My Roommate Is My Baby Daddy

"Please, sweetheart... not again," Jade murmured, staring helplessly at her laptop screen.

It was the 31st of November. Christmas was coming fast, and the streets outside Jade's apartment were already exploding with music, lights, cinnamon-scented vendors, couples taking photos, and kids chasing fake snow.

But Jade wasn't a part of any of it.

Inside her cramped apartment, Harper's cries scraped through the air.

Harper had been fussing for almost twenty minutes, but Jade kept her eyes glued to the laptop screen as if staring hard enough would magically fix her life. The cursor blinked back at her, impatient and loud in the silence of the tiny apartment. Behind her, Harper let out another frustrated whine... loud, tired, and frustrating.

"I know, baby. I know." Jade pinched the bridge of her nose. She ran a hand through her hair as she stared at the empty can of formula, completely rinsed out.

"I can't buy more," she whispered. "Not without losing the rent."

The baby's formula have been empty for days now and every time she thought about replacing it, her gaze always landed on the spreadsheet tracking her savings. The numbers were terrifyingly low, ravaged by the sudden, hike in her apartment rent right before the holidays.

The Christmas holiday is fast approaching and the increase is a crazy one.

If she bought the formula now, the meager safety net she was knitting against the developer's threat would be shredded. She was already working two jobs, running on fumes, and still losing ground.

She placed her hands on her face and let out a deep breathe. "I need a lifeline."

She picked up Harper and bounced her lightly as she walked back to seat in front of her laptop.

Harper sobbed harder.

"Okay, okay... think, Jade. Think."

Her eyes drifted over the glowing screen. And then... an idea hit her so suddenly that she stopped moving.

"A roommate," she breathed. "Half the rent. That's... that's enough to survive."

Harper hiccupped in her arms.

Jade sat down and typed quickly:

ROOMMATE WANTED... Female only, private room... pay and move in immediately.

She hesitated only for a second before clicking Post.

"There," she whispered. "Please let someone answer."

She rocked Harper while humming a shaky lullaby... until her laptop dinged.

Jade froze. Then rushed to the screen.

New message: J. Morrison

Her eyes widened.

"Already?"

She clicked.

"Is the room still available? I can move in tomorrow payment is ready."

Jade didn't have the time to think as she typed back fast:

"Available. Payment confirms reservation."

She sent her account details and two seconds later... she got the money.

Jade exhaled a small, choked laugh. "Harper, you're eating tonight. Thank you Jess...oh sorry or maybe Jenny?" She laughed again as a surge of relief washed over her. With the deposit secured, she could breathe, even if it just for a moment. Happy, Jade quickly pulled on a coat,

She grabbed her purse and ran out the door.

By evening, Harper was fed, warm, and asleep again. And Jade quickly got herself busy as she started to clean the entire apartment... scrubbing until her knees hurt, folding laundry, reorganizing every corner... preparing for the roommate who would arrive the next morning.

The next morning, December 1st, the doorbell rang precisely at 9:00 AM. Jade's heart hammered a nervous rhythm against her ribs. She smoothed down her hair and ran to open the door, expecting to see the female roommate she'd pictured in her head.

But the moment the door opened, her heart dropped.

Jace Morrison stood on her doorstep.

She had expected a woman... maybe young, maybe older, maybe friendly. everything but not Jace Morrison.

He stood on her doorstep, looking Tall, Serious, and familiar. carrying a single, high-end suitcase.

Her best friend's older brother.

The man she had accidentally slept with last January.

The father of Harper... though he didn't know yet and will never.

How? Did she mix things up? Then the sheer, cosmic irony of the name... J. Morrison... hit her like a physical blow.

"Jade?" Jace called, his expression a perfect mirroring of her own shock. "It's you?"

Jade coughed lightly, forcing herself out of the frozen state. She had to act normal. She was in control. "Y... yes... hi Jace."

Jace's face held no readable emotion. He was simply composed, professional, and surprised. He let out a deep breath, the sound barely audible. "Never knew it was you..."

"I didn't know it was... you either," she whispered.

Before she could think of anything else to say, Harper crawled right up beside her leg and stopped at the doorway, staring up at the stranger.

"Silly girl, you could have stayed there", Jade cursed in her head.

Jace's gaze dropped from Jade to the child. His surprise deepened. "You've a baby?"

Jade swallowed hard and nervously nodded, moving slightly to shield Harper from his view.

