On an Edge of Glass

yes, that is the only catch,” she says.
                  The three of us are eating pizza on the wood floor.  This is what the average person would consider the dining room.  If we had a table. 
                  “Well, I want to know what this Ben guy looks like,” Ainsley says, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulder.  She takes a bite of cheese pizza and wipes her chin with a napkin.  Her earlier stress seems to have evaporated.  In its place, an abundance of lustful hormones have blossomed.  I’m not sure which I prefer.  “Specifically, I’d like to know whether or not he’s hot.”
                  With what I’m hoping is a withering glare, I lift my finger and shake my head.  I say, “Do not even answer that question Payton.  It doesn’t matter in the slightest what this guy looks like.  If we are actually going to do this, we’ve got to have some ground rules.  And rule numero uno is that absolutely, under no circumstances, save an apocalyptic situation in which you would be responsible for the propagation of the human race, are any of us allowed to have sexual relations with this Ben guy.”
                  Ainsley sets her mouth in a saggy frown and bats her eyelashes.  I am familiar with this look.  It’s her signature pout.  “Even if he’s hot?”
                  I tuck in my chin and level my gaze at her.  “Even if he’s hot?  Lord, especially if he’s hot! Those are the worst kind of guys, and by your fourth year of college, you should have figured that out already.”  I take a massive bite of pizza as if to emphasize my point.
                  Payton adjusts her collection of bracelets and stretches back on her elbows.  She sighs loudly and taps her finger against the half-wall the separates the kitchen from the dining room. “I hate to say it, but I think Ellie might be right about this one.”
                  I about choke on the bite of pizza in my mouth.  My roomies never think I’m right.  To them, I’m always over-planning, over-analyzing, over-studying.  I’m Ellie Glass: Destroyer of Fun .
                  I take a quick swig of my bubbly soda and swallow it down harshly.  “Come again?”
                  Payton grunts.  “The thing is that Megan told me that Ben is hot, but she also said that he’s just getting out of a long relationship.  That’s one of the reasons why he’s looking for a place to live to begin with.  The last thing any of us needs is for some ill-fated rebound romance to completely screw this arrangement up.”
                  I’m stunned with Payton’s logic.  It’s basically what I’ve been thinking from the moment she texted the words male roommate , but I don’t expect her to be so rational.  It’s not Payton’s style—especially when it comes to dealings with the opposite sex. 
                  “Exactly,” I say, nodding my head slowly.  “It would be a…a…”  I search for the right term.
                  “A debacle,” Ainsley offers quietly.  She’s swirling her index finger around the inside of her water glass. 
                  “Then it’s settled.  Who’s in?”  Payton sits back up.  Her necklaces make a tinkling sound.  She looks between Ainsley and me then thrusts her right hand forward with her palm face down.
                  “Me,” I say firmly.  I spread my hand flat on top of hers.
                  Ainsley bites the inside of her cheek for about five seconds before she caves.  With a reluctant smile, she places her hand on top of mine. “Alright, let’s do this.”
                  “Jesus, talk about irony.”  Payton smiles slyly.  “Who would have ever thought that I’d be initiating a no-sex pact?”
                  A laugh bubbles up from inside of me.  “No one.  Not in a million years.”
     
     
                  The next several days are a blur of activity.  Ainsley, Payton and I pack up cardboard boxes with Hannah’s clothes and personal things.  The furniture in Hannah’s bedroom stays put.  Apparently, Ben doesn’t have much in the way of belongings so he’s grateful for whatever furniture we’ve got.
                  Admittedly, I am a little worried about living with a strange guy.
    There are only a few things