Bender (The Core Four Series) Read online

  “You dumb bastard, it’s not you living with a stranger, and I need to approve of them,” the brother said.

  “You wanted a fuckin’ roommate, well I happen to think she’s perfect. She’s quiet, she’s going to school at the college, she hasn’t indicated that she has a boyfriend who will be coming over, and she has a steady job, what more could you want?” Dodger sounded like he was getting frustrated.

  My face heated up with embarrassment. I would have preferred that my singlehood stayed private and not be broadcasted. “Which chick are we talking here? The pretty one, or the chubby one?” the ice cold voice said a little louder, and I knew he knew I could hear him. My head snapped up, and I glared. He was looking right at me.

  Dodger spoke a little softer but was definitely menacing in his words toward his brother. “The blonde. Her name is Keegan, and she’s signing the goddamn papers. I’m not going through this again, brother. Go meet your new roommate and take a fuckin’ cold shower, you stink.” With that he grabbed some keys that were laying on the counter and walked toward the door. Before he left he addressed Macie and me, “I hope you like the place. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other.” He looked at his sibling and pointed. “Play fuckin’ nice.” Then he turned and walked out.

  I kept my eyes level and didn’t remove them from the guy who was still staring at the door. I could have sworn I heard him growl. Resigned, he scrubbed his hand down his face and back up again into his messy hair. When his arm dropped by his side, he turned to face me. Straightening my back, I accepted his scrutiny. I wouldn’t show him that his words stung a bit harder than I should have allowed. This guy was clearly a gym rat. His muscles had muscles, and I haven’t stepped foot in a gym since… well since I was in high school and was forced to participate. I refused to let someone make me feel less than what I was and certainly not this asshole. His eyes remained on me the whole time, never once looking at Macie. That had never happened before. She was always the noticeable one. I blended into the walls. He’d obviously formed some sort of opinion about me, because he shook his head and walked over to stand in front of the table. He loomed over the two of us before he finally spoke.

  “Sign the papers. No boyfriends, no chick parties unless I know about them, I’m the one who goes grocery shopping and does the cooking, and no loud music. You stick to those rules, and we won’t have any problems with each other.” His eyes narrowed the slightest little bit at the corners.

  “And what if I don’t agree to them?” I asked, addressing him for the first time since he walked in.

  He placed his large hands on the table and leaned in so he was closer to me. I could smell his sweat and some other delicious scent that invaded my senses. “Believe me Blue, you won’t find another place like this with my same offer. You’d end up paying twice what I’m asking. So sign the fuckin’ papers. There’s a spare key in the basket by the sink.” He stood up and started walking upstairs.

  My head was swirling. “Wait, Blue? My name is Keegan. And I didn’t even get yours.”

  It was all I had to argue with. He knew he had me, and I was going to sign regardless. Hopefully we didn’t end up killing each other before the year was up.

  He paused a few steps up but didn’t turn around. “Nothing to explain. And the name is Camden.” Then he continued upstairs, and I heard the shower running.

  “Holy shit on a stick, this is going to be fun,” Macie said, smiling bigger than I’d ever seen.

  Holy shit was right.

  MY FIRST WEEK IN THE APARTMENT was a bit sketchy. The night I signed the papers I went home to tell my mom and sister I was moving out. My mom didn’t have much to say. I think she realized what was in store for her, and her partying and days of relying on me so much were going to be nonexistent. She looked at me, simply said, “I hope you’re happy,” and walked away. I wasn’t sure how to take those four words. She was either being flippant and snarky, or she was sad and didn’t know what else to say. Sarah, on the other hand, didn’t take the news well at all. She cried and ran into my arms. As sad as it was, I explained to her that I was an adult, and I needed to be out on my own. I made sure she knew that she could come see me anytime she wanted, and she could have a sleepover if she missed me too much. When I told her that, my thoughts drifted to Camden, and I mentally high-fived myself. His little rules didn’t include no sleepovers with little sisters, so take that to the bank. I brought her over to see it a couple days later. Mom didn’t want to come, which was fine, and thankfully Camden was out. Sarah fell in love. She ran all over the place and dove onto the couch. I laughed at her silly lightheartedness. She was going to be fine, and I planned on bringing her over as much as possible.

