There have been a lot of hands in this from the very beginning! Thanks as always to my team: Pandora's BoxIs Heavy, maplestyle, Alice's White Rabbit, and MarieCarro. Also big thanks to LyricalKris, Sunshine1220, and bandeforever19. And the Twi-FicPlot Bunny Farm for the OG meme inspiration.
"Move in with me."
I'm slightly taken aback because while we say we're best friends, it's more of a default situation. I honestly can't imagine living with him. "No."
"You live with Jessica, and she's the worst." He smiles that blinding white smile of his, and I feel my walls crumbling a little. "Move in with me."
"It's not just you though, is it?" I do love Jake; he is my best friend, and the best gay bff a girl could ask for, but he lives with another dude who can only be described as … a man whore. I thought I could sugarcoat it, but I can't.
"Edward likes you! I know you two don't really get along, but it's better than living with Jessica and all her weird rules." Jake pokes me in the ribs, and I huff out a breath.
He's reaching, but he knows how unhappy I am living with Jessica and all her rules. I pay for half of everything; I should be able to read in my own room until midnight if I want to or come and go whenever I want. She's like a den mother. Jake also just lost his second roommate to a girlfriend, and he needs to fill the empty space.
"You'd have to deep clean Liam's room; that guy was nasty," I tell him, and Jake just smiles.
"Done. I already talked to Edward, and he's on board. He said you're there enough as it, so you might as well move in." Jake looks at me pointedly.
I rolled my eyes hard, giving Jake an exaggerated sigh. "Are all of the rules still in place for Edward and his overnight guests?" I use air quotes to emphasize my point.
"Yes. After that incident last summer, nobody needs to see Edward banging some chick on the coffee table again. No dirty deeds anywhere other than his bedroom. His overnight guests need to be fully clothed when they enter and when they leave. Keeping the noise level down after ten at night. He has to shower after his encounters before he enters any of the common rooms. And he has to be clothed at all times in the common rooms; he likes to walk around in his briefs, and I told him he can't do that with you around."
We discuss rent, and since it's less than what I'm paying now, with utilities included, Jake knows I can't say no. We also discuss how potentially weird it might be for us since we sometimes go weeks without speaking to each other.
"What happens if we get sick of each other?"
"It's not like we see each other that much as it is. I mean, this is the first time we've hung out in how long? Two months?" He raises an eyebrow at me.
"What happens if Edward and I can't get along? I mean, we already don't like each other."
"Then I'll kick his ass at the flagpole at three o'clock. What are you talking about?" He sounds exasperated, and he gets that way with me sometimes.
"I do hate living with Jess …"
"Girl, she is the worst. C'mon, we'll be so much better than what you're in now." Jake bounces on the balls of his feet, and I can't help but smile.
"Okay, tell Edward to bring his truck over. I'm moving in."
Jake winces. "That's not gonna happen. I'll rent a U-Haul."