Page 29 of The Reluctant Roommate

Heidi

Chapter 16

Needs and Wants Are Different Things

The doorbell rang at what seemed like stupid o’clock on Sunday morning. Whoever it was had to be leaning on the button.

Morgan groaned and snuggled down farther under her quilt. She’d been awake for nearly three hours during the night, and it seemed she’d only been asleep for five minutes.

“I’m coming. You can stop pressing the bell anytime you want, Lula.”

The door opened, and a loud American voice said, “Well, fuck me, girlfriend, this is a schmancy neighborhood.”

Heidi’s laughter echoed up the stairs. “It’s good, yeah. Come on in.”

“Thanks for this,” Lula said. “No one’s ever cooked me breakfast before who wasn’t my mom.”

“What, no one-night stand?”

“Who wants awkward conversation over oatmeal? I leave after coffee. If I’ve even stayed that long.”

Their voices quieted down. They had to be in the kitchen. Morgan rolled over and jammed the pillow onto her head and tried to go back to sleep.

Almost an hour later, she gave up on that idea. It was nearly ten, she needed to pee, she needed coffee, and the smell of bacon wafting through the house made her mouth water. Why should she hide in her room? It was her house.

She rose and dressed, then went downstairs.

Heidi and her friend were still in the kitchen. Heidi turned bacon and tomatoes in a pan.

“Hey, Morgan. This is my mate, Lula.”

Morgan nodded in her direction. “Hi, Lula.” Heidi’s friend was small and curvy. A crucifix shone gold against the dark skin of her throat.

“Great place you’ve got.” Lula flashed her a smile. “Heidi’s lucky.”

“My charming personality got me the room. Maybe you need to work on yours, Lula.” Heidi shot a wink at Morgan.

Heidi’s cream-colored shirt was pushed up nearly to her elbows as she turned the food in the pan. Morgan focused on her white teeth and the way they looked against Heidi’s plump lower lip. Heidi’s confidence was attractive. She’d never really noticed that before.

The bacon crackled, and grease splattered the stove top. Heidi picked off the cooked pieces, putting them on a plate, which she slid into the warm oven. “Want some brekkie, Morgan?”

“If you’re sure you have enough.”

“I do.” Heidi laid more strips on the hot pan.

“Can I do anything?” Morgan asked.

“Set the table. Hot sauce, BBQ sauce, and mustard, if you have it.”

A few minutes later, they sat down with plates piled with bacon, hash browns, fried eggs, tomatoes, and beans.

Lula picked up her fork. “This is amazing. Fuel for the day—I’m not sure I’ve ever had baked beans for breakfast before. Better than a bowl of Cheerios, which is my normal breakfast.”

“This is only because you’re here. Usually it’s oatmeal, right, Morgan?”

“Or fruit and yogurt.”

“I feel shamed.” Lula waved her fork, and a blob of sauce from the beans flew off and landed on the white tablecloth.