{"id":5079,"date":"2023-02-07T13:22:38","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T18:22:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/?page_id=5079"},"modified":"2023-09-18T16:04:26","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T20:04:26","slug":"my-roommate-kevin","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/buy-my-books\/my-roommate-kevin\/","title":{"rendered":"My Roommate, Kevin"},"content":{"rendered":"
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My Roommate, Kevin<\/em><\/strong> (novella (?) WIP)
CW\/Themes: Odd couple, love story, annoyance to lovers, opposites attract, slob\/neat, misunderstanding<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter 1 \u2013 The Stranger<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHi. I\u2019m here about the room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP stood blinking slowly at the stranger in his doorway, not sure how to reply. The man was not the sort of applicant he had expected, given the ad he had posted on Craigslist on Monday:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ROOM AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY in large 5 \u00bd upper duplex near Villa-Maria metro\/Monkland Village \u2013 $350\/month (hydro\/heat\/ultra-fast wifi included). Close to grocery, liquor store, many restaurants, and a pharmacy. Laundry in apartment, large balcony in front, and shared access to the yard in back. THE IDEAL ROOMMATE: queer-friendly, responsible, clean, quiet, no drama, no party, VEGETARIAN (no meat in my home, please). No smokers. No pets (I have a cat, and she hates other animals). I\u2019m a quiet, responsible, neat individual seeking the same. I work mostly from home, so I would prefer someone who doesn\u2019t work remotely. Applicant must have references. Email for info. NO PHONE CALLS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With his bushy brown beard and hair, and his dirty clothes, the guy looked sort of . . . homeless. JP winced and mentally slapped himself, feeling like an asshole. Don\u2019t jump to conclusions. And, unhoused . . . Unhoused is the better word<\/em>. Trying to keep an open mind, he took a closer look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the man\u2019s dingy red-and-black plaid jacket, he had on some more plaid\u2014a shirt in green and navy\u2014and beneath that, what JP assumed was a white t-shirt. His dark-blue jeans had a gaping hole in one knee and frayed, matted cuffs, all of which seemed like genuine wear and tear rather than for fashion\u2019s sake. Plus, they were encrusted with grime. Completing the \u201clook\u201d was a pair of beat-up, steel-toed work boots that may have been tan once upon a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was he just a hipster who curated some sort of \u201cauthentic\u201d style . . . or maybe he was a lumberjack. He does <\/em>look like a lumberjack. A short lumberjack.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the guy stood there squinting up at JP like a small, dirty Paul Bunyan, JP slowly leaned back to get away from the smell of onions and sweat. He had no<\/em> idea what to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After an awfully long, awkward silence, the man ran a hand through his messy hair, the matted beard parting again to reveal bright white teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAm I in the right place? You JP?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the slight twang in his accent, JP placed him from somewhere west, but not too<\/em> far west\u2014maybe rural Ontario. He nodded, then frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWait, how did you get my address?\u201d He\u2019d received over a dozen emails so far from people asking about the room, but he hadn\u2019t given out his address to any of them. Not yet<\/em>, anyway. He knew he was stalling\u2014he needed a roommate soon but really<\/em> wasn\u2019t thrilled about sharing his personal space with a stranger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guy grinned. \u201cI grabbed a bite at the pub down the street and chatted up the smokin\u2019 hot blonde working there. Said I was looking for a place, and she gave me your address.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh.\u201d That would be Laurie, JP\u2019s favourite waitress at the Olde Grove Pub down the street. Laurie knew JP was renting the room, and she knew where he lived\u2014she\u2019d been over once to collect some books and a folding table he\u2019d been giving away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crap. Who else has she given my address to?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo . . . uh, is the room still up for grabs?\u201d the guy asked, his expression hopeful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP considered lying, but the stranger\u2019s smile started to fade as disappointment crept into his red-rimmed eyes the longer JP was silent. The guy looked exhausted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure. Come on in,\u201d JP said with a tight smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bright grin reappeared on the man\u2019s face, and he stepped over the threshold, dumping a faded old green rucksack in the entranceway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUm. Leave your boots on the mat. