Resentment(32)

“Yeah...” I lean against the counter. “Any reason why you’re making breakfast for dinner?”

“One of the girls I’m fucking likes to eat breakfast food at night before sex. I figured I’d cook it today and just reheat it tomorrow.”

“What the...!” I groan. “I did not need to know any of that. Saying you like breakfast at night would have been just fine. Thank you.”

“If I’d left it at that, it would have been a lie.” He steps closer and gives me a one-armed hug. Then he laughs. “I was just joking.”

“About the girl?”

“No, about the breakfast food. I like it before sex, too.”

“Eric!” I roll my eyes.

He laughs again. “How was your flight?

“Long and exhausting, but thank you for the first class upgrade.”

“You’re more than welcome.” He pours the batter onto the skillet in circles. “Are you up for a tour of the city today?”

“Maybe just a part of it,” I look outside the window and notice the sun is setting. “Is there much to see at this time of night?”

“There’s plenty. How about a quick zip-line and then we’ll come back and pick some place for dinner?”

“Just us, right?”

“Yeah.” He smiles, flipping the pancakes over. “Just us.”

I stare at him as he continues to cook, admiring the colorful tattoos that adorn his arms. His name is written in a pretty green calligraphic font, and beneath that is the word “little sister” in Latin.

“When did you get that one?” I point to it.

“The day after I left home...I was always worried about leaving you there, you know? I wished all the time you could’ve come with me.”

“It wasn’t that bad...”

“You told me you wanted to set our house on fire, Mia.” He turns off the oven. “Every single time I called you, actually. How is that good?”

I laugh, having forgotten all about that.

“Exactly,” he says. “Did you get a good look at the place before you passed out last night?”

“For the most part, yeah.”

“That’s not good enough.” He motions for me to follow him. “I’ll show you.” He walks me to my side of the condo and opens a door I didn’t notice. “This is an office, but feel free to use it whenever you want to paint indoors. Pretty good lighting in there.”

He shuts the door and begins to imitate a realtor as he shows me the rest. There’s a balcony that wraps around one side of the condo, another guest bedroom that he uses for super private clients, and a massive game-room that rivals any arcade I’ve ever seen. Complete with two pool tables and stand-up video games that line the walls, it reminds me of a place Autumn and I once went to in high school.

He shows me his massive bedroom which is three times the size of mine, with a more beautiful view and opens his closet, revealing a wardrobe that would probably take him ten years to wear.

“Now, you’re just being a show-off.” I playfully punch him in the shoulder.

“You love it,” he says, walking me into the hallway. “Okay, over there is my roommate’s bedroom. She’s never here though so—”

“Your roommate?” I stop walking. “She?”

“Fuck,” he says. “I mean, he. Long story there. I mean, no. It’s not what you think. It’s two different people, but—” He shakes his head. “I made the mistake of letting an old girlfriend move in here several years ago. Never again. Only guys from now on. Well, except for you, clearly.”

“Right...”

He walks me over to a panel in the wall and presses it. “If you ever need anything really late at night—snacks, medicine, whatever, you can tap this button and ask the staff downstairs to get it for you.”

“Do you do that a lot?”

“Not really.” He shrugs. “Target is literally right around the corner. Besides, I’m more than capable of buying my own condoms late at night.”

“Seriously? Again?”

He smiles. “I’ll take you zip-lining in fifteen minutes. Just let me take a quick shower,” he says. “You mind if I use the shower connected to your room? I’ve got some brand new ink setting in mine.”

“It’s your place, Eric.”

“I’m aware, but I’ve lived with a woman before.” He rolls his eyes at the thought. “I know how you all are about your bathroom space. I’ll be out quick.” He walks past me and shuts himself in my bathroom.

I walk back to the kitchen and pick up one of the finished pancakes. I sit on the couch and devour it, digging through the cushions for the remote. Instead, my hand finds a strange piece of fabric, so I pull it up.