Sweet Home

I fought back tears as Romeo remained silent, just letting my sadness abate. After a time, I settled back against the pillow and listened to the laughter and fun outside. Rome stayed at my side, staring at our hands as he played with my fingers.

“So you walked out of your own party?” I tried to move us on.

“You weren’t there,” he answered immediately. He didn’t even have to think about it.

I shifted onto my elbow, admiring the three small freckles that sat on the bridge of his nose. “Do I matter that much to you?”

“Do you really not know?”

I shook my head and he quickly pinned me to the bed below him, trapping my arms at my side. “I like the way you are with me. I like me when I’m with you. I feel like I could tell you anythin’, that I could bear my f**kin’ black soul. You make me feel… well… you know… You get me?” His head dipped forward shyly.

I smiled at his bashful reply. “I get you, Romeo.”

His lip curled into a smirk. “I just hope anythin’ I reveal to you wouldn’t be used against me in a public lecture.”

Grimacing, I freed a hand and combed my fingers through his long blond hair, his head leaning into the touch. “I’m really sorry about that. It was so wrong of me. But that night on the balcony, I thought we’d made a connection, and when Shelly jumped into your arms, I was so mad… I felt… betrayed. It’s stupid.”

Rome ran a finger down my cheek. “It’s not stupid. I felt the pull between us too. I was just shocked at Shel. One minute you and I were laughin’ and talkin’; the next she was burstin’ through the door, attackin’ me. I saw your face as you left and that was what it took for me to finally realise that I was officially done with her, with all of them. I told her we were through and no amount of pleadin’ and plottin’ with my parents would change anythin’.”

“Done with all of them? All of the girls?”

He dropped a kiss on the tip of my nose. “I haven’t been with anyone since the day I met you. For the first time in my life, I wanna be with just one person. I wanna be with you. It’s all a little new for me. Hell has officially frozen over and I’m crossin’ to the monogamy dark side.”

I giggled. “Really?”

“Really.”

“What about your parents’ engagement plan for you and Shelly? They won’t like that you’re with me now.”

His lip curled in disgust and his expression darkened. “Fuck ‘em. I don’t care.”

“But—”

“I said f**k ‘em, Mol, don’t wanna talk about it.”

I moved a stray hair from his cheek, contemplating why he was so hostile. “Tell me what kind of business yours and Shelly’s parents have? What’s worth the pressure on you both to marry?”

His mouth tightened and he rolled his eyes in defeat. “Oil. My father is in oil. Owns a lotta oil.”

“Then… you’re…”

“Rich?” he offered with a humourless smile.

“Well… yeah.”

“My father is rich. The company is responsible for a lot of jobs ‘round Bama.”

Rome pulled my hand to lie across his chest. “I don’t care about the money, Mol. I’m sick and tired of them tryin’ to dictate my life.”

I placed a kiss on his cheek and settled back down. “Shelly must be pissed that you dumped her once and for all.”

He dragged his palms over his face. “It’s like she lives in her own little world. I tell her we’re nothin’, and she nods and tells me to take some time to think it through, that I’ll come to my senses. I assure her again that I’m completely done with her games, and she pats my arm and announces that she understands the pressure I’m under and therefore knows I’m not thinkin’ straight. How the f**k do you get through to someone that crazy?”

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. “I don’t know.”

Rome pursed his lips, ebbing the flow of his laughter.

“What?” I asked, realising he was studying my face.

Tapping the tape on my glasses, he answered, “Nice stylin’, Shakespeare. You trend settin’?”

“Yeah, well, they’re my only pair. It’s this or being as blind as a bat. I’m trying to rock the whole shabby-chic thing until I get paid.”

“Oh, you’re rockin’ it, all right. You’re rockin’ it real good.”