Not So Suddenly Soulmates, page 1
Not So Suddenly Soulmates
A New Adult Romantic Comedy
Not So Unhappily Ever After
Book One
Ellen Wilder
Praise for Ellen Wilder
Ellen’s stories always read like life. There’s humor in the struggle, and a smile on my face at the end of the read.
Carrie Marie, Carrie’s Bookshelf
Contents
About Not So Suddenly Soulmates
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue
Books by Ellen Wilder
About the Author
About the Publisher
Not So Suddenly Soulmates
Copyright © Ellen Wilder 2020
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Kindred Ink Press LLC
171 Lake Street N, Big Lake, MN 55309
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The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon, or similar organizations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
Version: 11-25-2022
About Not So Suddenly Soulmates
Rhi Edgerly has never been one for long-term relationships—occasional flings and on-again, off-again boyfriends more than enough for her. But with her twenty-fifth birthday on the horizon, she finds the thrill wearing off and is toying with the idea of something more serious. But the only one she can imagine spending her life with is her roommate and lifelong best friend, Levi.
Between his demanding tech job, a never-ending string of one-night stands, and regular party host duties, confirmed bachelor Levi Morris is getting tired. His job feels like a chore and he finds himself just going through the motions with everyone but Rhi. When a killer job opportunity lands in his lap, he has to decide whether he wants to stay with Rhi in Indianapolis or move back home to Bryton.
Rhi and Levi know they’ll be friends for the rest of their lives. But after a few bad dates, an almost kiss, and a new job two hours away, will they risk their almost twenty year friendship to see what kind of soulmates they truly are?
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Not So Suddenly Soulmates is a friends-to-lovers new adult rom-com with a lot of laughs, plenty of eye rolls, and a little bit of island vacation heat. This stand-alone book is set in the Then Came Love world from Ellen Wilder and Amber Root.
Chapter One
RHI
May 5th
A piercing scream pulled Rhi Edgerly out of a dead sleep. Tangled in her comforter, she tumbled out of bed and hit the floor with a thud. Rhi surveyed her surroundings. “What the f—”
“Ohmigod! What was that?” a woman shouted from the other room.
Rhi growled as she extracted herself from the blanket. “Yes, Levi. I just love being woken up on a Saturday morning by another one of your exploits,” she mumbled.
“Shh. It’s my roommate.”
Rhi shook her head, stood, and put the comforter on her bed.
“Roommate? I didn’t know you had a roommate.”
Bingo.
“She should be up any moment.” Levi’s voice grew a notch sarcastic—their agreed-upon sign he was on his way to her room. “Rhi loves to meet my girlfriends.” He knocked on the door.
“Fuck you,” she shouted as she reached for her robe. Damn. This girl’s getting clingy already? She checked her cell phone on the nightstand and groaned. Six thirty? I just fell asleep.
“A girl? You have a girl for a roommate?”
She tied her robe and walked to the door.
“What? It’s not like we sleep together or anything.”
Rhi opened her door and smacked her best friend in the arm before making her way into the kitchen. “You wish, Levi Morris.”
Levi cringed.
Payback is a bitch. Wake me up early, and they’ll know your last name. She trudged to the counter and rolled her eyes when she noticed the empty coffee pot. “The least you could do, if you’re going to be screaming on a Saturday morning, is make coffee.” She held the carafe out toward her roommate.
“Sorry. You know I like it better when you make it.” He came up behind her and bent down so his mouth was close to her ear. “Get her out of here fast. Once and she’s already brought up the ‘L-word.’” He snatched the pot from Rhi’s hand and placed it on the counter.
Rhi pushed him away. “I don’t like her. The last person I want to have a threesome with is someone who screams as loud as she does.”
“Come on, Rhi. She got scared when you fell out of bed.” He flashed a toothy grin.
She fought a smile and drew a line in the air with her hands. “Dude. She screamed and made me fall out of bed. Not. Going. To. Happen.”
The blonde shook her head, causing her messy curls to bounce. “Wait, what? I’m not into girls at all.”
“Good, ’cause I’m not into you—at all.” Rhi turned around and reached for the bag of coffee in the cabinet.
“Look at her. She’s the perfect height and good in bed too. I tried her out for you.” Levi leaned back against the counter, one foot crossed over the other.
Rhi glanced at Levi, thankful he took the time to put on a pair of jeans. “Of course you did.” She rubbed her temples then turned around to stare at the other woman, giving her a once-over. “She’s blonde. I don’t like blondes.”
