Chapter 2

The next day, we all cleaned the new place and moved our stuff in. Even though we didn't have much, by the time we finished, it was already evening.

Jake and Chloe suggested we celebrate with some drinks. Sophie and I were thrilled as well. Finally, we had our own little place. It felt like a big step, so we agreed right away.

I ordered takeout. Everyone was wiped out from the day, and it was pretty hot. I suggested we all grab a quick shower while waiting for the food, and everyone was on board. Sophie went first, then me, and then Jake.

Chloe was the last one out of the bathroom, her hair still wet and dripping. "It's so hot!" she said, bouncing over to squeeze in next to Jake. As she moved, the whole room suddenly smelled like peach body wash.

I forced myself to look away and glanced at Jake, but he wasn't even watching Chloe. His eyes were locked on Sophie across the room.

I followed his gaze and saw Sophie in her comfy home clothes, looking soft and sweet as she pulled her damp hair up into a ponytail.

Chloe cleared her throat. Not sure if she did it on purpose or not.

"Let's toast!" Jake shook himself out of it, raising his beer can. His biceps were popping under his tank, and after his shower, he didn't even bother with a shirt, just gym shorts. His abs were throwing deep shadows in the light.

"Cheers. Here's to getting out of school!" we cheered.

The cans clinked together. Chloe took a big gulp, and some amber beer ran down her chin and trailed along her slender neck. Without thinking, I quickly grabbed a napkin and passed it over to her.

"Aww, thanks, Ryan! You're such a sweetheart," Chloe said, fluttering her long lashes.

"No worries. Happy to help. Let's keep drinking," I said.

Jake could really hold his liquor, knocking back drinks like it was nothing. After a few, I was already feeling the buzz.

Everyone was wiped out from the day, and Chloe was lounging on the couch with her legs crossed. My gaze kept wandering her way without me even realizing it.

The vibe in the living room got hotter as the drinks kept coming. We talked about school, classes, clubs, gossip, and funny stories from our hangouts. Chloe mentioned she'd shared a place with someone before.

During a summer internship, she and another girl rented a place, and one night her roommate brought her boyfriend home. She could hear the rhythm of their activities through the wall.

As she said that, her eyes flickered over to me, and for a moment, my mind just blanked out.

Sophie stayed quiet, but I could feel her squeeze my hand a little tighter.

*****

Later that night, while we were cuddling in bed, Sophie suddenly asked, "Do you think Chloe is pretty?"

I was a little surprised. "No, why would you ask that?"

"You couldn't take your eyes off her legs earlier, could you?"

I laughed and gave her a quick kiss. "Trust me, you're more than enough for me."

She didn't say anything else and rolled over. I held her close, but my mind was all over the place.

Later, I was woken up by the rhythmic sounds coming from the other room. I checked my phone. It was 1:30 AM.

The soundproofing in this place was pretty bad.

I knew it was Jake and Chloe. Their heavy breathing, the creaking bed, and all those blush-inducing noises were coming right through the wall.

Sophie woke up in my arms, her breathing a little uneven. We didn't say a word, but the air between us felt thick with something unspoken.

After a while, she turned her back to me. "Stop listening. Let's just sleep."

I nodded, but there was no way I could fall asleep.

From that night on, I realized something had quietly changed between us.

*****

Three days after we moved in, the heat became brutal. The apartment was basically a sauna, and the fan was useless, just pushing warm air around.

That day, I came back from practice drenched in sweat, like I'd just been hauled out of a pool. As soon as I walked in, Sophie wrinkled her nose and dodged me like I was radioactive.

"Go take a shower. You stink so bad," she said.

I let out a cheeky laugh, grabbed my clothes, and headed for the bathroom. "Not gonna join me?"

"Keep dreaming," she shot back, rolling her eyes and staying put on the bed.

I grabbed my stuff and stepped into the bathroom. It was still a bit steamy. Someone must've just showered. Sophie didn't look like she'd just washed up, so it had to be Jake and Chloe. Whatever, I'd just shower first.

I was enjoying my shower when the door creaked open. I jumped and blurted out, "Holy crap!" Then it hit me that I'd been so spaced out when I came in that I forgot to lock the door.

Chloe was standing in the doorway, looking just as shocked as I was.

She was wearing an oversized T-shirt, which was probably Jake's, and it looked like she was using it as a dress. Her hair was still a little damp.

"Sorry, sorry!" Chloe whispered as she backed out. "I just showered and forgot something in here."

"What did you forget?" I blurted out, my mind totally blank.

Chloe paused for a moment, and then whispered, "My underwear."

That was when I noticed a pair of black lace panties draped over the bathroom shelf.

"Can you hand it to me?" she asked.

"Uh, s-sure," I stammered, gently picking up the black lace panties and handing them to her from behind the shower curtain.

"Thanks," Chloe said, quickly taking the panties from me and hurrying out. Once she was gone, I realized my heart was racing out of control.

