EmmaWhatever happened to the “Shirts on in the Kitchen” rule?
DylanThat’s not a real rule.
EmmaNuh-uh. House Rule #14.
DylanAh, but those are your rules.
EmmaThey’re ours.
EmmaWe agreed to them before you moved in!
DylanNo. You wrote them down and asked if I agreed, and then I grunted.
DylanNot admissible in a court of law.
EmmaWell, it’s admissible in our kitchen.
EmmaShirt on.
DylanOr what?
EmmaOr I won’t save you any waffles.
DylanWhy didn’t you just lead with that?
DylanI would have put on a shirt already.
I roll my eyes.
My roommate, Dylan, hustles out of the kitchen in our small apartment.
He re-renters, fully dressed.
DylanBetter?
EmmaMuch.
I grab my plate from the counter.
Is that a hint of…disappointment in my stomach?
Am I seriously upset that my roommate is covered up right now?
I mean, Dylan has always been objectively hot…
And it’s not that I don’t appreciate looking at him, but…
I’ve been friends with him for years.
I swear I could never see him that way.
Because Dylan is a total player.
And I know better than to get involved in games.
DylanDon’t worry. I don’t blame you.
I narrow my eyes at him as I eat a bite of waffle.
EmmaYou don’t blame me for what?
DylanI understand why you have the shirt-on rule.
He raises an eyebrow and ugh, I’m totally into it.
DylanIt’s too distracting for you otherwise.
I roll my eyes again.
EmmaWe’re going to need a bigger apartment…
EmmaYour ego needs its own room.
DylanYou say ego, I say awesomeness.
DylanYou know — tomato, to-MAH-to.
EmmaI know that it’s time for House Rule #22 — “The Cook Doesn’t Clean.”
I push back from the table, not realizing that Dylan gets up with me.
We bump together as he reaches for my empty plate…
And a wave of heat rushes through me.
I jerk back, startled by the feeling.
EmmaI, uh…need a shower.
DylanNeed any help?
EmmaYou know, one of these days, I’m going to say yes…
EmmaJust to freak you out.
DylanAnd on that day, I’ll take you up on your offer.
I know he’s joking, but I feel myself flush.
Luckily, Dylan just grins and heads to the sink.
And yet, I’m still totally freaking out.
What on earth is happening to me?!
Dylan and I joke around like this all the time.
It doesn’t mean anything.
…Right?
Shaking my head, I turn my shower to cold.
Just to clear my thoughts.
20 minutes later
Feeling refreshed, I wrap my towel around me.
Crap!
I forgot my bathrobe in my room.
I weigh my options…
Looks like I’ll just have to hustle down the hall to safety.
It’ll be totally fine.
Because Dylan is still downstairs cleaning.
Except, when I open the door to the bathroom…
He’s standing right there.
And because he washed the dishes, his T-shirt is soaked.
It’s plastered to his chest.
I can’t help but stare.
I always thought that I just liked looking at him…
You know, the way a woman admires any hot guy.
But right now, when Dylan’s eyes meet mine…
I can’t ignore the truth.
I really like Dylan.
I think I have for a while.
Dylan averts his gaze quickly, giving me my privacy…
And I see he’s holding a carefully packed Tupperware of waffles.
He’s clearly obeying the house rules.
EmmaErr, I was just…
DylanYou don’t have to explain yourself.
EmmaBut House Rule #8 says “Robes, Not Towels, After Showers.”
EmmaI’m the one who messed up here.
DylanBut I feel like I barged in on you. I’m sorry.
Dylan is now looking pointedly at the wall.
EmmaIt’s okay.
DylanSo um…did you want me to put the leftover waffles in the freezer?
EmmaI’ll do it. Just let me get dressed.
Clenching the knot in my towel tightly…
I hurry down the hall to my room.
Heart pounding, I throw on a pair of jeans and a tank top.
But then I’m stopped in my tracks.
Why was Dylan so determined to keep his eyes off me?
Was he totally repulsed by what he saw?
Or, does he feel it too…
This thing between us…
Pulsing as strong as my pounding heartbeat.
Part of me wants to sink down into my bed…
And examine the look in Dylan’s eyes when he saw me come out of the bathroom.
But the rest of me knows that I need to keep busy.
I can’t let those waffles get ruined over some stupid romantic angst.
In the kitchen
The Tupperware container of waffles is nowhere to be found.
Dylan’s sitting tall at the table, wearing a smug grin.
The cocky version of him is back.
And in fairness, it looks really good on him.
DylanHouse Rule #22, remember?
DylanYou cooked, so I clean.
EmmaHey. I never stopped you from doing that.
DylanAh, but you tried. You told me you wanted to put away the waffles.
