The Roommate by Kiersten Modglin (best way to read books .TXT) 📕

"What is that like? I'd be such a nervous wreck."

I focused on her lip ring, watching the silver ball bounce as she talked. For some reason, I couldn't picture Stephanie getting nervous about anything. Everything about her was bold and confident, including her hand on my calf. "Nah, you get used to it. It's pretty cool when you get backstage access to some of the bigger shows, but at the end of the day, it's just a job."

"You must love it, though," she said, and I felt the bitterness rising in my chest again. Truth was, I wasn’t sure I’d loved it in a very long time, but no one had bothered to ask until Elias had that night at the bar. It was the first time I’d allowed myself to really process my feelings for my career in so long. Of course, her quasi-question didn’t require that detailed of a response.

Instead, I went with, "Parts of it, yeah."

"Who's the biggest celebrity you've ever met?" Ariel asked from across the room.

I cleared my throat and took another drink of my beer. It was room temperature by that point. "Um, well, that's hard to say. I've met most of the stars here, honestly. I did get to meet Dolly Parton, though. It was kind of by accident, but she's one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Obviously not my client, but such a cool experience. That's probably my favorite celebrity experience."

"No kidding?" Stephanie's eyes widened. "I'm obsessed with her. I grew up listening to her music. She has the best story ever."

"Yeah, she's super cool," Ariel agreed.

"You got a picture with her, didn't you?" Elias asked. "On your desk. I think I remember seeing it." I hadn't even known he'd been listening, and he wasn't looking our way, making me question whether he was even talking to me at first.

"Yeah, I do," I said, nodding slowly.

"No way. Ugh, I'm so jealous," Stephanie said.

"That's amazing," Ariel agreed.

"My brother's a bouncer. He's met some cool people, too," Mac added, though no one seemed to pay him any attention.

"You should see the pictures he has in his office. He's met everyone," Elias said.

"Can we see?" Stephanie begged, her hands held in front of her as if she were praying. "Please. I'm totally celeb-obsessed. I read gossip magazines like they're my Bible."

"Oh, I don't know… We're not really supposed to have people in the office unless they're clients."

"Oh, come on, please? I swear I won't touch anything. They'll never even know I was there. You'd be my favorite person in the world." She put her hands on my knees, and though I doubted there was any ulterior motive, my skin was suddenly on fire, and I could focus on nothing else.

"Is your office on Music Row?" Ariel asked.

"Mhm," I said, my eyes still on Stephanie as she pushed her bottom lip out further in a pout.

"That is so cool. My bank works with so many celebrities, and they have all this signed stuff at the Music Row branch. Even a Hank Williams outfit that he actually wore. It's out of my way, but I go there every chance I get. It's…amazing." She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. "If I ever got to meet a celebrity, I'd probably die then and there."

"And if it was T-Swift, forget about it," Ariel added with a laugh.

Stephanie's eyes bulged. "Abso-freakin-lutely. I'm a total Swiftie. She's perfection." She looked back at me. "Have you ever met her?"

"Years ago, yeah. I wasn't even an agent then, though, just an intern. I probably have a picture somewhere."

She squealed. "Was she amazing? I’ll bet she was amazing.”

“Amazing,” I confirmed.

“Are you sure you can't take us to see your collection? Oh, it would just make my night."

I sighed. It was incredibly tempting as she leaned closer to me, her entire body pressed to my calf, but I knew Stewart would have a fit.

"I'm sorry. I really wish I could—"

"Wes isn't the boss, Stephanie," Elias said, coming to my rescue. "He's probably not allowed to go into the office after hours anyway. You're barking up the wrong tree."

She let go of my leg, sinking back away from me with drooping shoulders. "Oh." She was visibly disappointed, and I felt the energy in the room shift.

Technically, I was allowed to go into the office whenever I wanted, I just wasn't allowed to bring anyone with me. I toyed with the idea. It wasn't like anyone had to know. I could say I'd needed to get my laptop. We could go in, look at the pictures, not disturb anything, and get out.

"Do you have any pictures on your phone?" Mac asked, almost as a challenge.

"I do, actually." I pulled out my phone, searching back through an album to find the photos from the festival last summer. I held my phone out to Stephanie once I'd landed on the ones I was searching for. "Here you go."

Stephanie took the phone from my hand, scrolling through the photos, her squeals growing louder with each new celebrity. "You are officially the coolest person I know!" she announced, standing up and throwing herself onto my lap before wrapping her arms around my neck. The chair rolled backward with the sudden shift in weight, and she squealed with delight. "You have to tell me everything. What are they like? Are they jerks? Who's the nicest? Who’s the meanest?" I couldn't focus on anything but her body pressed against mine, her arm around my neck, a finger tracing a line across the collar of my shirt.

Garth grinned slyly at me, but I hardly noticed. I should've told her to get off. I should've mentioned that I was still married, despite telling them just moments ago that I was sure my wife was leaving me, but I couldn't.

I couldn't deny how good the attention felt and how badly I needed something, anything, to feel good.

"I can tell you anything you want to know. Most of these were just photos