“You tried me out? You brought me here to get a threesome with your roommate?” The blonde planted her hands on her hips, and her lower lip quivered.
“He chose wrong. Very wrong.” Rhi kicked his foot as she walked past him.
“Ouch, what was that for?”
Rhi shook her head and grabbed the woman’s hand. “You wanna go out to breakfast to talk about it?”
The blonde jumped back as if she’d been burned. “N-no. Ew. I’m not into girls.”
Rhi growled, opened the front door, and shoved the woman and her shoes out into the hallway. “Neither am I. There was no threesome. He’s just not into you. Have a nice day.” She slammed the door in the woman’s face, marched back to the coffee pot, and filled her mug.
Levi laughed. “You usually don’t get bored.”
Rhi glowered at him. “It’s six-thirty on a Saturday. I barely made it into bed by three, and I was rudely awakened by a woman screaming, causing me to fall out of bed.”
“Let me make it up to you. I’ll take you out to breakfast.” Levi grabbed a mug and poured himself some coffee, offering to top Rhi’s off before he set the carafe down again.
She quirked a brow over her cup. “Somewhere expensive that serves mimosas?”
“Somewhere cheap that has orange juice.” Levi watched their grey tabby cat jump onto the counter then reached out to stroke the cat’s fur. “You need a bath, Duke.”
The cat growled, leaped to the floor, and sauntered away.
“He hates baths.” Rhi sipped her coffee. “I believe I still have Jamie’s number saved in my phone. I’d be more than happy to call her and tell her how much you loooove her.” She set her mug down on the counter, got the creamer from the fridge, and splashed some in her mug. “You bought the cheap shit again.”
“You know I hate grocery shopping.” Levi folded his arms over his chest. “And you wouldn’t dare.”
“We order groceries online and they’re usually here in a few hours. Just tell me when we’re out.” Rhi pulled her phone out of her pocket and scanned through the names until she found Jamie’s number. She held her finger over the call button and tilted her screen so he could see she wasn’t bluffing. “You wanna bet?”
“Bellerose Café?”
Rhi nodded and closed her contacts list. “Plus, you’ll add what we need to the grocery app or text me when we’re out. Then we have a deal.”
“I deleted that app months ago. We’ve lived together for five years. Have I ever remembered to tell you when we need things?” He kissed her cheek. “Thanks for helping out.”
Rhi returned the gesture and let out a sigh. “How you’ll ever live on your own is beyond me.” She pulled her robe tighter and scurried into her bedroom.
“You’ll never leave me.” Levi followed and perched on the side of her bed.
“It could happen.” She walked to her closet and scanned her clothes. Why did I choose gourmet food? I c
“Bachelor.” Levi pointed at himself with his thumb. “Lifelong bachelor, remember?”
“You slept with Jamie twice.” She picked a navy wrap dress with white flowers. What would I do if Levi does find that special someone someday?
“Are you ever gonna quit teasing me about that?”
“Nope.” Rhi stepped out of her closet and turned around in front of him. “Good enough for Bellerose?”
“Perfect. Except you can’t go barefoot.” Levi winked at her. “I’ll get dressed and meet you at the car.”
She wadded up a piece of paper from her desk and threw it at him as he darted out of her room. She slipped on a pair of navy ballet flats and a lightweight gray cardigan before grabbing her purse and heading through the apartment to the front door.
“Hey. You just getting home too?”
Rhi pulled the door shut and turned toward their neighbor, taking a moment to look at his bloodshot eyes, messy hair, and half-buttoned dress shirt. “Hey, Robby. Levi and I are going to Bellerose. Are you okay?”
Robby nodded. “Levi dumped the blonde this early?” He took a step closer and draped his arm over her shoulders.
She wriggled out of his embrace and moved toward the stairs. Boundaries, dude. I’ll get you to learn what that means someday. “Like Levi ever dumps any of them. I had to do it.” She reached into her purse for her phone and quickly texted Levi.
RHI:
Hurry up. Robby just got home and is hungover.
Robby squinted at his watch. “It’s only seven. She must have been an early riser.”
“More like an early screamer,” Rhi grumbled.
The apartment door opened and Levi strode out dressed in black pants and a maroon dress shirt, the top three buttons undone.
“Your blonde was a loud one, eh?” Robby smacked Levi’s arm.
“Not quite that way. She screamed when she saw a mouse, which turned out to be a cat toy, then again when Rhi fell out of bed.”
“No wonder you’re taking her out to breakfast.” Robby laughed as he struggled to unlock his door.
