ready to sleep."

"No, no, no. This is my room. Find your room, wherever it is, and..."

I stopped when I noticed how intensely he was staring at me. My brain finally caught up.

"I'm wearing your sleeping shirt, aren't I?"

"That's not the problem. This is my room, and it's the only one available. The boys have taken the others. They must know we're engaged, but they don't need to know anything about the arrangement."

He turned towards his closet.

"As a matter of fact, yes, you're wearing my sleeping shirt. Take it off."

"Are you crazy? I have nothing to wear!"

"That isn't on me."

"Oh, it is on you! Because guess who decided I should live here? You! His bloody royal highness, who can do whatever he wants without consequences!"

He swore under his breath before opening another section of the closet and tossing a black shirt at my head.

"Change and give me my shirt!"

"I'm comfortable where I am. You wear that."

His jaw ticked, and his fist clenched before he turned and walked into the bathroom without taking the black shirt.

I continued eating my sandwich, but then I looked around the room.

There was an armchair, a study table and a king-size bed.

I slowly lowered the sandwich.

One bed.

Two people.

Oh Jesus.