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh. Sorry.\u201d Bracing himself on the doorframe, the guy pulled off his boots, and JP tried not to grimace\u2014the creases in his knuckles and nails were black with dirt. He was surprised he didn\u2019t leave a dirty handprint on the white door frame. The stranger then walked onto the hardwood floors in his no-longer-white athletic socks, one big toe poking from a hole, and waited for JP to show him around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shoulders somewhere up around his ears, JP gestured to the table and chairs in front of the patio door. \u201cThis is, um, the dining area and out there is the balcony. And, uh, through there is the kitchen.\u201d He pointed like an idiot to the wide arch where the kitchen was clearly<\/em> visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man walked past him and into the room, turning around in place as he nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not big, I know, but it\u2019s well organized. And there\u2019s lots of light. These guys love it, obviously,\u201d JP said, referring to the shelves full of plants on both sides of the big window. \u201cAnd the stove is induction.\u201d He didn\u2019t know why he was bothering to tell the man all of that since he couldn\u2019t really imagine taking him on as a roommate. There were definitely better matches among those who had already inquired about the room. \u201cThe bedroom for rent is this one over here.\u201d JP walked through the dining room and pointed to the open doorway, holding his breath as the guy brushed by him, not wanting another noseful of sweaty onion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man looked around with a pleased expression while scratching his messy beard. \u201cNice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The room was probably twelve feet by twelve, with a decent-sized window on the far side overlooking the yard. The walls were painted a light mushroom brown, and on the floor near the entrance was an old IKEA futon without a cover. Both the paint and the futon predated JP\u2019s tenancy and, up until a week earlier, the room had been filled with odds and ends: a big box full of cables he\u2019d been dragging from apartment to apartment, Xmas decorations, a life-sized standing cut-out of Data from TNG, and a bunch of camping gear that belonged to his ex. The decorations and gear were now taking up valuable real estate in JP\u2019s closet, but the cables and Lieutenant Commander Data had gone to the curb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh, so, yeah, there\u2019s no door to the room . . . that\u2019s part of why it\u2019s so cheap. I\u2019ve been trying to get my landlord to replace it, but he lives out in Tremblant, and he\u2019s never here. He\u2019s a nice guy, just . . . sort of lazy. But you could put up a curtain or something for the time being.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d the man replied, nodding again like he was taking mental notes. \u201cThis come with it?\u201d He pointed to the futon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYep. Keep it or toss it; it\u2019s up to you.\u201d Why am I getting his hopes up?<\/em> Stupid Canadian politeness. \u201cAnd there\u2019s no closet, sorry. I think it was used as a dining room back when the duplex was first built.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP stepped out of the way to let him through the door and then led him to the big living room. \u201cThe back door there leads to the yard. There\u2019s an old guy that lives downstairs, and he sits out there maybe once or twice a year, so it\u2019s basically mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s my room-slash-office over there.\u201d He pointed to the closed door. There was reason to give him the full tour. \u201cAnd there\u2019s the bathroom. Laundry machines too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poking his head into the bathroom, the man whistled. \u201cA claw foot tub! Man, I haven\u2019t seen one of these in ages<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP smiled. \u201cYeah, it\u2019s pretty great for baths. A little awkward for the shower, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh yeah?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah, I had to rig up a shower curtain stand when I moved in, and the thing holding the shower head is a little low.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cYou kind of have to duck under it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, you<\/em> might, Stretch,\u201d the guy said, grinning up at him pointedly. He was right\u2014JP had at least a foot on him, for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP laughed politely, and the man joined in. He had an unusual laugh, oddly high-pitched compared to his gruff speaking voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, what happened to the last guy?\u201d the man asked, jerking his thumb back towards the spare room. He gave JP a teasingly suspicious look. \u201cAnything I should know about you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh. No. I\u2019m totally boring, trust me. And there wasn\u2019t anyone renting it before. I\u2019m just going back to school part-time, and I need the extra money because I have to cut back my work hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGotcha.\u201d The stranger walked over to his rucksack and picked it up, and JP followed to let him out, a little confused about the abruptness of his leaving. However, instead of putting his boots on, he went back to the spare room and tossed his bag on the futon. \u201cI\u2019ll take it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP stood there, mouth agape for a second, trying to find a polite way to turn him down. \u201cUm. Well. You see . . . uh . . . there are other people coming . . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, tell \u2018em it\u2019s taken!\u201d The man chuckled and pulled something out of his back pocket. JP stared at the thick wad of cash as he began peeling off bills. \u201cFirst month, last month, and key deposit, right? How much do I owe you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh. There\u2019s no key deposit. I think that\u2019s actually illegal in Qu\u00e9bec.\u201d JP licked his lips, his eyes on the bills in his hand. \u201cAnd uh, we don\u2019t do \u2018last month\u2019 either. That might be illegal too.  I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI might as well give it to you anyway.\u201d He held out seven shiny one-hundred-dollar bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JP\u2019s mind was pulling him in two directions, and he didn\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the one hand, the guy had the money. It was right there. It meant JP could pay back some of what he owed on his credit cards. How bad could this guy be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, on the other hand, who was<\/em> he? Why did he have so much cash? Where did he get it? Laurie at the pub might think the guy was nice enough to set him up as his roommate, but what did he actually know<\/em> about him? Even looking beyond his grimy appearance . . . he had just walked off the street. The man could be a criminal. Then something else occurred to JP: there hadn\u2019t seen the ad<\/em>. He didn\u2019t know all the details. What if he was a homophobe? There was no way JP was going to live in the closet in his own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust so you know, I\u2019m gay,\u201d JP blurted out, bracing himself. His cheeks felt hot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guy looked at him a little funny. \u201cCool cool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At that moment, Loki, JP\u2019s tortie, decided to make an appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, you\u2019ve got a cat!\u201d the man said, squatting down. He pocketed the money and held out his hand to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUh. I wouldn\u2019t do that,\u201d JP warned him. \u201cShe hates everyone but me. She\u2019ll tolerate you after a while but don\u2019t expect to\u2014\u201d He gaped as Loki began to rub her face against the guy\u2019s knuckles, purring audibly. \u201cIt might be a trap,\u201d he said weakly. \u201cShe really does hate everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnimals like me,\u201d the man replied, looking up at JP with another of his gleaming white smiles. He scratched behind Loki\u2019s ears and under her chin, just the way she liked it. \u201cAw, you\u2019re a good kitty. Such<\/em> a pretty girl, aren\u2019t you? Aren\u2019t<\/em> you?\u201d He made silly kissy noises at her, which she ate up, slow-blinking up at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s a first.\u201d JP shook his head. \u201cOkay. Listen . . . thing is, I don\u2019t know anything about you. Like . . . what do you do for a living?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guy straightened, and Loki rubbed herself against his legs a few times before wandering off, her tail high. \u201cA bit of this, a bit of that. I\u2019m actually between gigs right now. But I\u2019ll have something lined up in no time, don\u2019t worry. Never have a problem finding work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cO . . . kay.\u201d There was his out! He could refuse him simply for being unemployed. JP was relieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then the man shrugged. \u201cI just flew in this afternoon from Kuujjuaq. Was up there for a six-month construction contract. A government infrastructure initiative thing with Northern communities . . . helping to build stuff, fix things . . . you know? Like, lend a hand?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey had us working with people from all over the Nunavik region, giving them some extra help and tools to get them where they want to be. So, I uh, let\u2019s see . . .\u201d The man held up his hand, counting off on his fingers. \u201cWell, first I worked for a bit on a new hospital centre, and then I helped to set up the new beachside port that\u2019s going up near Kuujjuaq . . . then I went a little south of there to do some logging. I also spent a few weeks just breaking up rocks to get a road through so\u2019s folk don\u2019t have to wait as long for supplies.