  I found out after a couple of days living here that Camden was a gym owner. I’d gone over and over in my head how a college student could possibly afford to live here and ask so little for my portion of the rent. I chalked it up to the same situation as Macie. I figured Mommy and Daddy paid for everything. I was very much off my mark. I never pegged Camden as being a business owner, and it turned out he wasn’t a college student. I would question him about it, but he was hardly ever home. And when he was, he never had much to say. I had scolded myself those first few times when I heard the front door open, and my heart would pick up its pace, knowing who it would be. What he said to Dodger that first day was etched into my memory, ‘the chubby one’. I hated that I found him attractive, but any attraction I felt for him faded quickly when he brought a girl home and had flaunted her right in front of me. Unfortunately she wasn’t the first one, either. Like all the others, she was the exact opposite of me. Where I was just over five-foot-tall, she was statuesque at around five-foot-ten. My hair was long, wavy, and blond, while hers was short and jet black. I was slightly on the more curvy side, but this chick was stick thin. He walked in, and her hand was in his back pocket, following slightly behind him. I had been sitting on the couch studying for a history exam when they had stopped in the kitchen. He went to the fridge and began digging around for something. When he turned around he had a can of whipped cream and a bottle of wine. He gave her a sexy smirk, and she giggled at him. Camden handed her the items and opened the cupboard that had the wine glasses. That was when she finally turned in my direction and saw me sitting there, watching them. Her eyebrows rose as though slightly startled.

  “Who’s she?” the woman asked. Her tone was confused and slightly put off.

  Camden had two glasses in his hand as he faced where she was looking. He looked at me, his brown eyes boring into mine and replied, “Nobody, just my roommate.”

  She accepted his answer as all the explanation she needed. They both made their way upstairs to his room, and I heard the door close. I didn’t need much of an imagination to know what was going to happen. I sat there playing his words over in my head. I was nobody? He hadn’t even bothered to try to get to know me. How could I possibly be nobody? Was I that offensive to him? The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Instead of extending any olive branches to him, I’d be more than happy to be ‘just the roommate’. No friendship was required for our living arrangements. I’d hoped I could be friends with him, but it seemed that he wasn’t interested. Closing my book, I picked up my stuff and went upstairs. Shutting my door quietly, I thanked the wall gods for making ours a little thicker than normal apartments. I couldn’t fathom having to hear them getting it on. I’d probably puke.

  Flopping down on my air mattress, I curled under the covers. I looked around the still very empty space of my room. I was able to buy some curtains to cover the window, and a mirror to lean against the wall, but any other purchases would have to wait. I’d like to get an actual bed, because this blow-up bed was hurting my back, but it wasn’t a priority right now. What I needed was a laptop so I could do my school work from home, a dresser, and some hangers for my clothes. Then I’d get a bed. I figured it would take me a few months to make all of the purchases, but I was okay with that. It would be mine, something that
I would have worked hard for and paid for with my own money. For now, this would have to do.

  Lying there I ended up deciding that I’d live here like I was the only person. When my rent was due, I’d leave it on the counter, along with any of my other bills that needed to be paid. I would go out tomorrow and buy a lock for my door, so I could ensure that I had the privacy that I required. I didn’t need any of Camden’s bimbos wandering into my room thinking they could take whatever they wanted. I’d also keep any communication with him to a minimum. If I was nothing to him, then he’d be nothing to me. Feeling more settled in my plans, I scooted further down into my uncomfortable bed and drifted off to sleep.

