The Replacement Boyfriend

Chapter 7

Zayne

I didn't take long to unpack my luggage and my new roommate – Asher Monroe, who was also majoring in music – seemed to share my like towards keeping the style of our room simple. We both had our own music posters up on either sides of the walls and managed to set our clothes up in the closet, still having room for more. We spoke to each other as we unpacked, exchanging basic information with each other – our home towns, stuff about family and friends.

Asher was from California and had spent most of his life on the beach, which explained his tan. He was just a two inches shorter than I was with beach-blonde hair and grey-almost colorless eyes. He was nicely built, too, for someone who never played sports and spent most of his time on the piano.

We were still talking – well, I was talking about Red and my brother – when my phone started vibrating. I reached for it and picked up the call.

"Zayne, are you done packing?" Tace's voice came from the other end of the phone. "I think my mom's here. We should go have dinner with her before she takes Amara home."

"I'll be right there," I told her, ending the call.

I stood up and Asher eyed me, a smile on his face. I checked my hair in the mirror and wondered whether I should change out of my dusty clothes.

"Dude," Asher started, almost choking on his laughter. "You're so whipped."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, lacing my converse.

"That was that Tace girl, right?" he asked and I looked up to nod before going back to my shoes. "She's got you wrapped around her finger-"

"Her mom's here for dinner before her sister leaves," I cut him off to explain.

"I didn't say nothing about that," he chuckled, falling backward onto his bed. "But I can tell by the look on your face that you really like this girl. Don't even try to deny it."

I had told him about Dane and what it was like living with the twin, leaving out the part about him joining the military because Tace had to be the first person to know about it. I had told him about Dane and Tace's fake relationship and how he had ended things with her since she was leaving but I hadn't said a word about how I had been in love with her my entire life.

Was it that obvious? And if it was, why hadn't Dane or Tace been able to see it?

"I didn't," I said, trying to hide my face. We barely knew each other and he was already calling me out on my love for Tace.

I looked up and he raised an eyebrow. "You going to tell her?"

"Not right now," I said, dusting my jeans. "It's not the right time. She just lost my brother and there's more shit coming her way."

"How long have you liked your brother's girl?" he asked, looking too curious about the stupid love triangle I had been living in.

"Longer than he's liked her," I muttered, grabbing my phone and keys before heading to the door. "I'll see you later. Don't wait up."

"Don't count on it," he said, stifling a yawn.

"Hey," Tace said as soon as I exited the elevator on her floor.

I held the elevator door for her and Amara and got in after them. Amara was holding onto Tace's hand as if her life depended on it. It looked like she was about to burst into tears, too.

"Hey kiddo," I said, ruffling her hair.

She looked up and pouted at me, making my heart lurch. Shit. I hated that look coming from her because I knew it meant that we were making her sad.