\u201d He laughed, looking at his rough, grimy palms. \u201cShit, I\u2019ve got calluses on my calluses, but it was totally<\/em> worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guy had spent six months up north in the bush doing humanitarian work. JP realized he couldn\u2019t very well refuse him now without looking like a total asshole. Great<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s pretty awesome,\u201d he replied slowly. \u201cI can\u2019t even imagine going all the way up there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man grinned. \u201cI\u2019m just glad they\u2019re not flying Otters anymore. It\u2019s all standard Boeings and shit now, except half of the plane\u2019s cargo. But, man, just getting back to Kuujjuaq last night in time to catch my flight this morning was hell<\/em>. Everything that could have gone wrong did. I haven\u2019t slept since . . . fuck<\/em>, I don\u2019t even know.\u201d He laughed. \u201cWhat the hell day is<\/em> it?\u201d Shaking his head while still chuckling, he pulled the bills from his pocket again and held them out to JP. \u201cSo? Whattaya say? Roomies? Hm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut . . . what about references?\u201d JP asked weakly, trying one last thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAw, that\u2019s fine, bro,\u201d the man answered, thumping him on the shoulder. \u201cI don\u2019t need \u2018em. You seem like a decent guy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s not what I meant<\/em>, JP thought as accepted the money, but he knew he was defeated. He sighed. \u201cWhen do you think you\u2019ll move in?\u201d he asked nervously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow about now?\u201d The man threw himself down on the futon, and it creaked so loudly JP thought it would give out. He lay back on the naked mattress with a happy sigh, lacing his fingers over his chest. \u201cOh yeah, that\u2019s<\/em> the ticket.\u201d He closed his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight now<\/em>?\u201d JP hadn\u2019t planned on this. He wasn\u2019t ready to share his space yet. He needed a few days to prepare himself mentally. Oh my god, what have I done<\/em>? \u201cWh-what about your stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without opening his eyes, the man nudged the bag with his foot. \u201cThis is all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh my god<\/em>. \u201cDo you even have sheets?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, but I\u2019ll go get some tomorrow. No worries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d JP said in a faint voice. He stood there a moment with his stomach clenched tight with anxiety, feeling like he needed to say more . . . but what<\/em>? Loki brushed against his leg before hopping onto the futon to curl up at his new roommate\u2019s feet, fixing him with a slow-blinking green stare. In a daze, JP started to turn away, then stopped. \u201cWait . . . I don\u2019t even know your name.\u201d The guy let out one of his high-pitched laughs\u2014it was nearly a giggle. \u201cWow, my bad,\u201d he said, sitting up. He held a hand out to shake, and JP politely took it, grimacing inwardly as he tried to ignore the dirt. The man smiled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe name\u2019s Kevin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Read more of the story as it's written\ud83d\udc47<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

September 18th<\/sup> Update - Download the WIP<\/a> (EPUB) - (24,144 words)
Silver subscription<\/a> required.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My Roommate, Kevin (novella (?) WIP)CW\/Themes: Odd couple, love story, annoyance to lovers, opposites attract, slob\/neat, misunderstanding Chapter 1 \u2013 The Stranger \u201cHi. I\u2019m here about the room.\u201d JP stood blinking slowly at the stranger in his doorway, not sure how to reply. The man was not the sort of applicant he had expected, given the ad he had posted on Craigslist on Monday: ROOM AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY in large 5 \u00bd upper duplex near Villa-Maria metro\/Monkland Village \u2013 $350\/month (hydro\/heat\/ultra-fast wifi included). Close to grocery, liquor store, many restaurants, and a pharmacy. Laundry in apartment, large balcony in front, and … <\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":714,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5079","page","type-page","status-publish"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P4sexs-1jV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":125,"url":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/beys-tales\/","url_meta":{"origin":5079,"position":0},"title":"Bey’s Tales","author":"Bey","date":"May 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A collection of stories and poems and WIPs. Some are true, some are partially true, and some are complete fabrication. Most are either NC-17 or just rather dark. You've been warned. Bronze (\ud83d\udfe0) and Silver (\u26aa\ufe0f) subscription tiers are required for some linksRead about subscription options here Serials\/WIPs These are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"BDSM\"","block_context":{"text":"BDSM","link":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/tag\/bdsm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5079"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15607,"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5079\/revisions\/15607"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beydeckard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}