His friends pinned him with matching that’s-bullshit expressions.
“And roommates,” he added grudgingly.
“Really?” Trey’s eyes lit up as his gaze swung toward Olivia and raked over her body. She wore a white sundress that bared her long legs and smooth shoulders, and her face glowed with animation as she laughed at something one of the other women said. She looked so beautiful it almost hurt. “Lucky you. Please tell me she walks around in one of those tiny little pajama sets women love. Or just a T-shirt and panties. Can’t decide which is hotter.”
Sammy took a swig of his beer and resisted the urge to poke one of his oldest friends’ eyes out with a metal skewer. “Stop being a perv.”
“I’m not being a perv. Any red-blooded man would wonder the same thing. So, which is it? PJs or T-shirt and panties?
“Neither.” Sammy’s tight smile came off more like a snarl, but he didn’t give a shit. “Yo, Aaron, are the burgers done yet? I’m dying here.”
“Nuh-uh. You’re not getting off that easily.” Aaron waved his spatula in the air. “You’re friends, roommates,and...? Are you banging her?”
Sammy’s forced smile morphed into a grimace. “No, and pay attention to the grill. I don’t want charred burgers.”
“The burgers are fine. Stop deflecting.”
“Jesus, you’re nosier than a middle school girl.”
“Still deflecting,” Aaron sang.
This was what Sammy got for staying in touch with his high school friends. They’d known each other too long and could sniff out each other’s bullshit like bloodhounds.
“We used to date,” Sammy finally said in a clipped tone. Might as well throw them a bone so they’d get off his back.
Aaron’s brows furrowed. “When did you...” Realization dawned. “Wait. Olivia.Shanghai Olivia?” He jabbed his finger in her direction.
“Stop.” Sammy yanked Aaron’s arm down. “Do you have to be so freakin’ obvious?”
“But that’sher!” Aaron whisper-yelled. “You’relivingwith her? What the hell? Tell me everything. I want all the details.”
Yep, he was exactly like a middle school girl.
“What’s going on?” Confusion lined Trey’s face. “What am I missing?”
“Remember that girl Sammy was all broken up about after he came back from New York?” Aaron slid the cooked patties onto a waiting tray. “That’s her.”
It took a few seconds for Trey to connect the dots. Once he did, his eyes bugged out of his skull. “Holy shit, that’sher?” He cast a second, even more appreciative glance in Olivia’s direction. Sammy’s jaw tightened. “I totally get it now. She’s hot.”
“It was a long time ago.” Sammy should’ve gone for something stronger than beer, like tequila. Or bleach. Might as well just end it here and now. He’d rather cut his losses and join the afterlife early than suffer through another second of this conversation. “Not worth discussing.”
He’d made the mistake of telling his friends about Olivia when he’d returned from New York lost, heartbroken, and pissed beyond belief. Younger Sammy hadn’t been the type to keep his problems to himself. He’d needed to be around people in times of grief, to talk through his troubles and heal under their sympathy.
Now his earlier openness was coming back to bite him in the ass.
“Yeah, but she’s your roommate now.” Aaron’s good-natured teasing melted, replaced with concern. “Look, I know it’s been a while since you guys broke up, but I remember how heartbroken you were. It was pretty pathetic, not gonna lie, which was sad in college but would be evenmorepathetic now that you’re a grown-ass man. So don’t do anything stupid, ‘kay?”
“Thanks for the sage advice,” Sammy said sarcastically. “But I’m over it.” He grabbed a paper plate and arranged one of the freshly grilled patties on a hamburger bun with lettuce, tomato, onions, a few strips of bacon, and a slice of cheese. “Our living arrangement is temporary. She was in a tough spot and I helped her out.” He briefly explained Olivia’s apartment problem. “She’ll move after she finds a new place.”
“What if she doesn’t find one?” Aaron asked.
“Then it’s only for the summer. She goes back to school in the fall.” Sammy bit into his burger.Incredible.Aaron could be an annoying little shit, but his grilling prowess was out of this world. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Can I come over to watch a game one day?” Trey asked hopefully. “If not PJs or a T-shirt, she walks around in her underwear, right?”
“No, and no.”
Trey’s face fell. “So much for being a good friend,” he grumbled.