Chapter Text
“Okay where are the cameras?” You try not to burst out laughing as you look from one guy to the other. They look like male models, and you suddenly feel like you’re on some kind of prank reality game show or something.
The three guys look at each other and then back at you. The blue-eyed one blinks once before speaking. “Uh…Oh— wait no. This is not that kind of ad.” He turns to the one with the longer hair, “What the fuck did you write on there, Cass?”
The other guy, Cass, shrugs, “It was a normal ad! I just wrote that we need a roommate, that we have one room open, and the rent amount— all normal stuff.”
You raise your hand slowly and everyone turns to look at you again. “Actually, you wrote ‘must be hot’ but I thought it was, like, a joke.”
The quiet guy that has been tinkering in the kitchen until now walks over to smack Cass in the back of the head and the first guy just drops his head, chin to his chest, letting out a deep sigh.
You try not to giggle, thinking to yourself that maybe this would work out— they don’t look like creeps. You bite your lip, mentally considering the pros and cons about living here (even though they have not officially made the offer yet) and you are heavily leaning towards yes. What could possibly outweigh living with three drop-dead gorgeous men? And the rent is doable, the place looks clean, it’s in a good area of the city, it's close to your work— it’s pretty much perfect.
"Rhys," the quiet guy says, "what in the hell made you think Cassian should be in charge of writing the ad?"
"Honestly, I just didn't want to do it myself." Rhys sits back on the couch and looks back at you. "Well, ___, I apologize about the weird ad— apparently that was too much to ask for of this meatball."
"Meatball?" Cassian sits up and flexes his arms, smirking. "I think you mean beefcake."
You laugh, loud and embarrassing, and nod, trying to laugh through your giggles. "It's okay." You swipe a tear from the corner of your eye and clear your throat. "Okay, so I can do the rent, but I don't get paid until next week, is that okay?"
Rhys nods, "I'm sure that can work. Az?"
The quiet guy crosses his arms over his chest. "Yeah, that works."
Rhys turns to Cassian. "Cass?"
Cassian winks at you, "Hell yeah."
Rhys rolls his eyes. "Okay since we all agreed, you are welcome to move in at any time. If you need help moving any of your stuff, we can help you. Now, apartment rules: Keep your girly stuff contained to your room— no offence but I don't want to hear 'you have a girlfriend?' every night." Az snorts, and Cassian nods sagely. "Dinner is at 6 every evening— Azriel runs a tight ship— and we have a chore calendar on the wall over there." He points at a whiteboard hanging on the wall. "Other than that, I mean, we're all adults here. Any questions?"
Cassian raises his hand and Azriel frowns, "Not you."
"What? I can have questions."
Rhys rubs his temples, "What questions do you have?"
Cassian turns to you, "Do you have any hot friends? Preferably single but I like a challenge."
"You'll have to ignore him," Rhys sounds and looks comically tired and you bite your lip to not laugh. "He'll calm down once you've been here for at least a week."
A phone rings and Azriel excuses himself to take the call and walks down the hall. You watch him leave and then turn back to the other two men. "Okay so I actually brought everything with me in my car, I think I can get it all but thanks for the offer to help. Uhm... let's see what else..." You tap your chin dramatically. "Yes, I have hot friends, but I love them too much to introduce you to them to any of you."
Rhys puts a hand to his chest, "I'm hurt. But I understand."
Cassian gets up, stretching a little before walking to the kitchen and getting a bottle of water from the fridge. "Well, as much as I am enjoying this conversation, I need to get to work. See you later, ___."
He walks out the door and Rhys stands up. "I have to go too. Go ahead and get settled in, let me know if you need anything— my number was the one on the ad. Cass and Az's numbers are on a note on the fridge along with the wifi password and the code for the door lock. See you later, ___, welcome."
You sit on the couch for a long moment, messaging your friend group chat to let them know you're okay and that the apartment worked out. You giggle at the wave of emojis they send in response to your brief breakdown of everything that just happened. You giggle when your best friend says she is immediately packing her bags to move as well.
"Bye, ___. I'm off to work, but it was nice meeting you." Az's low voice startles you and you drop your phone, which bounces and lands right next to his foot.
You feel your face burn as he leans down to pick it up and you see the gif of a woman fanning herself that one of your friends had sent. "Oh, that's—" he hands you your phone, and you suddenly wish the ground would open up and swallow you up.
Az grins, a single dimple on is left cheek making an appearance, and the faintest pink staining his cheekbones. "I didn't see anything."
And with that he walks away and out the door, leaving you in an empty apartment, and with a car full of things you need to move in. Ugh.