Roommate Wanted

Chapter 7

Still Shelby's Point of View

As I drove us back to the apartment after dinner I began to think about the plan. What if Karlie reacts badly? Not only will that mean I will truly never have a chance with her, but what will that mean for our friendship? What happens if I do meet someone and I want to bring her back to the apartment? I'm started to get a bit worried about all of this. 

"Shelby it's going to be ok" Sam said. She must have realized I was lost in my thoughts.

"Yeah, I know. It's just hard. I'm typically very open about my sexuality with others and don't care what other people think, but I really care about what Karlie thinks." I replied.

About 10 minutes later we were pulling into my apartment complex. I took a deep breath and helped Sam carry her things in. Karlie knew Sam was coming to stay with us, so I wasn't concerned with them meeting. I was just worried with how we were going to organically mention that Sam is gay to test the waters with Karlie. I don't know when Sam will bring it up or if Sam expects me to tell her. I've never been good with just winging things, I always have to have a prepared plan.

As we walk through the door I notice Karlie was sitting on the couch with her laptop. She had on her baggy sweats and oversized t shirt, which was my favorite thing to see her in. Her hair up in a messy bun and was wearing her glasses and sipping on a glass of wine while she worked. She looked up at from her laptop and smiled. 

"You must be Sam!" she greeted, "I'm happy that you were able to make it up here this weekend! I know Shelby's been really looking forward to it."

"Yeah things have been crazy at home, my wife has been traveling a lot for work and our son is still pretty young, so I was waiting until my wife's schedule at work slowed down a bit."

Oh god, Sam didn't waste any time getting to the point. My face turned bright red and I looked at Karlie to see how she was reacting.

"I understand being busy with work" Karlie said unfazed motioning at her laptop.

Sam sat next to Karlie on the couch, making herself right at home, and continued talking. They got to know each other a little better. Then Sam decided to tell Karlie embarrassing stories from when we were younger.

"Well on that note, I think it is time to go to bed. Sam why don't you go get settled in my room and I will be in there in a minute." I suggested.

"Shelby, if you want you can crash in my room tonight so Sam can have the whole bed, I am sure she is exhausted from traveling." Karlie offered.

I looked at Sam who was winking at me, and started to blush.

"Ok, only if you are sure." I said.

"Of course. I haven't seen you much this week, will give us a chance to catch up a bit too." Karlie said with a smile.

Sam eagerly left the room and started getting ready for bed. Karlie and I changed, and got in her bed. Her bed was a queen, while mine was just a full. So there was plenty of room for both us of, without us being too close.

"Hey, thanks for being cool about Sam being gay." I said.

"I am totally supportive of the LGBT community." Karlie responded. "Wait, did you think I was going to be homophobic?"

"No no no! I just, I don't know. Sometimes people can be caught off guard or they try to overcompensate and it becomes weird. You just took it very naturally. It was nice." I explained.

"Ok good... actually, I kissed a girl once." Karlie admitted.

What?! Karlie just admitted that she has kissed a girl. Maybe I really do have a shot with her. 

"How did that happen?" I asked trying to not come off too intrigued.

"There was this girl from work, she is gay, and I knew she had a crush on me by how she treats me at work. She was always trying to ask me out to drinks after work, but I always made up some excuse. One day, after a long tiring day at work, a bunch of us went out for drinks and she was there. I had a few drinks and loosened up a bit. She was flirting with me a lot and I really enjoyed the attention. It's shitty I know. But it just felt nice to be desired in the moment. We went out to the alley behind the bar and made out. She tried to invite herself back to my place, but I never brought my hookups back to my place, and she said that we couldn't go back to her place for some reason or another, I honestly don't remember why. So we just went our separate ways." Karlie explained.

"When was this? Do you still work with her?" I asked.

"It was about a week before I met you actually. Yeah we still work together but don't interact a whole lot right now based on where we are at in the project we are working on. She has asked me out a few times since then, and even invited me back to her place after work a few times, but I think I told her no enough she finally got the hint." Karlie responded.

"So, are you bi?" I inquired.

"I wouldn't say that necessarily. I've never had sex with a woman and I think that was a one off thing to be honest. Plus like I've said before, I really only do hookups, not real relationships. I find that a lot easier to do with men than women." Karlie explained.

She had a good point. This entire time I was worried about how she would feel about me being gay or if she was open to being with a woman, I didn't even really stop to think about the fact she doesn't want a real relationship. And I can't just be a hookup, not with Karlie at least. I care about her way too much. It is nice knowing that when I do come out to her, she won't be judgmental or homophobic. I am grateful to know that our friendship is safe.