Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 234
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Having one of them as a roommate isn’t forever, but it’s a “for now” I’m not ready to end that quickly. I’m at a time in my life with my brothers we won’t ever get back. We’re young, unfettered—able to be more selfish, follow our ambitions, fuck the night away, and let it all go.
I finally understand what Beckett meant about living in the city with them. It’s moments I will never recapture, and I want to exist inside each one instead of shoving them away. I can’t let my mind steal anymore from me.
Easier said than done, but I’m trying. I’m going to try with all that I have in my body and soul.
The elevator beeps. Doors slide open, and they continue this debate in the hallway. As things grow heated again, I cut in, “Instead of trying to figure out which one of you is better for me, why don’t you decide who’d rather deal with me? Because I might not be the world’s greatest roommate.”
“Hogwash,” Eliot denounces.
“Yeah, bah humbug, Ben Pirrip,” Tom also says. “You don’t snore. You’re not throwing dirty laundry everywhere. You’re quiet when you wake early. The worst thing about you is your girlfriend—it’s a joke. It’s a joke.”
I’m glaring.
Eliot walks backward in front of us and extends his arms. “I love your girlfriend. This settles it.”
“No, no.” Tom cinches his face. “I was joking. Okay, Harry and I have an actual back-and-forth. What do you have with her, Eliot?”
“We also have a back-and-forth, thank you for asking.” Eliot lifts his brows to me. “We’re friends. Best friends.”
I try not to laugh. “That makes a ton of sense, actually,” I banter. “Seeing as how she’s my best friend.”
“I’ve might’ve unseated you, brother.”
“Yeah, that’s not possible.”
Tom hears my territorial bite, and he’s grinning like he just won.
“I asked you two to choose,” I remind them. “Maybe just think about how my girlfriend will be spending the night. I can’t crash at the Honors House with the curfew. So Harriet will be sleeping in my bed with me sometimes, and if that makes either of you uncomfortable, then opt out now.”
Eliot laughs at the word uncomfortable, and Tom acts like it’s no problem. While we near our apartment door, my phone buzzes.
I hang back to check my text from Winona.
I’d reached out to her, finally. I’m unsure of how many messages my family tried to send while I was gone. None went through since I wiped my phone. It took a while for me to download all my storage from the Cloud, but I have the same number.
Winona said she’d texted. Called. I knew she must’ve been concerned. We haven’t had a full-blown phone call yet. I want to see her in person first, but since she’ll be at the lake house and I’m staying in Philly, I’m not sure if our paths will cross during the holidays. We might have to make time, so I told her I was sorry for the epic cold wind, that it’d be better to explain face-to-face, and we should catch up soon. Before we inevitably see each other for family events and trips.
Winona Meadows