  The next day I woke up and took a deep breath in as I stretched my arms above my head. I smelled something that made my stomach growl. What was that, bacon? I got out of bed and rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands. Throwing on my ratted pale yellow robe, I went downstairs. I was sure my hair was all over the place, but since I’d decided I no longer cared about Camden and what he thought of me, it didn’t matter what I looked like. As I hit the bottom step, I saw him in the kitchen with his back turned, and he was flipping eggs in a pan. He either heard me or sensed me because he turned around and saw me standing there. The chick who looked like a model was nowhere in sight. I wondered if he made her go home last night after he was done with her. It wouldn’t surprise me. I squirmed a bit at Camden’s perusal of me. His eyes went from my messy hair and traveled the length of my body, taking in the robe and my bare legs that showed. Wherever his eyes touched felt like a caress against my skin. Why was he looking at me like that? I shook my head. I was sure he was wondering how he got stuck with someone like me for a roommate. My appearance was less than fabulous this morning.

  Unsure what to do, at first, I stood there chewing on my lower lip. I liked his eyes on me, but I also hated what I knew he saw and thought. He looked like he’d already run a marathon, or whatever the hell he did in the mornings. His hair was sticking up every which way, and he was wearing a black shirt with the sleeves torn off. His tanned arms flexed like they knew someone was watching. His blue shorts were long and went to his knees, the mesh material forming over parts of him that I shouldn’t be thinking about right now. Straightening my back, I moved forward toward the kitchen. Do not go there Keegan. Coffee was on my mind, and there was a fresh pot already brewed. I stepped around Camden as he stood in front of the stove and went to the cupboard that held the coffee mugs.

  “Morning,” he said, his voice deeper than normal. I gripped the mug tighter.

  I didn’t turn to look at him, nor did I reciprocate his greeting. I went to the coffee pot and filled my mug. Opening the fridge I grabbed the milk and poured a few splashes. The canister of sugar was next to the fridge, and I put two teaspoons in my cup and began stirring. I felt Camden’s eyes on my back, but I refused to look at him.

  I heard him sigh and then he said, “I’ve made breakfast. Whole wheat toast, egg whites, and turkey bacon. I’ll put your plate on the breakfast bar.” I heard the clink of the plate as he set it down.

  If he was waiting for an acknowledgement from me, he wasn’t going to get one. I was shocked he even thought to make me a plate. Then again, with what he made, he was probably trying to put me on a diet thinking I wouldn’t notice...or he poisoned it. Screw him. Despite my growling stomach I took my mug and started walking out of the kitchen. I’d get breakfast in town on my way to get Sarah. She was coming over to spend the day with me, and we were going to veg on the couch.

  “You’re seriously not going to eat?” he asked before I could start upstairs.

  This time I did turn to look at him. “Why cook me anything? I’m just the roommate right? Cook for yourself.” With that, I went upstairs. A few seconds after I closed the bathroom door, I heard a crash, and the front door slammed. Fantastic…I pissed the grizzly off.

  After getting showered and dressed I headed downstairs. I looked in the sink as I passed by. The plate of food he made me was dumped and broken into a few large pieces. Sighing I took the broken glass out and threw them away, then shoved the food down the disposal. I wanted to feel bad for what I said to Camden, but I couldn’t. He needed a lesson on how to treat people, and I refused to be uncomfortable in my own home.

  I’d gone to get Sarah after cleaning up the mess, and we’d picked up a few movies from the store as well as a bag full of candy. I had a serious sweet tooth, and I had yet to find an eight-year-old who didn’t have the same problem. She wanted to watch Despicable Me first. Popping the movie in, the previews were just starting when the front door opened. Dodger came walking in, and he got a load of the candy spread on the coffee table. He smiled big.

  “Hey girls, whatcha doing?”

  Dodger had already met my sister, and they got along well. “Watching a movie, wanna watch it with us?” Sarah asked.

  He nodded.

  “You can have Keegan’s Laffy Taffy, but you can’t have my Nerds. I don’t share those.”

  He laughed and ruffled her wild curls as he sat down beside her. “I’m actually eyeballing those Snickers.”

  She gave him a hard face. “You can have one but no more.”

  “Fine, one is plenty. But what about the other candy?”

