Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 56

We drove to his house in complete silence, but the car was incredible. It was so expensive that driving it would make me nervous.

We arrived at his apartment, which had an underground parking garage, and as soon as we pulled into his spot, I noticed my baggy jeans and hoodie. I was carrying a schoolbag like a child, while he was dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase like an adult. This was the first time I noticed our age difference.

I struggled to keep up with him as he exited the car. I accompanied him into the elevator and looked up to see a stern face staring dead ahead.

We entered his apartment, and I examined it. It was large, and it was outfitted like a spaceship, with impractical fancy furniture and decorations. There was no picture of anyone or anything that felt personal here.

"Your place is nice," I said quietly, to which he nodded, clearing his throat and removing his suit jacket. He was tense and almost angry. "Look, I'm not going to do this all night; either talk about what's on your mind or I'm going to leave and give you space," I said bluntly, his eyes widening.

"You live with three men?" he asked, my brow furrowing.

"They're my friends," I said firmly. "We're just living together."

"That's a detail you conveniently left out when I asked you where you lived," he snarled, loosening his tie around his neck.

"I didn't leave it out on purpose," I told him, and he sighed, tossing his briefcase on the couch. "What's the big deal?"

"Are you serious? I don't want you living with three guys."

"It's all platonic, nothing more; I don't think it's any different than rooming with girls."

"You don't," he stated emphatically. "I guarantee they do; guys aren't just friends with girls, it doesn't work that way on our end, any one of them would be interested in you-"

"Give me a break, Dane," I sighed. "They aren't; I was single and living with them for nearly two months before we met; if anything was going to happen, it would have happened by now!"

"You mean nothing has happened between you and any of them?"

"He asked, and I shook my head. "Not even the sweaty one with the dark hair?" I said, shaking my head. Who were you talking to the night we met? "

"No," I responded quickly before I had time to think. That was before I even realized it wasn't true. That I'd wrapped my arms around Kent several times, slept in bed with him, and kissed him. He'd said he couldn't stop thinking about me and shoved me into my bedroom door.

But I couldn't tell him the truth because I knew Kent wouldn't say anything and some things were better kept hidden.

"Never," he said again, and I closed my eyes.

"What the hell do you think I've been up to?" I irritably asked. "I'm not some disgusting slut who fucks my roommates."

"N-no, honey, I'm not saying that," he said as I sighed and ran my hand over my brow. What is the deal with these pet names? "Would you be okay if things were reversed? If I was living with three attractive girls?" he asked, confused, and I realized how envious he was. He was extremely agitated about this.

"No, Dane, I wouldn't mind," I said quietly.

"How can you say that?" he asked, skeptical.

"Because I have faith in you," I reminded him. "I believe you when you tell me how much you care, and that's enough for me; I'm young, a college student, and this is the only way I can afford to live; you'd like them if you got to know them."

"You just don't tell me how you feel that often; you don't seem super comfortable with any touching or anything; I'm all-in with you and....you just seem to....I don't know, blow me off? Move away, tell me you're busy—"

"Dane," I said with a sigh, walking away as his presence was becoming overwhelming. "I understand that this is new to me. I've never been the affectionate type and I'm doing my best. It takes me a while to get comfortable with someone new and it's not personal. I have a busy schedule with 15 hours of class, homework, projects, tests, my honors thesis and its meetings, a social life and I also work 20 hours a week. I give you the time I can, but I don't have a typical 9-5 schedule like you."

I was feeling frustrated that after only two weeks of dating, this mature man was getting upset that I wasn't giving him enough attention. It made me rethink everything.

"I want to listen to your concerns, but this is the most I can offer right now. If it's not enough, I don't know what else to do," I said, feeling disappointed. "I was hoping to invite you to our Halloween party on Friday to meet my friends who have been asking about you. I want to make this work."

However, I was feeling worried that there wasn't a magical spark between us like there should be. Our interactions felt more like hanging out with a co-worker or a cousin, with no romantic feelings involved.

"You want me to join the other guys in your basement, taking shots until I pass out?" He asked skeptically, as if he was making fun of the idea.

"Who did you think you were dating?" I asked, getting upset. "I told you from the beginning that I was a student, you met all my friends, and I explained that they were just friends. I'm busy and I can't always do random stuff in the evenings or buy luxury cars. I'm just me," I explained and he sighed.

"I understand that, but why can't you just be you without the student part?" He asked, and I furrowed my brows.

"Are you asking me to give up a part of myself?" I inquired.

"I'm not telling you to shave your head or give up on your dreams," he said, crossing his arms, and I blinked in surprise.

"We're only two weeks in, you're not even my boyfriend yet. I'm not changing who I am for you. I love my friends, late nights, pizza, and binge drinking. I'm proud of my roommates and if I'm not good enough for you as I am..."

"Juls, you're amazing. I do like you, I just..."