Jace let out another deep breath and ran a hand through his dark, thick hair, clearly frustrated. "Why didn't you say it in the ad? How am I supposed to cope with a baby?"

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "She won't bother you. I'll keep her in our room. She's quiet most times. You won't even..."

"Jade." His tone cut her sentence in half. "A baby is not something you hide in an ad. Not everyone like babies and I'm not a fan of noise."

"I needed to secure this apartment," she replied softly. "And the payment is non-refundable. So.. If you back out now, we both lose the place and our money."

Jace paused. His jaw flexed. He looked at the hallway behind her, the apartment, then back at her tired eyes.

Finally he muttered, "Fine."

Relief slipped out of her in a silent breath.

"Thank you."

Left with no choice, Jace stepped into the apartment, rolling his suitcase inside. Jade followed behind. making a silent vow:

"Harper won't be a problem. I'll keep her away from you."

"Which room is mine?" he asked.

She pointed down the hall. "Second door on the right."

He nodded and disappeared inside inside the hall, shutting the door behind him.

Jade quickly scooped up Harper and swiftly locked her back into her room, placing a selection of quiet toys in her crib.

A few minutes later, Jace appeared wearing fresh clothes, hair damp from a shower. His expression was unreadable. the apartment was quiet. Harper was nowhere in sight.

He came to meet Jade in the living room. "Rules need to be made," he stated, his tone businesslike. "For the smooth running of the apartment and to keep everyone in their private space. Since you are the leaseholder, you start.

Jade quickly agreed and laid out her boundaries: use of the kitchen must be scheduled, shared spaces must be clean immediately, and their interaction would be minimal.

Jace nodded crisply. "Fine. And my rules are as follows: quiet hours are 10 PM to 7 AM, do not touch my belongings, and keep noise to an absolute minimum." He paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "And the most important one: keep the baby in your space. I don't want to see her dirty the place or hear her annoying cries."

Jade's stomach twisted with a mixture of offense and relief. She had been dreading this exact conversation, but this rule played right into her secret agenda.

Jade pressed her lips together. "Understood. I'll keep Harper close."

That being said, Jace decided to retreat back to his room. But he stopped abruptly at his doorway, turning back to Jade.

"And another thing," he added, his voice low. "Don't tell Mara that I'm here."

"Sure," Jade replied immediately. She was already planning on keeping this from her best friend; Mara's protective, 'friends don't touch brothers' rule was strict enough without the history she shared with Jace.

Jade waited until she heard his door lock shut before heaving a shaky sigh of relief. She muttered softly, "Thank goodness. This will be more easy than I think."

Just then, her phone rang.

Mara.

Jade froze, staring at the name flashing on the screen. She answered.

Mara's voice, filled with her usual vibrant excitement, came through the speaker. "Jade, are you home?"

"Yes," Jade said carefully.

"Good," Mara's voice came again, cheerier than ever. "I'm on my way! I got Harper a gift, and I need to see my favorite girl!"

Jade's blood ran cold. Jace. She had promised him silence. She had agreed to the rules.

Jade's eyes widened. "Mara... wait... don't come"

"Hello? Hello?" Mara sounded confused, but before Jade could construct an excuse, the line went dead. Mara had already ended the call.

Jade stared at the phone, a cold, sickening wave of panic washing over her.

And then...

Jace stepped out of his room.

Their eyes met.

Jace ignored her, walking towards the door.

Jade stood frozen as Jace walked toward the front door with long, unhurried strides. Harper's soft whining filled the apartment,to notify that she needed some fresh air and was tired of staying locked up. but Jade barely heard it over the pounding in her ears.

"Jace!" she hissed, taking a step toward him.

He was already at the apartment door, pulling it open. "I'm heading out for some errands. We can finalize the utility split later."

"No, wait!" Jade rushed forward, her voice a desperate whisper. "Mara is coming!"

Jace froze, his hand still on the doorknob. He slowly turned, his expression darkening with sudden comprehension. "Mara? Why? I thought we made an agreement?

Jade nodded frantically. "She just called. She's bringing Harper a gift. She'll be here any minute. You said you didn't want her to know you were here."

"So...?"

"I think you stay out there a little longer"

Jace's jaw clenched, his eyes narrow and assessing Jade. Mara, his younger sister, had an uncanny ability to zero in on secrets. If she found him here, cohabiting with her best friend, she'd go crazy about it... and go tell her family about it and he doesn't want that not after everything that happened recently.

He opened the door.

The hallway was empty.

No Mara.

No visitor.

