The Billionaire’s Burden(38)

“…was Eli busy tonight?” Lucy asked deliberately, dark brown eyes narrowing on my face, “Is that what this is about?”

I sighed heavily, leaning back in my chair, “Does it matter whether or not he’s busy?” I asked, crossing my arms, “Or does it matter that I’m spending time with you? I’ve missed you, Luce.”

She rolled her eyes, offering me a tepid shrug, “Alright, alright.”

She lifted her mug to me, clinking it against the ceramic of my own cup, “Bottoms up.” She said, cringing in anticipation of the taste.

We gulped down the warm liquid, shudders running through both of our bodies.

“That was disgusting!” She cheered, pumping her hands in the air, “You made me so proud!”

“We need a chaser…” I groaned out, covering my mouth with my hands and squeezing my eyes shut.

I’d made coffee even worse than Lucy ever had. Eli was probably vomiting in his own apartment just from the putrid stench.

Lucy grabbed the mugs, rinsing them in the sink before coming to sit back down with me, “You know I’ve missed you the last few weeks.” She said, glancing at me sideways.

My roommate had never been one to be sincere. It was a little shocking.

“I missed you too.” I said quietly.

I’d been a bad friend lately, ditching Lucy constantly to go suck face with a boy. Though that boy was truly marvelous at said sucking, and it’d been the same story when Lucy was dating her ex.

“We need to have a movie night Saturday.” She said gleefully, “Like we used to. You know. It’s been weeks since the last time we drank wine and watched a godawful film.”

“Alright.” I said cheerily, “We can go to the mall and do a little shopping that morning. I’ll bring the wine, you bring the movie?”

She nodded happily, climbing back to her feet as she slugged her stuff back up into her arms, “Now, I’ve got to get some homework done.”

She paused as she walked to her door, leaning against the wooden frame as she looked over her shoulder at me.

“You know,” She said with a smirk, “Perhaps I’ll just let you make the coffee from now on.”

I laughed, shaking my head.

I was definitely going to the coffee shop on campus from now on.





Chapter Seven





"You've checked your phone eight times in the last five minutes." Lucy observed sagely as she sat that weekend morning, tucked in her bright pink robe with her feet on our table.

Her own phone lay abandoned by the coffee machine. Her eyes lingered on me judgingly.

"I haven't heard from Eli since yesterday morning." I sighed, leaning back in my chair with my arms crossed over my chest, "It's been a whole day since I heard from him."

"Oh my goodness, you mean it's been 24 hours? Are you sure he's not dead?" Though Lucy's eyes rolled and her tone was snide, my heart thudded painfully in my chest.

"I saw him come home from class yesterday afternoon." I frowned.

Lucy leaned forward, planting her folded hands on the table before me. I suddenly felt as though I were being let go from a job or something, the way her lips pursed into a severe line and her brown eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Listen, sweet cheeks." She began condescendingly, "You guys have been together for only a couple weeks, going a day without talking is not the end of the world. Besides, it means you can spend more time with me. Aren't you a lucky girl?"

My roommate smirked, proud of her argument, crossing her arms over her chest.

It was my turn to roll my eyes.

What she didn't understand was that when the relationship was still so new, going a whole day without communication was a good chunk of the span of the relationship.

"He didn't even invite me to his party this weekend...” I finally said, not able to keep the pout from my lips.

She paused thoughtfully, returning my frown, "Wait, really?"

With a nod, I glanced towards the wall we shared with the sexy blond neighbor. Who knows what he was doing right now, probably making a list for chips and drinks and everything that wouldn’t include me.

"Ouch." Lucy said, suddenly shaking her head and jerking up to her feet.

"Alright." She declared, "Let girls weekend convene." She clapped her hands loudly together, "We'll go shopping, we'll go eating, we'll get wine, we'll watch movies. Let's get your mind off that guy."

I nodded, managing to laugh as I climbed to my feet.

"I'll even buy the wine." She said smugly, grinning at me.

That was a big step for someone as cheap as Lucy was.

"Whoa." I said, startled, "To what do I owe this honor?"

"Anything to make my girl feel better." She replied primly, smiling as innocent as a newborn babe, "But I have one itsy bitsy little condition."