Page 91 of Nothing to No One

“Oh my God,” Bambi said. “Is she okay?” The smirk on Roxie’s lips wasn’t matched by Roman’s scowl. “No, I just meant—”

“No, he was a crazy stalker. Definitely dangerous.”

“Maybe he loved her.”

“Love isn’t a prison, it’s freedom.” Zairn put two drinks down, one in front of each woman. “Sway isn’t your future, Roman. Let it be.”

If only it was that easy…

“If I could talk to her—”

“Move on,” Roxie said. “That’s why you’re so angry. Why you’re drinking and hitting people on set—”

“He deserved it.”

“Okay,” Roxie said, nice enough to nod. “Maybe he did. Though you deserved it on the island and my guy dialed back for me.”

“I don’t need anyone fucking protecting me.”

She sighed, maybe louder than intended, because everyone fixed on her. Her eyes darted from one gaze to the next.

“Nothing I was just—I have nothing to add.”

“No, speak. This is open discourse, honey.” Roxie put the drink in her hand and picked up her own. “What were you going to say?”

Arguing would get her nowhere. “Everyone is protecting him. And that’s okay, family’s supposed to—”

“Struan again?”

Roxie waved at Roman. “Let her finish.”

“Yes, Struan, Magnus, I’m protecting you, Roxie, even Zairn.”

“Mm hmm,” Roxie agreed, urging the drink higher. “Try it. Bambi’s right, and Sway’s protecting you too.”

“How the fuck is Sway—”

“Oh my God,” she said after sipping her drink. “That’s amazing. What is that?”

“Gin and It,” Roxie said, glowing with pride. “Told you he was good.” Now her friend slanted her way. “Imagine what else he can do with those hands.”

“How is Sway protecting me?” Roman wasn’t about to be quieted. “I’d do anything for her. Anything to protect—”

“Except temper yourself.” Roxie’s eyes were slow in their roll around to the actor. “Calling her all the time, the messages, do you think she likes that?”

“She needs to know I’m serious.”

“You want her to know you’re serious, get your shit together. There’s nothing more attractive than a man who can fold his own laundry.” With a raised hand, Roxie curled her fingers in a flourish against her palm. “Current company excluded.” She beamed at her guy. “Love you.”

Bambi offered, “She doesn’t mean literally.”

“I know that,” Zairn said as Roxie spoke too.

“He knows that. Besides, my guy can, he just doesn’t. Time’s a commodity.” To her surprise, Roxie laid a hand over Roman’s. “Now, back to you, get out there. Start over. If you and Sway are meant to be, it’ll happen. If you’re in a better place, you can both appreciate each other more. You don’t want to be co-dependent, do you? A relationship needs two whole people to function—”

“Who the fuck are you to lecture—”

“It’s advice, not a lecture,” Roxie said and presented her ring close to Roman’s face. “My guy got me and I take his calls. And I’ve got a lot of girlfriends in loving relationships who take their partners’ calls. Spending all this time obsessing about Sway is blinding you to what else could be out there. What if your true love is right in front of you, and you miss her because you’re toobusy calling Sway?” Roman’s eyes flitted to Bambi. Before she could even open her mouth, Roxie did the honors. “Not her.”

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