The Roommate Pact: No Strings Attached

e lighting in here is literal trash, and

lar plate of Coq au Vin that sat untouched between them. Her eyes were locked on the screen of

like a piece of furniture-a high-end, custom-made mahogany side table designed

he clink of silver against porcelain was the only music. Brendon stared at a s

een dedicated to Gloria, the latest and most expensive distraction. The guy who waited outside sorority houses

re. God, I look amazing. I'm going to caption it 'Dinner with my favorite,

he first notification. He felt a familiar numbness, a cold, heavy we

e that she'd forget to eat. She would have insisted on splitting the bill, her chin tilted

his face. "I said we need to leave in ten minutes. Hettie is hosting the

er bill folder onto the table. It wa

of dismissal. "Handle that. And make sure you leave at least twenty-five percent. Th

the folder. He d

t in the dark hours of the night, had reached its limit. He had spent months trying to pu

wasn't loud

. She finally looked at him, her brow furro

a slow, deliberate sip of the lukewarm lemo

tal hit the table with a sharp clack that s

ng my wallet,

s Black Card was tucked into the interior pocke

us? This is a Michelin-star restaurant, Br

le turned their heads. Gloria's fac

leaning across the table. "Don't m

bs. The numbness was being replaced by something sharp and jagged. He picked up his phone, glanced

his voice dropping t

standing was built on the premise that she was a w

rembling with rage. "If you apologize right now and pay this bill, I

his blazer, smoothing the fabric over his sho

, he didn't see a distraction. He just sa

His tone was the real insult-flat,

nally breaking the decorum of the room. "You've been chasing me

small, cold smile. It

ver really mat

light on the plush carpet. Behind him, he heard the frantic sound of

like a physical blow, cold and bracing. He took a deep breath, feeling the soot and th

ocket. He pulled it out. Gl

, the neon lights of the city reflectin