Page 25 of Ski You Later
I like everything in this deal, except the word fake.
“What?” Is the only word that properly forms in my head as I look at him. How did he know about the wedding? Did Jasmine come talk to him while I was dancing? Did my mom call him?
No, not the last one.
“Was that a serious question? Should I repeat myself?” His tone is bored, as if he’s not asking me to admit one of my greatest problems to him.
As any rational adult, I handle the situation calmly and with dignity.
“Who told you!” I point an accusing finger at him as I yell in his face.
He easily bats my hand away, leaning in close to me as he smiles. “You did.” He puts both hands behind his head as he relaxes against his bedroom wall. “You sort of told me everything. That’s why we were up solate. You wanted to vent, so I just stayed awake and listened.
“So, if I’m correct. Your cousin’s taking Daniel, who’s your ex-boyfriend, to Jasmine’s brother’s wedding. This huge family celebration, and you need to bring a date.”
It’s irritating that he’s acting like this whole situation is some sort of game he can just try and solve. The usual anger I direct towards him isn’t there when I look inside myself. All I can find is a genuine hurt that he’s treating my problem so lightly.
Roman senses my change in atmosphere, taking one look at my face before jumping over to my side. The pride he was just displaying is gone as he peers down at me. Worry clearly splayed across his face.
“I’m sorry, that was rude of me. You just seemed so sad last night, and I want to make you feel better, and –.” He grumbles at a loss for the right words.
As I start to dismiss him, he looks me dead in the eyes as he decides something. “Rhodes, I want to help you! I just want to understand what about this wedding was upsetting you. And most of all, I want to do everything in my power to make sure you never cry like that again!” The look of hurt is clear on his face as his brain takes him back to last night.
Clearing his throat, he returns to scratching the back of his head as he stands up.
Roman has always been very reserved, ever since we were kids. He was clean, grumpy, angry, and quiet. These traits seem to have only grown with him as he got older, and everyone from our old team is well aware of his tendencies.
But I’ve never seen him lose his temper, not in all those years. Whether it was a garbage race day, the team was fighting him, or he was just unhappy. Not once did he ever outwardly express his anger.
He must realize what I’m thinking, since the shock at his outburst is clearly written on my face. In response, his face turns beet red, and he just begins to pace in front of me.
“Sorry for yelling. I don’t even know what came over me,” he admits, seemingly stunned by his own actions.
I smile up at him, brushing off his worries as I stand to my feet as well. I could never keep a level head like his does. Roman has a superpower when it comes to keeping his emotions in check and analyzing a situation. Always choosing to remain calm and composed, even at the worst of times. It’s healthy for him to express his feelings instead of bottling them up.
As I’m about to tell him all this, an idea starts to form in my head.
It’s crazy, and I immediately ignore it as soon as it fully forms.
Although.
As I think about it more. He would be the only one that could pull it off.
I change directions with my earlier smile, replacing it with the sweetest one I can muster.
“What just happened in your brain?” He asks as fear and confusion lace his tone.
My smile mirrors his smug one from earlier, and a brilliant idea blossoms in my mind. “Nothing,” I say casually. If this has any chance of working, he needs to feel like he pried the answer from me.
“Tell me, Langley,” he demands in his clipped tone.
“No, seriously. It’s nothing,” I brush him off and walk towards my purse on his desk.
He stays silent, watching me and I make sure my wallet and keys are accounted for. As I continue to ignore him, I watch from the corner of my eye as he rubs his hands over his face.
I know I’ve won when this is followed by an audible groan.
“Just tell me,” he says annoyed and motions with his hands.
