The Roommate Complication

Chapter 1

The sound of an incoming video call sent Gwyn racing across her apartment. Though admittedly she didn't have to run given that it was only a tiny studio. But she couldn't wait another moment to talk to the person on the other end.

"I love you, I love you. I miss you, I miss you. This has been the week from hell, you better have good news to share otherwise this call is just going to be me crying into my ramen." Gwyn rattled off her rapid fire greeting the moment the call connected and Nesta's face filled her screen.

"Was it the Nordic Nob again?" Gwyn nodded. "What did he do this time?"

"He tried to stop me from calling up a manuscript from the archives because my time here is almost up."

Gwyn had spent the last year living and working in Sweden, researching the history, lore, and legends of the Old Norse Valkyries. In less than a month, she would be heading home; home to her roommate Nesta and their best friend Emerie. She just had to survive a few more weeks without killing the lead archivist, a complete and utter tool Nesta had nicknamed the Nordic Nob.

"But enough about him, he doesn't deserve a second more of my time and attention today. Tell me what's going on there. Is Em's move going well?"

"Yes, we got all her stuff out of here yesterday. She's busy unpacking today and sorry that she couldn't make the call."

Gwyn waved her off. "Please, I'll be home soon and we can start making up for lost time. I hope she and Mor are enjoying their honeymoon period. Maybe they'll be so distracted that they don't unpack a single thing."

A year ago, when Gwyn was getting ready to move to Sweden, Emerie had been going through a devastating breakup of a long-term relationship and needed a place to live. Gwyn had packed up her entire room, put it all in storage and asked Emerie to live with Nesta while she was gone.

The night of her going away party, Em had met Mor. Even though she said the last thing she was looking for was a relationship, Nesta and Gwyn had seen the obvious attraction between the two women immedieatly. Their weekly video calls had been a chronicle of Em slowly falling for Mor until, at last, she admitted she was in love. And now they were moving in together.

"Speaking of moving..."

"Oh, thanks for reminding me." Gwyn reached for her planner and made a note to book a moving crew to get all of her stuff out of the storage unit. "Once I find a crew, can I have them coordinate with you on a time frame?"

"Well, actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Gwyn's pen stalled at the end of the underline she added for emphasis under her note.

"Why do I get the sense that you're about to share bad news?"

"It's not."

"You promised me good news." Oh god, did she sound borderline unhinged?

"It is!" Nesta sounded defensive.

Gwyn took a deep breath, tamping down her anxiety. Nesta said it was good news. No sense panicking over what was probably nothing. She gestured at the screen for friend to continue.

"Cassian asked me to move in with him."

She let out an excited shriek. "And you said yes, right?"

Cassian had been chasing Nesta for years. It had taken her forever to admit that they were in a relationship, even though it was clear to everyone else that they were.

"I said yes."

Gwyn threw up her hands and did a little dance in her seat. "Oh my god, I'm so excited. I mean, I'm also pissed at you for making me find a new roommate, but excitement trumps all. When is the happy day?"