After my shower, I walked to our bedroom door and opened it. Sophie was lounging on the bed, scrolling through her phone.

I was about to say something when she shot me a look. She asked, "Who was making all that noise just now?"

I froze for a second. "Uh, the water was just way too hot."

She didn't say anything, just looked up at me and teased, "Did you really have to be so dramatic in the shower?"

I tried to laugh it off, but then I saw Chloe step out of their room, still rocking that oversized T-shirt. She glanced at me, and her eyes had a playful glint.

*****

That night, the room was so hot that I couldn't sleep.

I was lying in bed, and Sophie kept tossing and turning beside me. Out of nowhere, she asked, "Do you think Chloe is deliberately flaunting her legs?"

I paused, a bit thrown. "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

"I just feel like..." she said quietly, "the way she looks at you is kind of weird."

I kept quiet. Truth was, I'd noticed it too. Sometimes, I caught a look in her eyes that felt off, like she was hiding something she shouldn't be feeling.

But I knew I shouldn't let my mind go there.

And right at that moment, those familiar, rhythmic sounds started up again.

Sophie was facing away from me, her shoulders trembling a little. I could tell she heard it too.

"Are they seriously at it every night?" she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

I didn't say anything. But my mind kept drifting to things I really shouldn't be thinking about.

Mostly, it was Chloe.

"Let's just sleep," Sophie said softly, turning her back to me.

I stared up at the ceiling, and my breathing was all over the place.

The only sound in the room was the fan whirring away.

I gently wrapped my arms around Sophie from behind.

*****

Even though it was already fall, the heat was still brutal.

After practice that afternoon, I walked in and saw Chloe in the kitchen, pouring herself some water. She was wearing a light pink camisole, the kind with thin straps that showed off her shoulders.

I couldn't help but stare, lost in the moment, frozen in place for a second before I remembered to actually walk inside.

Chloe suddenly looked up and flashed me a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, Ryan, you're back?"

I quickly looked away, pretending to cough. "Man, it's scorching out there. I almost passed out during practice."

"Maybe you should lose the shirt too," she joked, grinning at me.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Where's Sophie?" I blurted out, trying to change the subject.

"She's out on the balcony. Looks like she's talking to Jake."

I frowned, didn't say anything, and headed out to the balcony.

The door wasn't fully closed, and through the glass, I spotted Sophie standing in the corner with Jake right up close to her.

They were talking in low voices, so I couldn't catch what they were saying, but Sophie's brows were furrowed. It looked like they were in the middle of some argument.

I tapped on the glass, and Sophie shot me a quick, calm look. "What's up?"

"Nothing, just checking if you're hungry," I said with a grin.

"Go ahead and eat. I'll be there in a bit."

She didn't bother explaining what they were talking about, and that was that.

When I turned back to the living room, Chloe was sprawled out on the couch, showing off her legs, hugging a pillow and scrolling through her phone.

I tried my best to focus on her hair instead of her legs. "Aren't you hot?"

She put her phone down and flashed me a grin. "I'm melting here, but too lazy to move. Wanna fan me or something?"

"Are you really that lazy?" I laughed. "Do I look like your butler?"

She tossed the pillow at me and winked. "Come on, you're the basketball guy. You got energy to spare. It's not gonna wear you out, right?"

I sighed, sat down, and started fanning her, going through the motions without much enthusiasm.

She suddenly let out a soft laugh. "Is your girlfriend always keeping tabs on you?"

I blinked, a little caught off guard. "Not really. She's just a bit sensitive, that's all."

"She's super wary," Chloe said, giving me a serious look. "Do you know what she was talking about with Jake just now?"

I stayed quiet, waiting for her to spill.

"She said she's not really comfortable with the whole roommate thing," Chloe added.

I stared at her. "Were you spying on them?"

"I was just hanging out by the balcony door. They thought I wasn't there," she said with a shrug.

"So, what's your take on it?"

Chloe tilted her head, her eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite figure out. "Honestly? I think having roommates is kind of a thrill. You never know what'll happen next. Doesn't that make it way more interesting?"

I swallowed hard, not daring to meet her eyes.

She suddenly stood up, leaned in close to my ear, and whispered, "I probably won't be able to sleep tonight. Shoot me a message if you're up too."

With that, she walked away, her scent still hanging in the air, messing with my head.

I sat there on the couch, heart pounding, totally spaced out.

*****

That evening, Sophie was really quiet while she cooked. During dinner, she wouldn't even meet my eyes.

I wanted to ask her what she and Jake had talked about earlier, but every time I tried, the words just stuck in my throat.

It was almost midnight, and I was staring at my phone, totally spaced out.

"Shoot me a message if you're up too." Chloe's whisper replayed in my mind.

Finally, I couldn't resist anymore. I opened up WhatsApp. [Can't sleep.]

Three seconds later, Chloe replied: [Me neither.

[Wanna come out to the balcony and get some air?]