Page 79 of The Reluctant Roommate

She heard Heidi leave early in the morning, and when she came downstairs for coffee, there was a smiley face on the note. Heidi had scribbled, That would be lovely. I’ll get beer.

It was after six when Heidi arrived home. She shed her shoes at the front door and padded across to where Morgan was in the kitchen. She waited until Morgan straightened, yellow and red bell peppers in her hands, before she came closer.

“Thank you for cooking tonight. I’ve missed you. My fault, I know. Robert is rostering me all hours to make up for daring to have three days off last week. Guess I can’t complain; the money’s good.”

Morgan set the peppers on the counter. Her fingers twitched with the urge to touch Heidi, to pull her closer, to kiss her hello. A small step, maybe, but one that felt enormous given their living situation.

“I thought we could talk,” Morgan said.

Heidi stripped off her sweater and threw it over the back of a kitchen chair. “I’m trying to be tidier.” She stared at the sweater for a moment, picked it up, smoothed it, folded it, then placed it by the door. “Like that. I’ll take it up to my room when I go.”

“That’s not it.” Morgan’s tongue cleaved to her palate, and she poured a glass of water from the faucet and took a huge gulp.

Heidi went back to the front door and retrieved a six pack of Modelo. “Mexican beer to go with Mexican food.” She pulled one from the pack and handed it to Morgan, then took another for herself.

Morgan opened the beer and took a mouthful. She found a board and knife and started to slice the peppers. When she was done, she started chopping the chicken and onions.

Heidi watched in silence. “Have I time for a shower before dinner? Someone spilled beer on me. I’d love to change.”

“Sure,” Morgan said without looking around. It would give her time to think of what, exactly, she wanted to say.

Chapter 36

Venn Diagram

When Heidi thumped down the stairs again fifteen minutes later, wet hair slicked back on her head, curvy body encased in a loose sweatshirt and leggings, Morgan was still at a loss. She knew they needed to talk, but what did she even want to say?

The fajitas were nearly ready, so while Heidi opened two more beers, Morgan set out the tortillas and the plate of sizzling meat and peppers. Heidi ate quickly with appreciative hums, but Morgan picked at her food, her mind still whirling over what she needed to say.

“That was amazing.” Heidi swiped her finger through the last of the sauce, then sucked it. “Best fajitas I’ve had in forever.”

“How was your day?” Morgan gave up pretending to eat and pushed her plate to one side.

Heidi grimaced. “Robert’s being a dick. He gave me all these shifts at the start of the week, and then today, he took half of them away again as his nephew is apparently home from college and needs a job. Luis is hopeless, but Robert gives him the good shifts. I fell off the ball in my hunt for another job, but I need to start looking again.”

“Do you ever think of doing something else?”

Heidi pulled a face. “If DU ever gets back to me about my application, I’ll be starting college in September. And eventually I’ll be a psychologist. So, yes. But in the meantime, here I am, pulling beer and making watered-down happy hour margaritas.”

“You should hear soon.”

“I’m hoping this week. Fingers crossed. And living so close to DU will make it easy. That is, if what you want to talk about isn’t about how I need to find somewhere else to live.”

“No!” The denial was instinctive. “No way.” Morgan took a deep breath. “But it is about us. In a way. It’s also…about me.”

Heidi tilted her head but remained silent, her warm brown eyes fixed on Morgan’s face.

“I like you living here—very much so. I don’t want to talk about that. You’re messy, yeah—”

“I thought I wasn’t anymore!”

“You still are, compared to me. But my standard is too rigid. I’m learning that. Learning to relax without worrying if the floor is clean. It’s not you, Heidi. It’s me.”

Heidi said nothing, simply reached across the table and took Morgan’s hand. Her fingers stroked soothing patterns over the back.

“I told you I find it hard to talk about personal things. My family are the same. Stoic. We hid things, kept up a front that everything was perfect. I’ve been doing that with you, Heidi. It didn’t seem relevant at first. You were just a roommate, someone who was here to make living more affordable.”

“So you can pay your Aunt Linda’s treatment,” Heidi murmured. “You’re good people, Morgan.”