Page 12 of Forever Cursed

“Earth to Chrissy.” Rome pulls me back to reality. His cheeks redden as he beams.

“Yes?”

“I think your blood sugar is low. You just blacked out. Here—” He leans across the kitchen island and offers me a cookie.

I take it from him, trying to ignore the heat that spreads into my fingertips from brushing against him. Taking a bite out of the soft cookie, I realize that fucking Rome won’t be enough. That man stitched his way into my heart like no one has ever done before.

It started in the library when he first called me Bubbles. After that, it was our back-and-forth texting. He would check in onme and make me smile without knowing that I needed it at that precise moment. We would send one another pictures and laugh for hours.

The thing is, I don’t know anything about him, and it’s infuriating. I’m an open book, and then there’s Rome, shoving cookies in his face and housing his secrets in a vault. I don’t know his favorite food, color, or subject. I saw very little of him in high school. Even then, he was always surrounded by other jocks.

“Take another one. I don’t like that look you’re giving me.” Rome raises his brows as he offers me another cookie.

“What look?” I take the snack from his hand and bite into it. “I’m not giving you a look.”

“You were squinting your eyes at me, and your nose wrinkled upward. It does that when you’re in deep thought.”

“And how would you know that?”

Rome lowers his gaze with a small grin.

“I didn’t mean to give you a look,” I say to try and ease his worries. “I have resting bitch face.”

Rome’s eyes flick back up. His cheeks are flushed, and his hair starts to fall over his forehead. I resist the urge to rake my fingers through his gorgeous blond hair, stand up, and walk to the cabinet.

“How do pancakes sound?” I ask, knowing for a fact he’s still hungry.

“That sounds great. Thanks, Wildflower.”

Wildflower.Just take my heart, Rome. For my sake, be still with the flirtatious remarks. I can’t take much more of it.

Chapter Seven

Rome

Ineed to stop. The moment the nickname left my lips, Chrissy’s face lit up and fell at the same time. I didn’t think the motion was possible until she did it, but there it was as clear as day. Her lips tilted into an invisible smile, and her eyes glossed over in a daze. Yet, her posture stiffened, almost like she was waiting for someone to walk in and catch us in the act.

I should know better. Zack is in the other room. Ash and Gwen are upstairs. What would they have thought if they caught me calling Chrissy Wildflower?

Looking over at her, I’m mesmerized by her. She embodies everything good in this world, even as she curses under her breath because she keeps dropping random ingredients.

“Are you just going to look at me, or are you going to help?” she bites out while wagging a wooden spoon at me.

“Tell me what to do, boss.” I stand at attention and salute her, earning myself an amused smile.

“Heat a pan on the stove for me and drop a tablespoon of butter in it.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Marching over to the refrigerator, I pull on the silver handle and grab a stick of butter. Fighting the desire to take the yogurtagain, I close the door and glance around the kitchen for the pans.

“In the lower cabinet to the left of the stove.” Chrissy directs without looking.

Dropping to my knees, I grab a medium-sized pan. Following her instructions, I place it on the stovetop, drop a slab of butter on it, and turn the heat on.

“What’s next?” I ask while spinning around to face her again.

“Do you wantfancypancakes or boring pancakes?” Chrissy asks as she starts to dance to the music in her head.

---