THE HOUSEMATE | ✓

5

New's pov-

My phone alarm woke me at 8:00 a.m., and I stretched, disorientated for a second, before I remembered where I was. My bedroom in my new house.

The events of the previous day came back to me in a rush, and I lay back with a groan. When I’d first walked into the kitchen yesterday morning and been confronted by the fact that I’d somehow ended up living my worst nightmare—surrounded by a load of football players—I’d been filled with a sick dread. It had lasted most of the day, even though everyone had been quick to reassure me that they didn’t think any less of me, and I was still welcome in the house. Everyone except Tay, that was, but that was no surprise. He’d managed to piss me off last night at the student union too, and I’d stormed out. It wasn’t a move I was proud of, but it was probably for the best anyway—I shouldn’t be out buying drinks when I knew I had to pay Tay for his car repairs.

Pulling on a pair of loose grey shorts, I stepped out of my room, yawning widely. Before anything else, even a shower, I needed coffee. 

As I reached Tay's door, I had to jump backwards to avoid walking into a girl who’d just emerged from his room.

“Sorry,” I automatically apologised, waiting for her to go ahead of me. It looked like Tay had managed to get lucky last night, then.

My stomach twisted—an irrational, unwanted reaction. Very unwanted.

The girl looked me up and down with an appreciative smile. Licking her lips, she stepped closer. “Nothing to apologise for. Especially not when you look like that.”

Before I could respond, the door opened again, and this time, Tay appeared, all sleepy and gorgeous, dressed similarly to me in just a pair of loose shorts, his tanned, sculpted body on display. Fuck. My dick liked the view far too much. I quickly moved around them both before either of them noticed, but Tay's voice stopped me in my tracks. Even his morning voice sounded sexy, a low rasp that went straight to my dick, increasing my current problem.

“Really? You’re hitting on her?”

Without turning around, I threw over my shoulder, “I’m only into dick, so, no.”

Then I legged it downstairs before I got into another war of words with my housemate.

I stopped in the lounge before I headed into the kitchen, making a point to say hi to Sing and Mix. I was still a little unsure of my standing in this house, after finding out that my housemates were all footballers and they’d expected that I was too, but I wanted to put the effort in. My school experiences with Max and his teammates were relegated to my past, and now it was time to look forward to my future. No one here had done anything to make me uncomfortable yet, and if they could treat me normally, like they had done so far, maybe it was time for me to start letting go of my prejudices about football players.

That done, I made my way into the kitchen and helped myself to instant coffee from the communal tin, dumping a spoonful into a sky-blue mug branded with the CU crest.

While I waited for the kettle to boil, I logged into my online bank account to check my balance, then texted Tay.

Might as well give it one last try, even though I knew it would piss him off. A small smile tugged at my lips at the thought. I didn’t know what it was about him that made me keep pushing for a reaction from him, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it in a way.

Me: Have you reconsidered letting me bang the dent out of your car? I’m great with my hands.

I saw the notification to say he’d seen it, but he didn’t reply. He was probably too busy with that girl.