Page 121 of Heartbeats & Highways

I knocked on the door and waited.

When no one came, I knocked louder.

The door suddenly opened, and my jaw dropped in surprise.

Roman stood in the doorway, wearing last night’s clothes, looking completely disheveled and half asleep.

“Evie,” he greeted. “Good morning.”

“Uh, hi, Roman,” I said awkwardly. “I didn’t know?—”

“Nothing happened.” He stood taller.

I raised my brows.

“Cozy invited me in for a nightcap and we kept talking and then it was suddenly three in the morning, and I didn’t want to drive, so I slept on the couch.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation,” I said with a smile.

“I don’t, do I?” He scratched his chin which was in need a of a shave. “You’re right, I guess I don’t.”

“You’re both adults. You can do what you want. Or not.” I peered around him. “Where’s Cozy?”

“Still sleeping,” he said, his cheeks flushing.

“You didn’t sleep on the couch,” I stated with a grin. “You little liar.”

“Nothing happened,” he insisted again. “We slept. That’s all.”

“Hmm. Well, okay.” I handed him a cup of coffee. “This was for Cozy. But if she’s not awake yet . . .”

Roman took the mug. “I’ll tell her. Ah, see you at work later.”

I grinned. “Yeah, see ya.”

He closed the door, and I went back to my apartment. I sipped on my tea and was nearly done with the cup when there was a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I called.

Cozy opened the door and entered. She was still in her pajamas and fuzzy socks, but she was also holding the mug of coffee I’d given Roman.

“Hi ya,” I greeted with a smile.

“Hi,” she said, raising the mug. “Can I get a refill? Roman drank mine.”

“Have at it.” I waved her toward the pot.

She shuffled over to the coffee pot and filled her cup. “Say it.”

“I’m saying nothing.”

“Nothing happened,” she stated.

“That’s what he said.”

“Okay,somethinghappened,” she admitted. She went to my fridge and pulled out a carton of cream. “We talked. A lot.”

“Okay.”

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