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put tampons on the list, are you?”
    “Two sisters,” Jade fired back. “Are you one of those girls who would pitch a fit if I asked you to buy condoms?”
    “Favorite brand?” Maggie asked and giggled.
    Jade grinned. “How about lube?”
    “What flavor?”
    Jade laughed and winked at Maggie. They continued their banter, but I was still stuck on the buying of condoms and lube part of the conversation.
    “I think things are going to work out just fine,” Maggie said. She bumped me with her hip, and my brain kicked into gear again. This arrangement was going to kill me. I should add lube to the list because I was going to be doing a lot of self-pleasuring. I’d only known this guy for an hour and my entire body was betraying me.
    The doorbell chimed and made me jump.
    “That must be the pizza,” Maggie said and raced out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with Jade.
    “She’s a bit high-strung,” Jade said.
    “You get used to it,” I said.
    Jade pulled out a chair and sat down. He glanced at the list Maggie had filled out before he shoved it toward me. “Anything you want to add?”
    I took a deep breath and threw myself into the lion’s den. “Are you familiar with this area?”
    “Not really,” Jade said.
    “I could show you the best grocery store,” I said. I knew I could just give him directions, but apparently I was throwing my earlier decision to treat this guy as a business transaction out the window. Besides, I was curious about him.
    “Yeah, that would be great. I’ve never lived on this side of town, so I don’t know where anything is located,” Jade said.
    “Pizza,” Maggie announced. She dropped the boxes on the table and tossed the napkins to Jade and me, smiling as she slid into her seat.
    The next twenty minutes were spent sharing small talk in between bites of hot pizza. A couple of moans and several “oh, my God, this is the best pizza ever,” and Maggie tossed the boxes into the recycling bin and excused herself to go take a shower.
    Jade searched out his keys while I went to tell Maggie we were leaving and to find out if she had any more additions for the list. The shower was already running, but we were never shy around each other. I pushed open the door and walked into the steam-filled room.
    “Hey,” I shouted over the sound of the water. “We’re heading to the grocery store. Do you need anything else?”
    The shower curtain moved, and Maggie poked her soapy head out and stared at me like I’d grown a third eye. “You hate grocery shopping.”
    “Yes, but we need stuff,” I said. My face flushed, and I was extremely happy the room was filled with steam. I could just claim it was hot in here.
    “Rylan,” Maggie warned.
    “I’m not going to do anything stupid. He’s our roommate. I can play nice.” I added a frown and then blinked innocently at her.
    She groaned and told me to add toothpaste to list. I scurried out before she could say anything else.
    A horn honked and I guessed Jade was already in the car. I shoved the list into my pocket, grabbed my wallet, and ran outside. Our neighbor was leaning against the car, chatting with Jade. Mrs. Morgan was a nice but crazy lady who liked to wolf whistle at me when I was in my jogging shorts. I should have known she would be drawn to Jade.
    “Hi, Mrs. Morgan. I see you met our new roommate,” I called out.
    “Good choice. Much better than the last one,” she said and waved as she headed back to her house. Mrs. Morgan never liked Jeff. Her word for him had been “shifty,” which I guess had been right on the money. I wondered what word she picked for Jade.
    “She gave me cash and a grocery list,” Jade said when I climbed into the car.
    “She doesn’t drive and her son is a complete jerk. She somehow always knows when one of us is heading to the store.”
    Jade laughed and started the car. Music filled the small space, but Jade changed it before I could tell who was singing.
    “So, which way?”
    “Way? Oh,