  “Are you kidding? You eat more than that candy bar you’ll have a tummy ache!”

  “Well, then I’d better just stick to the one.” He smiled at her.

  I was grinning at their exchange. Dodger was very much like a kid. His carefree attitude and fun spirit was exactly why I loved having him over all the time. I saw him more than I saw Camden. I really wished it would have been him who lived here. The three of us watched the movie together and laughed when I did impersonations of Steve Carrell’s voice. When it was over, I put in the next one and let Sarah start it. I took advantage of her zoning out and grabbed a bag from the counter and headed up to my bedroom door. I’d bought a new door handle that had a lock on it so I could lock it from the outside. I’d assumed Dodger had fallen asleep when I started the next movie, but apparently I’d been wrong. I heard him behind me clearing his throat.

  “What are you doing?”

  I startled. “Gah! Could you not sneak up on me like that? I have a screwdriver in my hand.”

  He smirked. “I see that. What’s wrong with the doorknob that was already on there?”

  I looked at him for a few seconds before turning back to the task at hand. “I’m changing them out so I can make sure I’ve got complete privacy, especially when I’m not home.”

  He chuckled. “I can assure you, Camden isn’t into chicks’ clothes.”

  “Ha, ha smart aleck. I’m referring to the Amazon women he brings home every night. I don’t trust them to not come in and think it’s a free-for-all in my room and take my things,” I grumbled.

  Dodger touched my shoulder. “Wait, he’s been bringing home women?”

  My eyebrows drew together. “Yeah, he’s brought at least three here since I’ve moved in. Why?”

  His face looked confused. “Nothing, don’t worry about it.” He stood behind me, completely quiet as I worked. When I stood up, I opened the door so I could test the lock. I heard Dodger groan.

  “What the fuck, Keeg.” He pushed me aside and hit the light switch on the wall.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” I tried to maneuver in front of him and shove him back out. He wouldn’t budge. His eyes took in every bare inch of the room. By the time they met mine, he looked confused and mad. “Where’s all your furniture? I thought you said you were all moved in.”

  My shoulders drooped, and my voice got quiet. “I am. This is all I have.”

  His head was shaking back and forth. “This isn’t cool Keegan. You don’t even have a goddamn bed!”

  “Why are you shouting at me? It’s not like I don’t plan on getting more furniture, I just can’t afford it right now. And my mom wouldn’t let me take the stuff from my room.” I kept my eyes down, and I couldn’t look at him. Why d
id I feel so ashamed?

  He tipped my chin up so I was looking at him. “I can buy you a bed, Keegan. It’s not a problem.”

  I jerked my head away. “No! I’m not a freaking charity case, and I’m working for what I have. I’ll be able to get everything I need in a few short months, so stop worrying about me, and wipe that look off your face.”

  His mouth thinned in a frustrated line. “You know I’m going to tell him.”

  “Tell who?”

  “Camden.”

  My stomach dropped, and I immediately became defensive. “You tell that bastard anything, I’m gone. I’m not dealing with your pity, and that asshole’s judgment being thrown in my face. I may not have a set of parents who give me whatever I need, but I’m capable of taking care of myself. Camden doesn’t need to know anything about me. He passed judgment on me the moment he set eyes on me. So please, keep this to yourself, okay?”

  He watched me for a few short seconds before he scrubbed his hand down his face. “Fine, but you know he’s going to notice this at some point.”

  “No he won’t. And even if he did, he wouldn’t care.” I knew he wouldn’t.

  He shrugged. “If you think so. But I have a feeling it would bother him more than you think.”

  “Whatever. Let’s go back downstairs so I can finish this movie with Sarah and get her back home.”

  As I shut the door and used my new lock, I heard the front door open and close.

  “Who the hell are you?” Camden’s deep voice boomed through the open space.

  “I’m Sarah, who the hell are you?”

  Dodger was already at the bottom of the steps chuckling at my sister’s response, and I was trying to shove the key in my pocket and race down the steps without falling.

  “Sarah!” I scolded. “Watch your mouth.”