EmmaI didn’t want to!
EmmaYou didn’t know where they went.
EmmaI had to show you because—
DylanEmma.
I meet Dylan’s gaze.
I’m very conscious of how close together we’re standing.
So close…that I can feel the heat from his skin.
He’s looking right at me.
And I can see it in his eyes…
That what I’ve been feeling isn’t one-sided.
I try to breathe.
But the air gets stuck in my throat.
DylanI have a question about your house rules.
I blink, startled.
EmmaAbout the rules?
DylanYeah, I’m thinking it’s time to go over some of them.
A rumbling laugh escapes from my chest.
EmmaWhat’s the point in doing that? You ignore them anyway.
DylanBut you don’t ignore them.
EmmaWhat’s that’s supposed to mean?
DylanHouse Rule #19.
Emma“Roommates Don’t Date?”
DylanYeah. That one.
He leans in closer, and I try to keep my feelings in check.
DylanI think it’s time I had more input on these rules.
DylanAnd my first action as co-rule-maker…
DylanWould be to delete House Rule #19 from the list.
My pulse thunders through my veins.
EmmaWhat are you saying?
DylanI think you know.
I try to get a grip, but it’s hard with him standing so close.
I want to throw away the rules so badly.
EmmaBut House Rule #19 is there for a reason…
DylanWhat reason?
EmmaIf anything were to happen between us…
EmmaYou know it wouldn’t last.
EmmaAnd how would we live together after that?
DylanWhy wouldn’t it last?
DylanWait, let me guess…
He shrugs, but I can tell that my words bothered him.
DylanYou think I’m a player.
EmmaLet’s just say that ego of yours is well-fed.
DylanOkay, but why do you think that?
DylanIs it because I go on a lot of dates?
EmmaWell…yes.
DylanWhat if I told you the real reason I went on them?
DylanWhat if it was because I was trying to find someone—
DylanANYONE — who could compare to the one person I was really into?
Dylan’s eyes are on fire.
But in a split second, the flame’s extinguished.
His voice comes out dejected.
DylanNo one could ever compare to her…
My breath catches in my throat.
EmmaWhat are you saying?
Slowly, Dylan reaches out and places a hand on my waist.
I shudder at the touch.
DylanEmma, I secretly love your house rules.
DylanNot only is it adorable to watch you try to keep me in line…
DylanBut the rules are so…
DylanYou.
EmmaStrict and uptight?
DylanThoughtful and clever.
DylanAnd you’re funny, even when you don’t know it.
DylanBut most of all…
DylanYour rules make this apartment…
Dylan hesitates.
He swallows the word before he says it.
DylanHome.
Dylan’s cheeks flash pink.
And then he gives me an awkward smile.
It turns out my cocky roommate can also pull off the dorky look.
I smile back, emboldened by his words.
EmmaThen I’d like to propose a new House Rule.
DylanWhat’s that?
EmmaThe Secret Kiss Rule.
EmmaRoommates are allowed to kiss—
EmmaOnly once, and in complete confidentiality…
EmmaJust to see if their feelings are worth the risk.
DylanThe risk of what?
DylanAbolishing House Rule #19?
EmmaI mean, yes, but not only that…
EmmaI’m also worried about our friendship.
Dylan offers me a gentle smile.
His eyes are full of his heart.
DylanOf course I’m worried about that too.
DylanBut this thing between us feels powerful.
DylanSo I think we have to try.
With that, he leans into the space between us.
Giving me one final chance to pull away.
But I hold still.
And then…Dylan kisses me.
It’s quiet and hesitant…
The way he brushes his lips slowly over mine.
I respond by losing my fingers in his hair…
Tugging gently…
And deepening the kiss.
When we pull back, my knees are weak.
DylanThank you for casting your vote.
EmmaMy vote?
DylanYes, your vote. On whether or not to keep House Rule #19.
Another laugh escapes me.
EmmaOh? And what was my vote?
DylanYou voted to get rid of it, obviously.
EmmaI’m not sure I—
DylanSorry, no takebacks.
I smile so wide I think my whole face is going to crack.
EmmaI wasn’t trying to do a takeback!
EmmaI was just saying that my kiss doesn’t necessarily count as a vote.
EmmaThis counts as a vote.
I reach out and clasp both his hands in mine, squeezing them in emphasis.
EmmaDylan Silverberg, I vote we risk it all.
EmmaFor us.
Dylan grins right back at me.
DylanGreat! Then I’ll tally everything up.
He looks up at the ceiling adorably.
As if he’s figuring out a complex math problem.
DylanAlright, it’s official. No more #19.
A whole bout of laughter is escapes me.
EmmaWho am I to argue with the rules?