Page 38 of Rome: The Ballerina

“You weren’t the only one preparing for our night, Ms. Mellow.”

“While I was making a playlist you were–”

“Scratching shit off your gift list.”

Chuckling, I asked, “I have a gift list?”

“Not exactly. I just have an ongoing list of things I’d gift the woman I found worthy if I ever got the chance. Shit I see while shopping. On my homies wives. On the big screen. Online. Just things, most of which will hold their value over the years.”

“Should I open them now?”

“I’d love that. But, at the same time,” he paused, shrugging, “You’re not new to this, Rome. I sensed it long ago. So, to spare me the heartbreak, if you’ve already got these pieces in your closet, take them home. Open them in your downtime. And, let me know if I need to replace them with something you don’t have.”

Sniggering, I nodded. “That sounds like the perfect plan, Sac.”

He wanted to maintain his pride. Flex that inflated and handsome ego of his. I wanted him to, so I would save the gifts for later. Not because I couldn’t open them now but because hewas right. The likelihood of me having whatever in the bags in my closet was high.

“You’re–” he paused, getting comfortable in his seat. “I don’t know if I have the words for exactly what you are– how you look tonight– for you at all, honestly.”

“I have one for you,” I confessed.

“Yeah?”

“You’regenerous.”

Chuckling, he shook his head. “How so?”

“From the size of the Chanel bag, I know that’s at least twenty thousand inside. You’ve cleared Georgio’s–of all places. I’m slightly impressed.”

“Slightly?”

I shifted my eyes around the restaurant and then back to him.

“Slightly.”

This wasn’t out of the ordinary for me. None of it. And for any man I lended my time to, it was expected. Required. Necessary. It was the standard. My family’s standard. My standard.

“It’s the standard.”

His head was still lifting and falling.

“The standard,” he repeated slowly. “I like that.”

“Hmph. Do you?”

“Yes. It lets me know that not many men around these parts can have what I’ve gotten ahold of because they simply aren’t the standard. Can’t manage the standard. Can’t maintain the standard. Can’t even make the fucking standard.”

“I’m not interested in men, Sac.”

“Have you sworn them off because one has broken your heart?”

He was awfully handsome when amused. His face tightened as he smiled, holding his hand to his mouth to suppress a chuckle.

He’s perfect.

Naturally, his skin was flawless. His eyebrows were thick. His eyelashes were long and curled upward. His nose was wide. His lips were full. His eyes were lusty. Live. Low, yet wide with interest. He was intrigued. He was enamored.

“No one has broken my heart. No one has had the chance to.”

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