"Looks like you had fun." Rory peered over my shoulder.
"What? No."
"You seem to have worn Connor out."
"Oh." I laughed awkwardly. "No. He wore himself out."
Rory looked at me skeptically.
"That sounded weird. That's not really what I meant. I don't think he was masturbating or anything."
Rory laughed.
"I didn't sleep with him, if that's what you were referring to."
"Then why is he passed out naked on our couch?"
"Actually...I think he might have a drinking problem." I leaned down and picked up my comforter and pillow. "Excuse me."
Rory stayed where he was standing, blocking my path through the hallway.
"You know what? I think it was really rude of you to have a strip poker night in my living room without asking me first," I said. Why wasn't he moving out of my way? What an asshole.
"It's our living room."
"Right. Well, try to be a little more considerate next time."
"I warned you about Connor."
"I'm not talking about Connor, I'm talking about you." I took a deep breath. I wanted to slap his beautiful face.
"It won't happen again. Sorry." Rory ran his hand through his hair. His sex hair.
"And can you please keep it down in there? I can't sleep with all that ruckus." Geez, I sound like an old maid.
Rory smiled at me. "Sure thing. I'm actually going to bed now. I just came out to get some water." He stepped out of my way. "But I'll try to keep it down," he whispered.
I walked past him and back into my room. What is his problem? I tossed my comforter and pillow back on the bed. I heard faint murmurs from outside my room. I walked over and pressed my ear against the door. It sounded like Rory and Connor were arguing. I stepped back from the door. I just wanted this night to end. I flopped down on my bed and put my pillow back over my head.
***
My alarm clock buzzed and I slammed my hand down on the off switch. I wanted to get out of the apartment before Rory and that girl woke up. I didn't want to have to see her. I quickly got dressed and grabbed my notebook.
I closed the bathroom door and brushed my teeth. I sighed as I heard Rory's door squeak open. Crap. I finished getting ready and walked out into the hallway and toward the front door.
The refrigerator door was open. The girl Rory had been with was bent over rummaging through my food. She was only wearing a men's t-shirt. I turned away from her and walked past the kitchen. I noticed that Connor was no longer in the living room.
"Oh, hey!" the girl said.
"Hi." I felt a little rude for not knowing her name. This whole situation was extremely awkward. "I'm heading out. See you."
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To the coffee shop down the street." I held up my notebook. "To work," I added.
"Oh, great. Will you bring me back a latte? Extra whipped cream?"
"I'm not coming back for a long time. Great meeting you though!" I left the apartment before I could hear her response.
Chapter 10
I waited until Rory's restaurant was open before heading back to the apartment. I just needed some time to myself. Letting Rory move in was proving to be a big mistake. I should have trusted my gut. But maybe if I set some ground rules it wouldn't be so bad. I definitely needed to talk to him about his friends being over all the time.
I sighed when my apartment door was unlocked. I'd add "locking the door" to my list of rules. I opened it and froze. Rory and Jackson were in the living room, hiding behind furniture with Nerf guns in their hands.
"Oh my God! What are you doing?!"
"Hey, Keira," Jackson said and stood up from his hiding spot. Rory immediately shot him in the chest.
"Shit." Jackson turned to Rory. "Obviously that doesn't count." He turned back to me. "We're having a Nerf war. Do you want to play?"
"No." Am I living with children? "Try not to break any..."
"Lighten up," Rory said and aimed his gun at me. He pressed the trigger and a Nerf dart hit my left breast."
"Fuck that hurts!" I put my hands over my mouth. I hadn't meant to curse. But I also didn't realize how much those foam darts could hurt. "What the hell, Rory?!"
Rory kept his gun aimed at me.
"Don't you have work?"
"I took the day off."
"You're on my team," Jackson said. He grabbed a smaller gun out of his back pocket, threw it over at me, and then crouched down behind the couch.
Rory fired another shot at me, but I dove behind the kitchen counter. My heart was racing. I used to play this with my brother when we were little. The guns were more sophisticated now, and they shot farther and harder. I cocked the gun and put my finger on the trigger. I peeked my head above the counter. Rory shot another dart and I ducked just in time as a dart flew past me.
I had an idea. I crawled around the other side of the counter, stood up, and pressed my back against the hallway wall. I peered around the corner. Rory grabbed my wrist, pulled me down on the floor, and held down my hand with the gun in it. He straddled me to keep me in place and pulled both my hands above my head, holding them down with one of his hands.
This is so hot.
Then he shot me twice in the stomach.
"Ow!" It hurt even worse at close range.
"Keira's dead!" he shouted over to Jackson.
I laughed as I tried to squirm out of his grip. He leaned down and whispered in my ear. "When you're dead you can't speak. So stay quiet."
I heard Jackson curse under his breath. Rory was still pressing me to the floor. I liked the feeling of his hands on me, holding me down. It was embarrassing how much this turned me on.
Rory looked down and smiled at me.
Does he like this as much as I do?
He released me far too soon and peered over the back of the chair. "I have an idea." He picked me up and held me against his chest as he ran toward Jackson. "Meat shield!" Rory yelled.
I screamed as Jackson's darts hit my back. I wrapped my arms around Rory's neck and my legs around his waist, and I felt his hand slide to my ass. Oh God. Is he grabbing my ass because he wants to, or because he has to in order to hold me in place? I heard several shots, but only a few more hit me.
"Shit, you got me," Jackson said and tossed his gun onto the couch.
Rory set me down and pumped his fist in the air. "Victory!" He tossed his gun next to Jackson's. "And now I need to take a piss. Don't follow me," he said and winked at me.
"That was an accident!" I called after him.
Jackson sat down on the couch with a sigh.
"Where's Connor?" I asked and sat down in the chair across from him.
Jackson shrugged. "I don't know. I talked to him this morning, though. I know you like Rory, but I was actually a little surprised that you and Connor didn't hit it off better."
I felt my face blushing. "We kind of did. I mean, he's nice, but I don't really do one night stands."
Jackson turned to face me. He looked surprised. "Why do you assume that's what Connor wants?"