Just silence.

Just then, her buzzed.

Mara calling.

Jade's stomach lurched. She answered quickly.

"Mara?"

Her best friend's voice blasted through the speaker, annoyed and out of breath. "Jade! I'm so annoyed. I was already halfway to your place but my car broke down. Can you imagine? The universe hates me today."

Jade's knees almost gave out. "Oh my God. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just stuck. I'll head home once the mechanic is done. I'll come tomorrow instead. I bought Harper a little Christmas gift and everything."

"Tomorrow... okay. Just drive safe."

"Give my baby a kiss!" Mara added before hanging up.

Jade lowered the phone and turned slowly.

Jace was still standing at the door, arms folded, expression unreadable.

"Jade, next time, make sure you stop her on time." he said calmly.

Jade's breath caught. "I... I tried."

"Good," he replied without hesitation. "But try harder next time. My stay is temporarily, so I really do not want conversations, questions, interference... none of that. I'm here to get through the holiday quietly."

Jade nodded quickly. "I'll handle it. She won't come."

"Good."

Harper fussed louder from the room. pulling both Jade and Jace's focus.

Jace's eyes flicked to Jade. His jaw tightened. He wasn't cruel... just uncomfortable.

"She's... loud," he muttered.

Jade shot him a look. "She's a baby, Jace."

"And I'm not used to babies," he countered.

Jade's eyes turned cold, and without say a word, she went to her room to go feed baby Harper. While cursing under breathe.

While Jace stepped out leaving just Jade and Harper at home.

Jade kept herself busy with the house chores, as her job is already on a break... she was in the kitchen with Harper playing in the living room all by herself.

"Serving out of my dish won't be bad right?" Jade thought. Then she smacked her head hard "Jade, he said to keep out of his business!"

Jade wiped her hands on a towel, glancing toward the living room where Harper sat on her blanket surrounded by toys. The apartment was finally quiet... almost peaceful... until the front door slammed open.

And a sharp curse ripped through the air. "What the fuck!?"

Jace.

Jade's heart skipped. She immediately rushed into the living room and saw Harper crawling dangerously close to the hallway.

"No, no... come here," she whispered harshly, snatching the baby up. In one quick motion, she carried Harper to the bedroom, shut the door, and locked it.

By the time she returned to the living room, the smell hit her.

Harper had left a small, unmistakable mess on the floor.

"Oh God..." Jade muttered and hurried to clean it before Jace walked in any further.

Too late.

He stood at the end of the hallway, irritation carved into every sharp line of his face. "Are you kidding me?" he snapped. "I step out for an hour and return to this?"

"I'm cleaning it," Jade shot back, breathless. "Just... give me a minute."

"This is exactly what I was talking about," Jace continued, voice low with frustration. "Keep the baby in your room. I can't live like this."

"I said I'm handling it."

He let out a cold laugh. "Make sure it doesn't happen again."

Jade stilled, anger simmering. "She's a child, Jace. Children make messes. If you don't like it, maybe you should've gone to an hotel."

Jace stepped closer, his voice quiet but cutting. "The father of the child should be the one bearing this burden with you, not me."

Jade froze... just for a split second. Her jaw clenched. Her chest burned.

"You're right," she said tightly. "But life doesn't always give people what they deserve."

They stood there, breathing the same sharp air, staring at each other with resentment thick enough to touch.

From that night on, Jade became stricter on her promise as she made sure to keep Harper in the bedroom. All day and Every day.

Jade ate in the room. Worked in the room. Sang to Harper in whispers.

Their presence in the apartment became almost ghostlike... barely seen and barely heard.

And Jace... got exactly what he asked for.

Jace felt bad at a point, but he didn't know what to do or say as he was barely at home... so he let them be.

A Week Later...

It was early morning, sunlight dripping through the blinds. Jade stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast, Harper sat on the kitchen counter, babbling happily.

"Stop grabbing my hair," Jade laughed, kissing her cheek. "You're lucky you're cute."

Harper giggled loudly, smacking Jade's cheek with her tiny hand.

Jade gasped dramatically. "Ah! Assault! Harper you're under arrest!"

Harper cackled... a bright, open mouthed laugh filled the kitchen.

Jace stepped in at that exact moment, heading for a glass of water.

He stopped half way.

The scene froze him.

Jade's hair was messy, her face soft, and smiling like she hadn't in weeks. Harper giggling with pure joy. And the Sunlight kissing her face.

And then... he saw it.

Harper's smile.

