Special.
Did I actually just admit that?
This little diva drove me fucking crazy with her uptight ways, but there was just something about her and I guess it was special.
Damn, really? I sound like a pussy. I need to get my shit together.
Sydney started to stir next to me, and I rolled over to face her. She had rolled over too, so we were facing one another.
She opened her eyes and they widened a little. I’m sure she was shocked as hell to see me in her bed. “What the hell, Damien, did you stay in my bed and sleep with me? I told you I just wanted you to stay with me until I fell asleep.”
I could see the stick was firmly in place. “Chill the hell out. Nothing happened. We just slept. I couldn’t help it I feel asleep in here.”
She sat up and then swung her legs off the bed. Zeus hopped down off the bed. “Well, I guess it’s all right. I mean, I did sleep well with you in here so—thank you. I appreciate it.”
Maybe the stick wasn’t wedged as far up there as I thought. “No problem.”
She grabbed her phone and looked at the time. “Geez. It’s noon already. We slept away half of the day.”
Just then, I heard a knock at the door. Sydney looked to me. “I wonder who the fuck that could be.”
“Don’t know, but I’ll go find out.” She hopped off the bed with Zeus in tow and I followed.
She swung open the door, and there stood Justice on the other side. He had a goofy grin on his face no doubt thinking he walked in on one of my sexual trysts. “Hey, little brother. I didn’t mean to interrupt anything. I’ll just see you later at Mom and Dad’s.” He turned on his heel and started for the steps.
“Hey, Justice. Don’t go. We were just getting up. This is my roommate, Sydney Summers.”
Realization seemed to come over him, but Sydney was going to put her two cents in regardless. “Uh, you think me and your brother were you know—? That is so not what is going on in here. I don’t roll that way.”
She opened the door wider and Justice stepped through. He was a big dude at 6’3” and he was fucking ripped. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to assume, Sydney. It’s all good.”
She put her hands on her hips. “It better be all good. I’m not one of his skanky one night stands.”
Time for me to chime in and do some damage control before she really got carried away. “Chill, Sydney. He gets it, okay? We’re not sleeping together. Discussion closed.”
“Fine.” She picked up Zeus and his leash and walked out the front door.
“Damn, bro, you got a firecracker on your hands.” Justice was the type to call ‘em like he saw ‘em.
He had no idea. “You’re telling me. We are constantly fighting. Our relationship is so hot and cold. One minute, were best friends, and then the next, it was war.”
“Better be careful with that one.”
“Yeah, I hear you on that count. So what’s up with you, dude? What brings you by?” I walked over to the coffee maker and started getting it going. I needed my caffeine fix to get control of this day.
“Oh, I was just in the area. I’m headed to get Camden in about an hour.” He had a smile on his face. No doubt, he was a proud father.
“Cool, how is my little nephew?” I walked around him and then opened up the fridge to grab an energy drink. I couldn’t help it—I needed caffeine and stat.
“Same as he was last week when you saw him. He’s finally out of school for the summer. I still can’t believe he’s going to be in second grade next year.”
I motioned to my drink. “You want one, dude?”
“Yeah, sure.” I think he was just as addicted as I was.
I heard the front door creaking open and then Zeus’ little yips. Sydney entered behind him. She walked into the kitchen and looked between Justice and me. “What is this? An energy drink convention? I want one.”
“Sure, babe. Help yourself.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.” She gave me the first genuine smile I had seen in a few days.
Zeus took that moment to go jump up on Justice. He sure was a friendly little guy and loved attention from people. Justice bent down and picked him up. “Who do we have here?”
“Oh, that’s the rat.”
“His name’s Zeus.” Sydney gritted through her teeth. And just like that, she went from zero to sixty. It didn’t take a lot to set off this little diva.
Justice started rubbing him around the ears and his tail was flying. He lavished him in puppy kisses. “He sure is a friendly little guy. How old is he?”
“Oh, he’s two years old. I got him when he was a puppy after my mom had died.” I saw sorrow wash over her face as her eyes began to fill with unshed tears. Her breathing hitched, and her lips turned from a smile into a frown. Then she looked down.