Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 33

I've been feeling like I've been caught in a whirlwind since Saturday night. I couldn't stop replaying what had transpired between Kent and me. So much had shifted, leaving me in a state of confusion.

I appreciated Kent's candidness about his past and his apology for his past behavior towards me. It was crucial to me, not because I needed an apology, but because I wanted him to comprehend how his actions had affected me.

Certain memories refused to leave my mind, regardless of my efforts. Every night, they haunted me as the last thoughts before sleep, and with Kent residing just across the hallway, there was no escape.

Although the moment on the lawn behind the fraternity house had been charged with electricity, I had no reason to believe it was anything more than a spontaneous occurrence. I couldn't be certain that Kent genuinely wanted to kiss me, even though he claimed to be trying to leave his past behind.

Our inability to even make eye contact made me loathe both of us. I resented myself for getting too close and making things awkward. Our avoidance of each other stemmed from the fear of what might happen if we did engage in conversation.

As the phone rang in the pool office, the name "Chase" appeared on the screen. I had promised to meet him for coffee on Tuesday, and that's what I intended to do. Our conversations were always pleasant, but they never delved into deeper subjects. While I found our discussions enjoyable, our rapport wasn't as strong as what I had with Abby or the guys I lived with.

CHASE [8:07PM]

"I just finished a meeting in the adjacent room. May I show you the way?"

I sighed and offered him a smile. It was a kind gesture on his part.

ME [8:08PM]

"I'm not going anywhere until 10 o'clock. See you tomorrow night!"

I must say, Chase was the complete opposite of Kent. He was unfailingly polite, had a knack for making friends, and genuinely cared about how others were doing. However, Chase and I weren't as close as we could have been, primarily due to two reasons. First, we were quite different from each other. Chase was an early riser, followed a strict diet of plain chicken breasts and brown rice, exercised regularly, and adhered to a regular sleep schedule. He avoided drinking excessively due to the added calories it brought. He was easygoing and laid-back about most things and hadn't yet figured out his post-graduation plans.

The second reason was my perception that he might be developing feelings for me. Since I didn't believe it, I dismissed it as him merely being friendly. But during our coffee meet-up on Tuesday, my intuition was on high alert.

"Can I order for the next person?" I indicated he should go ahead when the cashier called his name.

"Nah, you go first," he insisted, so I acquiesced with a smile.

"I'll have a medium vanilla latte, please," I began my order when someone placed their hand on my shoulder, and it turned out to be Chase.

"And could you add two cups of milk and a large coffee to that?" Chase made an additional request, which left me perplexed.

"What's going on?"

"Just ordering," he shrugged. "Thank you, that's all," he told the cashier, who responded with a smile and a wink.

"No, it's fine. I have enough cash," I insisted, but he simply shook his head and pulled out a ten-dollar bill from his back pocket.

"I insist," he said firmly, making me feel somewhat nervous.

The rest of the evening felt awkward, especially the few moments we had alone before our study group convened. Chase kept probing about my quest for a boyfriend, likely recalling our unfortunate conversation in the coffee shop months ago when I had lamented the lack of good guys.

Then a plan occurred to me.

"Right now, I don't have any interest in dating at all," I said with a shrug, opening my binder. I noticed that the cool surface was beginning to crack.

"None at all?"

"No, not at all. I'm swamped, and it's complicated," I said, and he sighed when I told him, "I think the best course of action for me is to take a year off from dating and concentrate on getting into grad school."

Since I made that statement, things have largely returned to their previous state. Despite our efforts to get to know each other better, Kent continues to seek opportunities to spend time with me. I didn't want to intentionally relegate him to the friend zone, knowing it would hurt him.

For the time being, I found myself reiterating that I wasn't interested in dating and setting boundaries on how often we could hang out. It wasn't about him buying me things; I simply enjoyed our interactions most when we were studying or in group settings.

I let out a sigh and close the messaging app on my phone, realizing my break is almost over, and I need to return to my lifeguard duties. The scorching heat outside didn't appeal to me, and I longed for the cooler office.

As my thumb hovers over the photos app, I purse my lips and open it quietly. There, I find a picture of us holding red Solo cups in the fraternity kitchen from that Saturday night.

For the past week, I couldn't resist revisiting this guilty pleasure of mine. There was nothing between us, and there shouldn't have been. But I couldn't help dwelling on what we nearly did whenever I saw him around. I didn't know how to handle these perplexing thoughts.

He's undeniably the most attractive guy I've ever encountered, yet he's also my adversary. I can't believe the actions I took and allowed myself to partake in. I'm relieved that we didn't kiss, as it would have only complicated matters. We could talk when intoxicated, but sobriety rendered us mute.

Shaking off these thoughts, I head back to the pool deck and power off my phone. Tonight marked my first solo shift after a promotion to one of the head lifeguards.

I worked alongside just one other young guard tonight. This facility often saw an influx of newly certified teenagers seeking part-time employment. Consequently, I frequently found myself partnered with a probationary guard who was still getting accustomed to the role.

All I wanted was to head home today. My mind was occupied, and the pool's humidity had drained my energy. After completing our cleanup and locking up for the night, I changed into sweatpants and a sweatshirt, eager to begin my walk home.

As I strolled along, yearning for my bed and some much-needed sleep, I passed a group of students making their way to the gym after school. One face stood out from the rest.

"Kent?" I called out as he approached, clearly en route to the gym and sporting a sheen of sweat, indicating he had just exercised.

"Julianna," he greeted me with a smile, looking somewhat proud. I rolled my eyes and stopped to chat with him.

"How are you feeling?"

"I left my water bottle in my gym locker and was heading back to retrieve it," he replied with a casual shrug. A strange, uncomfortable silence descended upon us, prompting me to clear my throat and turn away.

"Well, I'll let you go grab it," I sighed. "See you at home."

"I don't need it," he shrugged, stating he'd rather walk alongside me. I obliged.