"Just what?" I asked, arms crossed. "Dane, maybe we're just too different," I whispered, feeling that he wanted a version of me that didn't exist.

"What? Juls, we get along great. It's okay that we have different interests and desires," he tried to reassure me, but I shook my head.

"I've tried your fancy dinner and upscale bar, all I asked was for you to do something I enjoy with me and you rejected it. Why? Because it's not good enough for you?"

"Of course not. I'll take you to do something else that night," he offered, but I refused.

"No, I'm going to my party. I just... hoped you'd be there too," I said, feeling slightly disappointed.

"Well then... I guess that's it," he sighed, and I felt a pang in my chest. Breaking up is never easy.

"I told you there was nothing going on between me and my guy friends."

"It's not just about the guys, I just... hoped you were different. More... mature, I guess," he admitted.

"Nice. So I'm just acting my age, trying to meet you in the middle, and you're acting like a toddler because I live in a basement and do things that a 21-year-old should be doing. I won't change for anyone, Dane. If this is how you want to act, don't show up on Friday, don't show up ever again," I said, feeling overwhelmed and hurt.

With that, I stormed out of his apartment, feeling sad and confused. I pushed the elevator button and tried to process my feelings. He didn't accept my lifestyle, my hobbies, my real life. It stung and I wasn't sure why.

I had only been living his way of life for two weeks, but he had yet to experience mine. He appeared so upset and envious that it made me feel ill.

As I stepped into the elevator, I heard a door open and close and footsteps rushing toward me. "Juls, wait!" I quickly hit the button to close the elevator doors and caught a glimpse of his face as the doors shut.

Then I remembered that I had left my bus pass at home, and Dane was supposed to take me. I had my credit card with me, but calling a cab would be expensive.

With a sigh, I took out my phone and called the only person in the city who had a car that I knew of.

"Hello?" I heard Kent's voice on the other end, and I felt relieved.

"Hi Kent, I-um, I had a fight with Dane and I don't have my bus pass with me. I know it's a lot to ask-"

"Sweetheart, do you need me to come pick you up?" He asked kindly, and I felt tears form in my eyes.

"Yes," I whispered, as the elevator doors opened in the lobby.

"Are you safe? Where are you?" He asked, and I paused. "I'm in a building downtown," I said, pushing open the door and trying to get my bearings. "I'm near that African cuisine place on Lark Street."

"The one with the yellow sign?" He asked.

"Yes," I replied, feeling disappointed.

"Okay, go somewhere safe. I'm on my way," he said reassuringly, and I nodded, walking up the street and crossing at the crosswalk.

I couldn't believe that I had chosen Kent out of everyone. I considered calling my mom, but I hadn't told her about Dane yet, and I wanted to make sure our relationship was stable first.

I feared that my concerns about the relationship had just been confirmed. Not only was there a significant age gap, but he made no effort to compromise with me on our differences. I had tried hard to accommodate his preferences, but I had a terrible feeling that he wanted a moldable girl who was available for college-style sex without the associated problems. I wasn't what he wanted, and I had to accept that.

A few minutes later, a black Jeep pulled up and I climbed in while it was still moving. I put on my seatbelt, placed my bag on the floor, and sniffled slightly.

"Do you want me to take you home?" He asked, and I shrugged.

"Do we have to?" I asked, and he gave me a smile.

"Don't worry, I know a great place to go," Kent tells me as he drives deeper into the city. He parks and I get out, relishing in the cool breeze on my face. He takes me to the boardwalk by the water, and I lean on the railing, sighing.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Kent asks.

"I don't know if he broke it off or if I did," I say, sniffing. "He told me he liked me without..."

"If he called you fat, I'll throw him into the canal," Kent says, anger in his voice. I chuckle through my tears and shake my head.

"No, nothing like that," I say, trying to reassure him. "He said he wanted me without the student part. He was not thrilled when I invited him to the Halloween party on Friday, and he was really upset when he found out I was living with the three of you."

"Maybe you overestimated his maturity level," Kent asks with a chuckle, making me smile through my tears.

"You're not supposed to make me laugh," I sigh, wiping away a tear.

"I don't do comforting very well," Kent says with a shrug. "But you need to know that any guy who wants you to change for him after just a few weeks doesn't deserve you."

"Is there something wrong with me?" I ask, and Kent shakes his head.

"No, sweetheart. You're perfect," he whispers. "There's nothing wrong with doing things that make you happy." He gives me a hug, which I gladly accept, feeling a sense of comfort.

"I can't believe this happened to me," I mumble.

"That guy was a tool anyway, so it's not much of a loss," Kent says with a shrug. "But we still like you."

"I'm glad to hear that," I say, meaning it from the bottom of my heart. This is why I could never imagine leaving Mark, Kyle, and Kent. They've had my back for just two and a half months, while Dane couldn't even do that despite being serious about being with me.

I was lucky to have Kent.