Chapter 5

Elijah

Alex didn’t look shocked. In fact, she didn’t show much expression at all. The way she said, “Hi, Ellie” was just too damn sexy, even though she sounded more like a robot. She might make a good roommate after all, except I was not prepared for these unwanted feelings—purely physical attraction. She was hot! I had to dismiss that, more so because she was Jimmy’s cousin—the main reason she was off limits. Not to mention, she was my roommate now.

If we were going out, I would’ve wrapped my hands through her long, blonde hair and pulled her in for a kiss. But first, I would have kissed those faint freckles on her nose. Being this close up, they were more apparent. And her beautiful blue eyes just sucked me in, making me feel like I was looking up at the sky.

To top it all off, she looked so adorable with her shorts and pink tank top that clung to every one of her curves. Her lightly tanned skin looked like it would be silky smooth to touch. I was already envisioning myself stroking her. If she continued to dress like that, she was going to be a huge distraction.

As I continued to look at her, her eyes shyly broke away from mine. She pressed her lips together tightly, seemingly uncomfortable by my proximity. I couldn’t help it. I loved the way she smelled—lavender and honey. It was intoxicating and I wanted more. I had to move. If I stayed here any longer, I was going to do something really stupid—like kiss her. That would have been a great slap-in-my-face introduction.

I was picking up the soda cans and beer bottles that were on the table when, from the corner of my eye, I saw Alex get up to help. I didn’t want her help. After all, she wasn’t even at the party, though I’d wished she stayed a little longer. It was a sweet gesture on her part, and it clearly showed what kind of person she was.

I felt horrible for having her see the place in this condition, but it wasn’t my fault. I had no idea she was coming. In fact, I had no idea Alex was even a girl. I had to have a serious talk with Jimmy. I doubt he wanted his angelic-looking cousin to be sleeping under the same roof with someone like me.

A part of me wanted to welcome her with open arms, but a part of me was mad as hell. I was going to bring whomever home with me and she would see all of that. Still, why did I care what she thought? We were just roommates.

“Alex,” I muttered. Suddenly, her name meant more to me than just a name.

“Yes?” Shoving the last bottle into the trash bag, she looked up at me.

“Please don’t call me Ellie. Call me Elijah.” My tone was serious, but gentle.

“Sure thing, Ellie.” She looked at me with a challenging gaze and a cute smile. I liked the humorous side of her.

I tried to hold my hard stare, but lost it when her eyes grew wide with an apology. Immediately, my heart softened. I wanted to release her worry, so I gave her a huge, impish grin that was way too playful.

Exchanging a flirtatious moment made me nervous and I needed a cigarette. Now that I knew she didn’t like the smell of it, I should smoke outside. Shit! Something else I wasn’t used to. This was the part of having a new roommate I didn’t like. Since Jimmy smoked too, we smoked inside, sometimes. He was the one that got me hooked in the first place.

I was just about to go outside when there was loud knocking—three steady knocks and two short ones following after. It was Seth. I opened the door. Blinded by the sunlight, I covered my eyes.

“Good morning, Ellie. Does she know yet?” Seth brushed past me to enter and stopped in his tracks in front of Alex, who was standing behind me. “Uh…hi, Alex.” His greeting sounded a bit off, most likely thinking he should have kept his mouth shut. His eyes were greedily taking in her beauty, and I don’t know why that bothered me.

“Hi, Seth,” Alex giggled, wearing a huge smile on her face. “I just found out.”

“You’re up early,” Lexy said to me as she entered. “Hey, Alex. How did you sleep last night?”

“Great, thank you. And thanks for offering to take me shopping.”

I guess I should’ve offered, being her roommate and all, but I wasn’t thinking straight. Not that I could, since my mode of transportation wasn’t conducive for a shopping trip. My motorcycle didn’t have much storage.

“Not a problem,” Lexy replied, heading to the kitchen. “Yuck! Gross! I guess you guys didn’t clean the kitchen yet.”

“We just woke up. I mean…I just woke up. You could’ve helped last night,” I stated.

“You know I don’t clean. At least this place looks better than last night,” Lexy scoffed.

Lexy was attractive and an awesome friend, but she could be a total bitch. Not my type, though she tried to kiss me one time. She played if off like she was buzzed, but I’m not stupid. I loved our friendship too much, so I wasn’t going to let her have me for one night. Not to mention, she and Jimmy had dated, and fraternity brothers don’t date each other’s girls, sisters, or cousins.

“Then I guess Alex didn’t have breakfast yet?” Lexy asked, grimacing by the sink. “Eww…it looks like someone puked in here and forgot to rinse.”

Shit! I forgot to offer. She must be hungry, but I didn’t have much in the fridge or in the cabinet. We were too busy talking about whom Ellie was. “I haven’t gone grocery shopping and I didn’t know you were coming—” I started to say, but Alex cut me off.

“It’s okay. You certainly don’t need to feel like you have to take care of me. Lexy was going to take me out today anyway,” she smiled. Her smile was too sweet and she looked like an angel. Damn, it felt like she drugged me with just her smile. I was feeling high from it and I couldn’t look away. My first impression was that she was a good girl with a good head on her shoulders, but we’ll see.