Tessa Teevan - Incinerate

“You don’t have a place to live?” he asks, leaning his arms on the table, looking at me inquisitively.

“I’m not homeless yet. It’s just that I’m about to be in between housing situations. But it’s no big deal. My dad’s got room for me,” I try to say confidently, although the idea of moving back in with him is depressing, no matter how much I love him.

Jace’s eyes light up, and he looks at me, Knox, and then back to me. “Well, shit. Knox has an extra room, and Cohen just called to say he was taking summer classes so he could get ahead. If you’re going to be helping him out, why don’t you just rent a room from him? It’ll be a win-win.”

At this point, I’d take almost anything to not have to move back in with my dad, but the look on Knox’s face has me thinking otherwise. He’s glaring at Jace, clearly not pleased that he’s making an offer before consulting him.

“Jace…” Knox growls in warning, but his friend just ignores him.

“How long do you have, Charlie?” Jace asks, looking at me.

Sighing, I answer him. “Seven days until I’m on my ass or back to Dad’s.”

Jace looks back and forth between Knox and me, and Lexi’s just watching silently. I can’t help but notice the way Knox’s hands are gripping the table, and he’s staring Jace down, not saying a word.

“Then that settles it. You both need help right now, so why not help each other? It’s like the perfect storm. Call it fate. Whatever. But it’s pretty damn coincidental that you need a caretaker and she needs a roof over her head. Knox, you can give Charlie a place to stay, and she can help you out until you heal. A total win-win,” he confirms, and Lexi’s just shaking her head as she smiles at him.

Knox scowls at me and then Jace, and once again, I’m reminded why I need to not get involved with him. He was just holding me on the dance floor like he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, but now the thought of being around me on a daily basis looks like it’s the last thing he’d want in the world. Suddenly the idea of doing something he hates seems like a good one. I must be crazy, because before I can stop myself, I can hear myself agreeing.

“I mean, I guess it’d make things a little easier on both of us. And then Kale doesn’t have to worry about checking in on him anymore. We’re about to slow down at work anyway since most of the students are out for the summer. That’ll give me more time to help with his physical therapy,” I tell them, mentally talking myself into it. Somewhere in the back of my mind I know it’s crazy to move in with a guy after knowing him for a week, but plenty of roommates move in together when they’re complete strangers, right? Under normal circumstances I’d be channeling my inner Michelle Tanner, screaming, “No way, Jose!” but something about the way Knox seems to hate the idea makes me love it even more.

Knox’s eyes narrow as he listens to me. He stands up abruptly, and I wince for him when I see the sharp intake of breath at the movement. I’m immediately wondering why he’s not wearing his brace. Knowing it’s not the time—or my place—to scold him, I keep silent.

“Jace. Bar. Now,” he growls angrily. Then he walks to the farthest end of the bar and barks an order at the bartender.

Jace gives Lexi a quick kiss and then turns to grin at me. “Be back in a minute, ladies. I think I’m in trouble.” He crutches away, laughing the entire time he makes his way to Knox, and I watch as they both take a shot of something before Knox turns his back towards me so I can’t see what he’s saying.

Finishing my beer, I’m thankful that the waitress dropped off another pitcher, so I refill my glass and take another long gulp. Lexi turns to look at them, shaking her head when she brings her attention back to me.

“Just so you know, he’s completely harmless. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but underneath that hard exterior, there really is a sweet guy just begging to come out,” she tells me.

“I’m not looking for anything from him other than a roommate, so I’m not worried about him being sweet. He can be as grumpy and moody as he pleases,” I tell her, hoping she can see past my lie.

She cocks an eyebrow up at me. “I don’t know, Charlie. You two seemed pretty close on the dance floor out there, and Jace seems to think you’d be a good match for him.”

I have no idea why I find it so funny, but I throw my head back and laugh. “Knox and I go together like oil and water. Ice cream and anchovies. Justin Timberlake and Nick Carter. I have no idea what Jace is thinking.”

“Maybe that’s just because he hasn’t let you get to know the real him. I don’t know the full story, but from what I can gather, he had his heart broken a really long time ago, and I don’t think he’s ever allowed it to heal. Just give it time. He’ll come out of his shell. You’ve just got to poke the bear a little bit, and from what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think you’ll have any problem doing that.”