Levi took the keys, unlocked the door, and opened it for his friend. “Get some sleep, man. You look like you need it.”
“Party at your place tonight, right?” Robby stumbled into his apartment.
“Right.” Levi dropped Robby’s keys on the table by the door, locked the handle from the inside, and closed it.
“We’ll grab some greasy truck stop food for him on the way back.” Rhi linked her arm with Levi’s as they strolled down the hall.
“We could get greasy truck stop food instead of going to Bellerose.” He smiled as he pressed the button to call the elevator.
“But they don’t have mimosas, and the steak and eggs taste so much better at Bellerose.”
Levi kissed her forehead. “You’re right.”
Rhi rested her head on her best friend’s shoulder. “You’re driving, so I’m drinking at least two mimosas because of my early morning wake-up.”
He chuckled as the elevator doors opened. “Deal.”
Chapter Two
LEVI
May 5th
Damn, she’s hot in that dress.
Levi pulled out Rhi’s seat at Bellerose, waited for her to sit down, then pushed her in before coming around the table and taking his seat.
The waitress sashayed over to them and flashed a smile his way.
She must be new. Haven’t seen her before.
“Hi, I’m Alice. What can I get you two?”
“She wants a mimosa. Better make it two. Been a rough morning for her.” Levi winked and sat back in his chair, not bothering to hide that he was checking her out. Nice rack, Alice. I’d take you home if Rhi didn’t make Bellerose off limits.
Rhi caught him staring and narrowed her gaze at him. “Sounds about right. And we both want steak and eggs. Steak rare, eggs over easy, super crispy hash browns on the side. And he’s driving, so make his a virgin.”
The waitress blinked a few times. “Isn’t that just orange juice?”
“Well, aren’t you just perfect. Leave your number on a napkin. He’ll give you a call tonight.” Rhi laughed.
Alice looked back and forth between the two of them and raised her brows before stopping on Levi. “What did you want to eat?”
“She ordered for me too. We want the same thing.”
“Oh, you’re dating?” She frowned then quickly forced a smile. “I guess you’ve been together long enough to know what the other wants. That’s so sweet.”
Rhi leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. “Nope, not so sweet. Yesterday was our anniversary and he forgot all about it.”
“Naughty, naughty.” The waitress shook her finger at him.
Levi folded his arms over his chest and tried to stop a smile from spreading across his face. “Which anniversary did I forget? The first time we met? Our first class together? When we moved in together?”
Rhi put her hands over her mouth. “I can’t believe you forgot the first time we made…we made…” Her eyes sparkled and she bit her knuckle.
The waitress’s eyes widened as she took a step away from the table. “Can I get you two anything else?”
“Yesterday was the anniversary of the first time we made kinetic sand together.” Rhi stifled her laughter.
Levi laughed. “Come on. That was, like, Kindergarten. Plus, you’re the one who’s good with dates.”
“I’m going to put this order in.” The waitress turned on her heels and shuffled to the back.
“She’s new.” Rhi sat back and draped her napkin across her lap.
“Probably not coming back now either.” Levi snorted. “You’re an ass.”
“What? We have a no flirting policy at this restaurant, which you were clearly considering breaking.”
Levi opened his mouth to argue but snapped it closed. He knew she saw him. “I didn’t flirt…nor did I ask for her number.”
“You don’t ask for numbers. You just take them home.”
Max, one of their regular waiters, strolled over to their table, carrying their drinks and a basket of biscuits. “What did you say to the new girl? She’s all kinds of weirded out.”
“Rhi confused the poor thing from the get-go. Invited the waitress to give me her number then made it sound like Rhi and I are sleeping together. I’d say we’ll behave next time but that’s highly doubtful.” Levi sipped his orange juice.
“No, it all started when he broke our no flirting rule.” Rhi grinned.
Max rolled his eyes. “I knew better than to send a rookie to deal with you two. I will be out shortly with your meals. Try not to take any eyes out with your claws.” He patted Rhi on the shoulder.
“Hey, Max? Can we get an order of scrambled eggs, steak well-done, and hash browns to go?”
Rhi turned up her nose. “Just kill good food, why don’t you?”
“It’s for Robby, dork. He’s a stickler for everything being overcooked, remember?”
Max laughed. “It will be waiting when you two are ready to leave.”
Rhi shivered. “Remind me never to have Robby cook for me.”
“He can’t boil water. I don’t think you have to worry much about him cooking anything for you.” Levi grabbed a biscuit. “Robby’s mom undercooked everything, and he ended up with food poisoning one too many times.”
