I Choose You by Lopez, Bethany (best fiction novels to read .txt) 📗

snorted again, “I know a million guys like him and believe me, there is no thing between me and Rich. I just don’t buy his: aw shucks, southern stud act.”

              Nicole chuckled good-naturedly and slung an arm around Roni as they headed out to help the guys.

              “Oh, it’s no act… Rich is a true southern stud.”

              They laughed together as they descended the stairs to help the guys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

             

              For their first night as roommates, Nicole picked up some wine and brownie mix. Once they guys left, Nicole got the brownies ready and put them in the oven, then went to help Roni unpack.

              Nicole paused at the doorway of Roni’s room, struck by how beautiful the other girl was.

              “You know, if I didn’t know you, I’d probably hate you,” Nicole said, startling Roni, who had her head in a box.

              Roni straightened and looked at Nicole with a confused expression.

              “Why’s that?”

              “You’re gorgeous,” Nicole replied. “And not just, Wow, look at that pretty face. The whole package. Perfect face, perfect body, perfect hair, shoot, even the perfect feet.”

              Roni looked down at her perfectly polished bare feet.

              “Perfect feet?” She asked.

              Nicole shook her head in mock disgust.

              “Yeah, I mean, look at my ginormous feet compared to yours.” She walked up and put her foot up against Roni’s. “See, yours are positively dainty.”

              “If you say so,” Roni answered with a laugh. “I’m just a girl you know. And you’re one to talk; you aren’t exactly hard to look at yourself. You want to talk about body… I’d kill for yours.”

              “Okay, now that we have complimented each other to death,” Nicole said, picking up the box of linens and walking over to the bed. “What do you say we get your stuff put away, then get to know each other over some wine and brownies?”

              “Sounds like a plan,” Roni replied, and started unpacking boxes while Nicole made the bed.

              Since they’d already decorated most of the common areas, it didn’t take long to get Roni’s room set up the way she wanted.

              They were sitting on the couch with a brownie in one hand and a glass of red in the other in no time at all.

              “So,” Roni asked, “What made you move here from Dallas?”

              “Well, long story short, I was engaged to my high school sweetheart, with whom I was supposed to start a congregation, and grow old with in Dallas. Unfortunately, that was my parents dream, not mine.” Nicole put her glass down and looked at Roni with a sad expression. “I realized that I wasn’t in love with Jake, and that I really wanted to be a writer, not a Youth Minister.”

              “That must have been tough,” Roni encouraged her to go on.

              “It was,” Nicole admitted. “Jake is a great guy, and I hated hurting him, but I knew we wouldn’t be happy in the long run. My parents were livid when I told them, and they said that they weren’t going to support me or my decision… so I left. I just picked a random spot on the map, and here I’m.”

              “Wow,” Roni said her grey eyes wide. “So, you haven’t spoken to your parents or Jake since?”

              “No,” Nicole admitted. “It’s been two years. I haven’t heard from anyone since I left. ”

              “Well, I’m sorry about your parents, but, Wow. Good for you.” Roni exclaimed.

              Nicole picked her wine glass back up and took a drink before asking, “What about you? What brought you here?”

              “I married my high school sweetheart right after graduation, but he ended up not being the man I thought he was, so I left him.” Roni looked down at the amber liquid in her glass as she spoke.

              “I had no idea you’d been married,” Nicole said softly. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. So, rather than staying with your parents, you decided to come here?”

              “My parents are going through a rough time, and stuff with my ex got too intense, so I asked Kent if I could stay with him for a while.” Roni smiled absently. “I can always count on Kent. Anyway, once I got here, I realized have nothing to go back home for, so I decided to get a job and move in with you.”

              It was obvious to Nicole that there was more to the story, but that Roni wasn’t ready to open up about everything, so she refilled their glasses and changed the subject.

              “Are you really not attracted to Rich?” Nicole asked Roni with a big grin on her face.

              Roni rolled her eyes.

              “Like I said, I’ve met tons of guys like Rich. Smooth, sexy, flirts that go through girls like they’re disposable… My ex is the same type of guy. “Roni admitted. “I’m not blind, of course I see that Rich is a very good-looking guy, but I’m not falling for that act again.”

              “Well, I haven’t known him long, but I think there’s more to Rich than that,” Nicole said in his defense. “Sure he’s a flirt, and he enjoys women, but from what I’ve seen, they enjoy him back. I wouldn’t say he uses them.”

              “Well, until I see different, we will just have to agree to disagree where Rich is concerned.” Roni replied. “I’m not in the mood for guys right now.”

              Nicole laughed at that, the wine started to make her feel relaxed and happy.

              “I haven’t talked to anyone since Jake,” Nicole admitted. “Well, Jake’s the only guy I’ve ever dated. That’s horrible, right?”

              “Really, you’ve only ever been with one guy?” Roni asked incredulously, grabbing the wine bottle and turning it upside down. “Looks like we need another bottle.”

              Nicole jumped up, and chose another bottle out of her little wine rack on the counter.

              “No fear,” She giggled. “We have more.”

              She uncorked the wine and refilled their glasses before settling back in on the couch.

              Roni nudged