Oh, great. I guess that makes sense. Some idiot girl along the way ruined him for the rest of us. Now I know I can’t let myself develop feelings for a guy who’s still broken up over someone from his past.

“I have no idea what I’ve just gotten myself into, do I?” I whisper, more to myself than to her, but she hears me and grins.

“Maybe not, but it’s sure as hell going to be fun finding out.”

Knox

I’M FUMING as my I make my way to the bar, where I down a shot before Jace even makes it to me and do another one with him after he crutches over. In all the time I’ve known him, he’s never meddled when it comes to me and women, and he’s often played wingman for me. He knows good and well that I’ve never wanted to shack up with a chick.

“What the fuck, dude?” I ask him. He just stares at me with a stupid smile on his face. If my arm weren’t in a cast and he weren’t on crutches, I’d seriously be considering going a couple rounds right now. One of the things I miss the most is getting my aggression out in the ring, and I could go for kicking some ass—preferably his.

“Oh come on, man. I’m doing you a favor. Stop acting like a baby and just accept the help for once in your life.”

“Yeah, easy for the guy with the doting girlfriend to say. You just invited a virtual stranger to move into my house with me, a girl who I don’t even know if I like or if she even likes me. We haven’t exactly become besties this past week, you know?” I say through my teeth.

“Besties? Really? Are you sure you weren’t lying when you told Charlie you don’t do slumber parties?” Jace asks teasingly, apparently having heard my comment to her earlier.

“Whatever, Jace. You know what I mean. Plus, you just told me earlier today that I was a dick to her, so why would you even try to subject her to that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll scare away your new little friend?” I don’t know what it is about her that makes him seem protective, but he’s been in her corner ever since we all met, and it’s kind of irritating, especially since he barely knows her.

“Nah, I know you’re not a complete tool. You just like to act like one. I like her. She seems like the kind of girl who doesn’t take any shit, especially yours, and god, I fucking love that about her. And well…it was pretty damn awesome the way she called me out that night we met. She wasn’t sulky even after you pulled that dick move. She has balls, and I think that’s the kind of girl you need.”

“I need a girl with balls?” Now I’m wondering if Jace was the one who hit his head a little too hard that fateful day in Afghanistan.

“Of steel,” he tells me, grinning into his beer bottle. “Huge balls of steel. Proverbial ones, of course. You know, unless you’re into that sort of thing.”

“Yeah, thanks for the clarification, asshole.” I playfully punch his shoulder.

“Look, just give it a chance. It could be good for you. And I think, in some crazy way, it’ll be good for her, too. Three months. You stick it out for the summer and I won’t make you finish War and Peace if you don’t want to.”

It’s like he just offered me the Stanley Cup carrying a Super Bowl ring all rolled up with an NBA Championship ring, letting me off the hook from reading that book. I know I’m not going to be able to say no. “Do I get the entire summer off from reading it?”

A slow smirk forms on his face, as if he knows something I don’t. “Works for me. You’re officially on summer break, and if you last the entire summer, you can put it back on your shelf and let it collect dust.”

He holds his hand out to seal the deal. Sighing, I shake, wondering what in the hell I’m getting myself into, but I can’t help the anticipation I feel for the upcoming challenge.

Charlie

A LOUD banging pulls me from my sleep. I wince when I open my eyes as the bright light pouring in the large side window blinds me. My head is pounding, the after effects of mixing too much beer and tequila, and I groan, wishing I’d said no to that last shot. In fact, I probably should’ve said no to the last three shots, but after Knox and Jace came back from their bar conversation, things were a little tense at the table. I did what I always do in uncomfortable situations—order tequila. I can barely remember Lexi dropping me off at Knox’s, and I’m beginning to wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.

When I feel the bed shift beside me, my heart begins to race. Even though I was intoxicated, I know I didn’t bring anyone back with me, so there’s only one guess as to whose bed I’m in. Peeking under the covers, I’m relieved to find that I’m clothed, but that’s short-lived when I realize that I’m in a pair of his boxer shorts and an oversized t-shirt, presumably also his.