Wide,Bright, And on the left side of her cheek... that tiny, unmistakable one sided dimple.

The exact dimple he had.

Jace's breath caught in the cuteness before him, Jade and Harper looked like an artwork before him.

His glass nearly slipped.

Harper looked up at him, still giggling. her eyes sparkling with the same warmth his mother always said he had as a baby.

Jace felt something unfamiliar twist sharply in his chest.

But before either of them could speak...

A sudden, violent cough escaped him as smoke coiled towards the ceiling.

"Jade?" Jace coughed again. "The stove..."

Jade's eyes widened. "Shit!"

She spun around, realizing the pot on the stove was overflowing with black smoke. She rushed to turn off the gas, fanning the air with her hand.

Jace grabbed Harper instinctively, lifting her out of the smoke filled kitchen as she began to cry.

"Open the windows!" Jade shouted.

Jace kicked one open, still coughing, holding Harper protectively against his chest.

The smoke thickened.

A sudden loud snap came from the stove... and a sound sharp enough to jolt both of them.

Jade froze.

Jace's eyes widened.

And then...

BOOM!

The entire apartment shook.

Then, silence...

Jace's voice broke through the haze, raw and tense as he shouted, "how can you be so careless that you forgot you were heating an oil?"

"Jace, not now," Jade snapped, waving the smoke away with one hand.

Harper buried her face in his shirt, whimpering.

"Fuck..." Jade breathed.

Just then, a bang on the door, followed by a voice.

"Jade are you in there?"

Their eyes shot to the door... widened as they saw the doorknob twisted.

The door wasn't locked?

"Harper...."

Jace and Jade stared at the twisted doorknob, their expressions mirroring the same horrifying realization.

"Mara," Jade whispered, almost choking on her words.

"Jade? Are you in there?" a voice called again.

Jace quickly shoved Harper into Jade's arms so fast that Jade barely caught her, then dashed into his room and slammed the door shut. The lock clicked violently behind him.

Jade swallowed hard, forcing her breathing to steady as she watched the knob turn.

The door swung open.

"Mara," Jade breathed, forcing a smile even though she still looked like someone who had seen the dead.

But Mara didn't notice. Her eyes were already glued to Harper.

"Harper!" she squealed, snatching the baby from Jade's arms and raining kisses on her face, rubbing her face against the baby's cheeks dramatically. "Oh my sweet girl, aunty missed you so much! Hope mama has been treating you well...huh?"

Harper giggled loudly, waving her tiny hands in the air.

Jade, who felt like she had just survived a building collapse, stood frozen. She stuttered out, "Hi... hi, Mara... good morning."

"Oh, Jade, I'm so sorry for not coming again the other day, my car has been bad. I finally got it fixed this morning and drove straight here! I needed to see my favorite girls."

"It's okay... hope you've fixed it?" Jade managed, clutching the empty space where Harper had been.

"Yes... I think I just need to save up to get a new one soon. But right now, I need something to eat," Mara announced, setting Harper down carefully on the living room floor before turning and stepping toward the kitchen.

She marched toward the kitchen...

And stopped dead in her track...

"What the bloody fuck, Jade?! What happened here?"

The faint smoke residue was still all over the kitchen, The opened windows and the pan soaking in the sink. She forced a laugh.

"It's nothing. Just... kitchen accident."

"Really? What sort of accident?" Mara gave her a long, suspicious look. She rolled up her sleeves and started opening cupboards like she lived there.

"Oh my God, Mara, it was so stupid," Jade rushed to explain, forcing a shaky laugh. "I was making breakfast.. fried eggs and I forgot a pot of oil on the back burner. I was distracted for just a second playing with Harper and it flared up. But thank goodness Jac.." then she quickly stopped herself from saying too much.

Mara who didn't get the last part, shaked her head. "You nearly burned the building down for fried eggs! Okay, well, let's get some real food going. I'm going to make us my famous mac and cheese!"

"Yeah, thank God," Jade whispered, rubbing her forehead.

And just like that, the tension seemed to dissipate into the normalcy of Mara's presence. Who was moving like the whole apartment belonged to her. She cooked loudly, talked loudly, and laughed loudly.

Soon, she turned on the music, singing off-key, and filling the air with the comforting smell of butter, cheese, and garlic.

Harper squealed as Mara danced around with her, making silly animal sounds and jokes. The baby laughed so hard that she snorted, and Mara swooned dramatically.

Over lunch, which Mara insisted they eat right there on the living room floor, as the conversation flowed easily, just like old times.

