Page 28 of Changing Lanes

Okay, maybe not.

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to say it like that.” She squeezes those eyes closed, blowing out a breath, before reopening them. “I work and, well, I guess live with all men, so I say whatever I’m thinking. I’m not very good with my own gender.”

Her sheepish expression along with her fidgety hands has me softening again.

“It’s okay. I get it. I lived with four my whole life.”

She nods her head, looking over my hair, like she’s seeing me for the first time all over again.

“Wow, I didn’t even think of that.”

Um, what? Have I met her before?

“Living with two must be a piece of cake then,” she rushes to add.

I glance over at Marc smoking a cigarette by himself then to Beckett sitting on a lounger chatting with a couple guys. After a moment, he looks up, giving me a once-over I can feel from across the pool area.

“Something like that.”

“Anyway, I’m Angela. I’m with Coty, the old roommate.”

She hooks a thumb over her shoulder at a dark prince. Dark brown hair sticking all different ways like someone just ran their hands through it and, judging from the heated look he’s giving his girl, I’m willing to bet that Angela can’t keep the guy off her for longer than a few minutes at a time. If she hadn’t already told me he was hers, the head-over-heels vibes rolling off the guy would’ve given it away.

I quickly return the wave he throws me before averting my gaze. Some things are that off-limits. He’s one of them.

“I lived across the hall for a while, so I know a little what you’re going through. Also, I work with their sorry asses every day,” she says loud enough to gain a few glares our way, then she leans over to whisper, “actually, they’re all great, amazing even, in their own way, but it takes some time to see that and appreciate it. It’s rough in the beginning but after you’re in, you’re in, and they’ll never let you go.”

I raise both eyebrows.

What is Creekwood really? A cult?

“I should probably be leaving now.”

Laughing, she grabs my elbow when I twist at the waist, pretending to go.

“No, it’s not bad. It’s all good, I promise. But if you’re not used to it, like me anyway, then it can be a lot to handle. At least in the beginning.”

“Not used to what?”

She looks back at her man and he lifts his gaze as if sensing her. “Family.”

I drop my stare to the ground, studying the cracks in the concrete. How they can start out so small, yet grow so fucking big, so fucking fast.

“Ah, the damaged goods part is starting to make sense now.”

“Right?” She laughs again, motioning me forward. “Come on, let’s go have some girl time or whatever the hell it’s called.”

Angela basically echoed what Esme just told me. What is it with these roommates of mine?

And why am I so interested in finding out when I already have more than enough to deal with, including my own screwed up family?

Putting everything I just heard aside, I join Angela and the pool party of misfits for some girl time or whatever the hell it’s called.

CHAPTER 8

Paige