Chapter 72 – My Room Mate from the Pack

At least one form of twinkle light

Snacks within arm’s reach

Permission for spontaneous cuddling, even if the fort-builder claims to be ‘working’

Clause 4.9 – Conflict Resolution:

All fights must be resolved via one or more of the following:

Barefoot walks to the bodega for midnight snacks

Truth or Dare rematches

Slow dancing in the kitchen, no matter how mad we are

Roman had scribbled next to this one:

Unless you’re mad because I forgot to pick up your dry cleaning again. Then I deserve the silent treatment until I grovel.

Clause 5.0 – Emotional Safety:

This apartment will remain a safe space for:

Panic attacks

Hormonal meltdowns

Crying during dog movies

Needing to be held for no reason

Needing to not be touched at all

He’d underlined that last part twice.

I didn’t even realize I was crying until a tear hit the paper.

Clause 6.2 – Maggie’s Closet:

Maggie is permitted to take up seventy percent of the shared closet space. However, Roman shall retain veto power over any garment he deems ‘ unfit for human wear,’ including but not limited to:

The sweatshirt with holes in three unrelated places

The ancient pair of bunny slippers with one eye missing

Any sock that stands upright on its own

In the margin, he’d written:

Just kidding. Wear whatever you want. You look good in everything. Even the haunted slippers.

Clause 7.1 – Household Responsibilities:

Maggie handles the playlist.

Roman handles the trash.

Joint effort on IKEA furniture, but Maggie is not allowed to throw Allen wrenches when frustrated.

Roman agrees to stop putting empty ice cream cartons back in the freezer. Maggie agrees to stop accusing Roman of crimes she later realizes she committed during sleep-eating.

Clause 8.0 – Final Addendum:

If Maggie James ever feels unsafe, unseen, unchosen, or unloved in this apartment, Roman Velasquez agrees to:

Listen

Try again

Fight for her

Stay

Stay

Stay

And then, handwritten at the bottom:

This apartment isn’t just yours. It’s you. It’s me. It’s every version of us. The one where we were faking. The one where we weren’t sure. And now, the one where I wake up every morning and know I’m exactly where I belong. I love you. -R

I pressed the packet to my chest, blinking hard.

It was ridiculous. It was over-the-top. It had glitter ink and binder tabs and paw print stickers. But it was also the most real thing anyone had ever given me.

It was safety. Humor. Commitment. Structure. Chaos. All the things I used to think couldn’t coexist in the same space.

Roman had found a way to hold them together.

He’d found a way to hold me together.

The front door creaked.

Roman stepped in, carrying a half-empty grocery bag. His eyes locked on mine. “You found it,” he said.

“You put three gold stickers next to the beard trimmings clause,” I replied, voice thick.

He looked sheepish. “I panicked. I know it’s serious.”

I crossed the room and wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him in. “It’s perfect.”

He rested his chin on my head. “Even the part about the haunted bunny slippers?”

“Especially that part.”

We stood like that. Two chaotic, formerly fake-dating, formerly emotionally avoidant people who had somehow figured it out.

“You ready to sign it?” he asked.

I grinned up at him. “Only if I can add one last clause.”

He arched a brow. “What’s that?”

“Clause 9.1 – Roman Velasquez is required to keep loving Maggie James, even when she sings off-key, makes impulsive decisions, or cries during Super Bowl commercials.”

He pulled a pen from behind his ear like he’d been prepared all day.

“Done.”

And with that, we signed the most important roommate agreement of our lives.

—The End

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