The Roommate Clause

Liam needs order. As a law student whose childhood was chaos, he's built a life of careful systems and detailed contracts. When he needs a roommate, he drafts a fifteen-page agreement covering every possible disaster—including Subsection 3.9: No romantic entanglements between roommates. Then Jamie Rivera shows up four minutes late with paint on his fingers and unruly hair, and Liam forgets how to breathe properly. Jamie is everything Liam didn't plan for: spontaneous but considerate, creative but respectful, willing to negotiate Liam's systems instead of dismissing them. He counters Liam's twenty-minute shower limit with humor. He suggests monthly reviews to address concerns before they become problems. He makes Liam's organizational matrix more intuitive with artistic modifications. And when they shake hands on their modified contract, Liam realizes three seconds of contact can feel infinite. Living together is easy. Too easy. Morning coffee becomes their ritual. Jamie learns Liam's French press algorithm. Liam asks about Jamie's artwork. They negotiate everything like diplomatic treaties and somehow it feels like foreplay. But when Jamie leaves for a family emergency, Liam spends two weeks missing him in ways that have nothing to do with practical roommate considerations—and everything to do with violating Subsection 3.9. When Jamie returns, Liam does what he does best: he implements boundaries, references contract clauses, and pretends his heart isn't breaking. Until their monthly review, when Jamie calls him out with a document titled "Proposed Replacement for Subsection 3.9: Framework for Romantic Partnership Between Roommates." Jamie has learned to speak Liam's language. And he's using it to say *I want you* in the only way Liam can truly hear. Now Liam has to choose: hide behind the rules that keep him safe, or negotiate the most important contract of his life. One that includes trial periods and opt-out clauses and weekly evaluation meetings. One that proves love doesn't have to be chaos—it can be carefully constructed, mutually agreed upon, and absolutely worth rewriting every rule. The Roommate Clause is a warm, witty BL romance about a law student and an art student who negotiate their way from roommates to lovers. Featuring contract negotiations as foreplay, morning coffee rituals, emotional vulnerability, neurodivergent-friendly structure, and a tender romance that proves the best agreements are the ones that make room for love. Perfect for readers who love: roommates to lovers, opposites attract, emotional depth, witty banter, artist/academic pairing, domestic romance, contract negotiations as love language, structure meets spontaneity, found family vibes, anxiety representation, and happy endings that feel like coming home.