"Jade, I am so excited for Christmas," Mara said, scooping a large fork of mac and cheese. "It's the only thing keeping me sane right now."

Jade nodded without saying a word.

Mara's smile faded slowly. "Honestly, though, I'm dreading the family party. Since last year's own,it now gets harder." She poked at her pasta.

Mara set the spoon down. "can I tell you something depressing?"

Jade blinked. "Sure."

"My husband cheated on me."

Jade's stomach sank. "Mara... I'm so sorry."

Mara laughed, but her eyes glistened. "Yeah. It's awful. And guess what? I still can't let go... Our entire friend group knew. All of them. Acting like they loved me while knowing he was messing around with someone else. I swear, I hate them all."

Jade touched her shoulder gently. "You didn't deserve that. and it sad that the friendship group broke off."

"I'm surviving," Mara sighed. "It's just... the marriage, the cheating, the betrayal... it just makes the rest of the friend group so weird. Everyone is choosing sides. And it's affecting my relationship with my family. It's all just so dead right now."

"Mara, I'm so sorry," Jade said genuinely, reaching across to squeeze her friend's hand. "That's awful. But still, you've me and Harper so you'll be fine."

"And..." Mara's voice broke a little, "I miss my brother. Jace always handled things. He always had solutions. I hate not knowing where he is. Nobody does. Jade... I'm scared something's wrong."

Jade's heart lurched. "You didn't check his apartment?" Jade asked, pretending to sound casual.

"We did. Mom and Dad went over there, but his apartment is having some major piping replaced, so it's under renovation. We don't know where he went after that, and he isn't taking anyone's call... not even Mom's. He just sends these cryptic texts saying he's fine and out of range. But I think he's just avoiding us."

Jade swallowed hard. "Maybe he just needs alone time."

"I hope so," Mara breathed, eyes on Harper. "I really hope so Jade."

The afternoon flew by quickly... Mara still energized by the food and the company, played continued to every silly game she knew with Harper. Then she unpacked a pile of Christmas gifts she'd bought for Harper... toys, dresses, even a tiny Santa romper.

Then Mara stretched, yawning loudly. "I think I'll just sleep over. I'll use the second room."

Jade's entire soul left her body.

"Um... no!" she nearly shouted. "You can't. I... I booked fumigation for tomorrow morning.Early. They need that room to be empty."

Mara blinked. "Really? That's sad... Was thinking we can just order pizza and watch terrible Christmas movies, like old times."

"Yes, and that's sweet... but " Jade lied again without hesitation. "You'll be uncomfortable."

Mara reluctantly gathered her things, gave Harper a final, lingering kiss, and walked toward the door. "I wish I could take this little nugget with me, but I know you'd miss her too much!"

"More than anything," Jade agreed, walking her to the door.

The door clicked shut.

And guilt hit Jade like a punch.

She exhaled slowly, pressed her forehead to the door, then gathered herself and walked to Jace's room. She knocked softly.

"She's gone," Jade whispered.

When she heard no response, she went back to the living room to gather Harper, who was still happily batting at a toy Mara had given her. It was time to retreat to their prison.

As Jade bent down to lift the baby, the lock on Jace's door twisted, and the door creaked open.

Jace stood there, still in the same clothes, but he looked tired with his eyes dark, but there was a strange, subtle shift in his demeanor.

And then his voice came...

"You can let her play."

Jade froze

"You don't have to lock yourselves in there," he added. "Just make sure to keep an eye on her not to mess things up."

He walked past her, headed toward the kitchen, for another glass of water.

Jade stared at the kitchen door for a long second... then slowly set Harper down. Harper squealed happily and crawled toward her toys.

Soon, Jace emerged from the kitchen with a glass of water in his hand.

"Jade," he called.

She lifted her chin. "What?"

He hesitated... the first real hesitation she'd seen from him since he moved in.

"It must have really been had lying to your best friend..."

Jace met her eyes, something dark and unguarded flickering there.

"So sorry for dragging you into this."

"Jace... just call your mum," Jade sighed. "Please."

"I will. but not yet"

"Why? Why are you hiding?"

Jace's jaw tightened. "Miss Jade, don't forget rule number four: do not poke nose in each other's business."

Before jade could answer, Harper suddenly gasped sharply...

Jade turned instantly.

"Harper?"

But Harper wasn't looking at her. She was staring at Jace and pointing at him...

Her tiny voice whispered....

"Da-"