Free Stubborn Love by Wendy Owens Page A

My roommate Paige is dating Colin’s brother. He was there waiting for them. I don’t know, I think they’re all going out or something.” There, I had explained, it and it didn’t sound as insane as I thought it would. “So, where to?”
    “Is he an ex or something?” William continued to push for answers.
    “What? No way! Gross! Colin is not the type of guy I would ever date,” I informed him, clueless as to what would ever give him the idea there had been something between us at one time.
    “Really? He seems nice enough, and I suppose good looking, if you like that drop dead gorgeous type thing.” I needed this conversation about Colin to end… and quickly. He was the last person I wanted to be thinking about.
    “I guess… I never really noticed…” I lied. I wasn’t interested in dating Colin, but anyone with a set of eyeballs could see he was gorgeous.
    “Are you hungry?” William asked, my answer seeming to satisfy his curiosity.
    “Famished,” I replied with a smile, linking my arm into his.
    “You look beautiful, by the way.” I was pleased to have him confirm Colin’s sentiments. Here I was, on my first date since—well, that’s not important. I was ready for a fresh start.

 

    The light peeked through the slatted wood blinds in my bedroom. Morning apparently did not care that I had stayed out late—it was determined to come upon me, no matter what. I begrudgingly drug myself to the bathroom sink, the picture of the girl in the mirror shocking me. In my late night semi drunken stupor, I had made my way to my bedroom, slipping out of the borrowed dress and climbed into bed.
    My morning breath was offensive, mascara was caked on under my eyes, and if the raccoon look wasn’t bad enough, my hair was a veritable rat’s nest. Staring at the sexy black underwear, I couldn’t imagine what I must have been thinking when I put them on.
    Splashing my face with some warm water, I lathered up and rinsed away a few of the traces of the previous night, using my wet fingers to comb through my hair. Pulling the tangles up, I placed the matted hair into a loose and feeble attempt at a ponytail. A toothbrush hanging from my mouth, I walked out and searched my drawers for sweat pants and one of Ashton’s oversized t-shirts. This had become my uniform for bumming it since as long as I could remember.
    Walking back into the bathroom, spitting and rinsing, I flicked off the light, shaking my head in disappointment at myself. A cup of coffee and bowl of cereal would make everything better, I decided. Attempting to be as quiet as possible, I cracked my door open. I held my breath, but it did not seem to lessen the creaking under my feet. The last thing I needed this morning was the third degree from Paige about how the date had gone.
    “About time!” I heard Paige call out from a reclined position on the couch. “I didn’t think you’d ever get up.”
    I smiled. I should have known she would be waiting for me. “Good morning.”
    “Morning? I don’t know what clock you’ve looked at lately, but it’s past noon, slut,” Paige snarled, clearly pleased with her comments.
    “Oh God, are you serious?” I asked in disbelief, still walking gently as I made my way to our small kitchen and began preparing my breakfast. As soon as I turned the corner I saw them—the flowers William, or should I say Stryker, brought me the night before. “Thanks for putting my flowers in water.”
    “I didn’t do that,” Paige replied, not the least bit curious about who did. I, on the other hand, immediately thought about it. It must have been Colin. I had been such a bitch to him last night; I couldn’t believe he would take care of a gift a date brought me. Perhaps it was an unconscious gesture.
    “I can’t believe it’s so late. I never sleep in like that,” I noted, carrying my breakfast, or lunch rather, into the living room, taking a seat in the chair Colin had been perched in the night before. A thought