The Temporary Roomie: A Romantic Comedy (It Happened in Nashville Book 2)

“Jessie, it’s no secret that I love you with everything I am. I never saw you coming, but you and Jane are the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I never, ever want to let you go. We did everything backwards and out of order, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.” I raise her hand and kiss her knuckles. “Marry me, Jess. Live with me and let me love you for the rest of our lives.”

I run my finger lazily over the raised skin of his tattoo and try to convince myself I’m making a mistake. I try to think of all the worst-case scenarios and ways Drew could really screw me over—but nothing. Nada. My heart won’t grab on to any of them, because like he said, somehow I know we’re meant to be together. Even when my fears sink in, there’s a louder voice that says, This is where you belong, Jessie.

“Jessie, I’ve stopped trying to rationalize our relationship because it doesn’t work. There’s nothing rational about us, but I do know that I love you, and I already love this baby, and I want you here all the time. I want to help you with nighttime diaper changes and hold the baby so you can take a bath.” SOLD! Say no more! “I want to be there for all the little milestones. I just…I can’t explain it, I just trust us. In some crazy way, it feels like we’ve always been together.”

I feel Drew’s deep chuckle. “Go to sleep, crazy.”

And I do. It takes me all of three seconds to completely pass out, which is incredible considering I haven’t been able to sleep in months. With my head rising and falling on Drew’s chest, I sleep like a rock for the second night in a row. I feel safe with him, more than just physically. It’s like my mind exhales and fully quiets with him.

I prop myself up and stare down at this beautiful woman, wondering how fortunate I am that God apparently took enough pity on me to drop her into my life when I never deserved her and never will.

“Listen to me, Jessica Barnes. I’m crazy about you. I still don’t know what happened with your ex, but I know you can’t hide yourself away forever.” I move my hands up to cup both of her jaws. “You don’t just want a plain dinner partner, Jessie. You want fire and passion. You want pillow fights and prank wars. You want to be challenged, and fought with, and deeply wanted.” I pause, making sure there’s no room for miscommunication when I say, “And believe me, Jessie, I want you deeply.”

She shuts her eyes tight. Her breath trembles when she releases it and opens her eyes again. Tenderness tears through my heart. “I want you too. Please be good to me.”

I bend down and softly kiss her mouth. “I will.”

“Do you ever get tired of having it together all the time? Being the guy who takes care of everyone?”

He lowers the phone to his lap and contemplates my question. “Sometimes. It gets to feel pretty heavy when I stop and think about how many lives I’m responsible for, how many people count on me in my professional and personal life. But it wasn’t until recently that I realized I even needed a break from it.”

“What happened recently?”

He smirks down at me. “You.”

“Me?”

He nods. “You steamrolled your way into my life and reminded me how good it feels to let go a little…to fight, to play, to laugh. I don’t think I’d really done any of that since I started med school. My life became very objective-based, and then I met you and…”

“And I taught you the meaning of life?”

“You snuck your underwear into my laundry just to make me mad. And you eat a million milligrams of sodium every day. And you wanted the Frosty mug just as much as I did.”

A laugh spills from my mouth. “None of that sounds like a lesson you’ve learned.”

“Exactly. You don’t teach me lessons—you help me rest.”

He’s not mediocre. He’s not easily replaceable. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to let myself love recklessly again.

Drew makes me want to try, though.

My retaliation completely worked, so why does the thought of Drew angry make me want to run out and buy an entire frozen section of ice cream just to make him smile at me again?

But even as I think of all that “unpleasant dueling”, I’m smiling, because truthfully, I needed it. I haven’t realized until this moment how weary I had become of my constant need to remain professional and put together. Even in my family, I’m the one who solves problems, the responsible one, the guy who’s always ready to help when they need me. And don’t get me wrong, I love being that guy. It suits me well, but sometimes I just need a break from it. There’s never been any other force in my life to show me there’s a different way or what I’m missing…until Jessie. After living, fighting, and playing with her, I realize just how deprived I’ve been of pointless joy. Laughter for the hell of it. Smiling just because I feel like it. It’s been good, and I don’t want it to end.