A Rogue For Four Alphas
Chapter 43

Chapter Forty Three

My phone blinked twice wuth a message form my roommate whom I have almost forgotten about, thanks to thee four Alphas keeping my mind busy in something else other than the real world. Lisa: I got a message from our landlord about a security deposit. Want to meet for lunch and then go there together? I could use a talk.

Me: Sure. How about the school library at noon?

Lisa: See you there

She's waiting for me out front a restarunt on the opposite side of the school library where when I arrive at the restaurant. It's an ultra casual place where you order at a counter and eat at picnic tables on their deck that's right on the water by the student especially theloved birds, so there's a line.

Lisa doesn't quite manage to smile when she greets me, maybe that's why she didn't enter the library, she is not a book freak like me and I wanted to have an excuse to smell the old musky scent of books but this will do. "What's wrong?" I ask

"I'm losing my job."

"What? What happened?" Lisa works at a small clinic downtown and doing admin duties.

"I should have seen it coming. Last month, My Boss brought his girlfriend to work with us, and there isn't enough to keep both of us busy."

"Well, that sucks." The line moves forward, and we shuffle up behind the family that's in front of us.

"I know, especially now that I have half a mortgage to pay instead of just half of our rent."

I raise a brow but keep my thoughts to myself. Her new boyfriend as a house, which I'm assuming he was perfectly capable of affording on his own before Lisa moved in. It's great that she'd be willing to contribute financially, but it isn't her house, and surely he wouldn't expect her to pay part of his mortgage when she's just lost her job.

"What kind of job will you be looking for?" I ask.

"I don't know. Something similar. Probably not a clinic, because that would really limit my options, and I have seen and heard enough.

"That shouldn't be too hard to find, especially this time of year. Alot of places should be hiring soon, once the college students leave school but for now I will talk to my boss and look for a slut for you"

"I don't think I'd make a good waitress," she says, and I know she's being diplomatic. Lisa visited Our Cafe a lot of times and the dive bar decoration was not her scene, to put it mildly.

I've told her how it's changed, but she hasn't been back, especially not once she got withher boyfriend, Vincent. He wouldn't set foot in there, and probably wouldn't want her going there to hang out with me. I'm sure he thinks I'm a terrible influence.

We reach the counter and order, and I insist on paying, thinking about how I'm staying with four near-strangers, and they're not expecting me to pay money toward their mortgage. They probably won't accept the money when I try to give it to them, which I do plan to, as soon as I have enough.

As if reading my thoughts, Lisa asks, "Have you found an apartment yet?" "Not yet. Still looking. Not looking quite as hard as I was last week.

"Are you staying safe?"I never did ask; I just assumed..." She looks guilty for not having asked about this sooner.

"That's okay. I know you've been busy shacking up with, Vincent "I tease. I consider evading her question because it's quite an unusual situation I'm in, but I've never kept secrets from Lisa. I have, perhaps, downplayed the issues I have with my mother, or she'd never have assumed I'd be staying there.

Lisa has wonderful, caring parents, and it's probably hard for her to imagine how shitty the parent I have really is.

I spot a couple that's about to get up, and lead us over to the table so we can snag it as soon as they leave. When we get seated, I say, "I've been staying with some friends

My hesitant tone prompts her to arch a brow. "Friends? Anybody I know?"

"No..." Lisa fixes her eyes on me until I tell her more. "They're a few guys who are into car racing, dangerous stuff and they came to town for a short while...."

"A few guys?"

"Four men," I clarify

"Four? They all live together, and they had room for you at their apartment?" She sounds both skeptical and concerne

"They own an enormous house, actually with lots of rooms, but they work in property development too, so I guess they make good money."

My friend continues to stare at me, knowing there's more to the story. I hadn't told her where I was living because I thought I'd only be there a night or two. I hadn't even mentioned my nights with Damon or Ian, because I don't usually talk about my hookups. Lisa never judges me, but I know she would never be comfortable having sex with random men.

"And they're your friends?" she says, though I know what she's really asking

"Friends with benefits, I guess you could say."

"All... of them?" There are a couple of women on the planet who are in relationships with four men but it's definitely not a situation I ever thought I'd find myself in, so I understand her surprise. When I nod, her jaw drops open. At the same time, a guy arrives to deliver the food we ordered, putting Lisas followup questions on hold.

When he leaves, she asks, "Are you planning to stay with them?

"No, just while I look for an apartment. It's been ridiculously hard to find a decent place. Bad time of year, plus probably all of the people who lived in our building needed to find new places, too." She nods, chewing a bite of her fish sandwich.

"Will you still see... these men... when you find your own place?"

"I'll see them at the drag race or when they come to thee cafe for drinks"

She makes a silly face, tilting her head to the side. "You know what I mean."

I laugh, dipping a fry in ketchup. "You should say what you mean."

Lisa looks around at the crowded patio, concerned someone is listening. "Are you in a relationship with them?"

I shake my head. "No, we just have an arrangement for while I'm staying there."

She frowns and looks thoughtful for a moment before leaning in and lowering her voice. "I don't understand how you can sleep with men without getting attached. I mean, it makes sense when it's just a one-night thing, but if you're living with them, and if you like them enough to sleep with them, don't you ever find yourself wanting something more?"

More trouble, more irritation, more heartache? I don't say any of that to Lisa, since she's all loved-up with Vincent, but that's what comes to mind when I think about a relationship with a man.

"It's just sex," I tell her, and knowing it will embarrass her, I add, "really, really good sex."