Page 13 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
“Hadley,” he called.
She turned, smiling when she saw them, and walked over. “Hola, boys.”
Callie appeared at her side with two plates balanced in her hands. She set a bacon cheeseburger with fries in front of Roman and a pulled pork slathered in slaw in front of Jesse.
“Hadley.” She smiled. “The usual?”
Hadley nodded. “I’ll eat with the boys, so you can bring it here.” She slid into the booth beside Roman and plucked a fry from his plate.
He swatted her hand. “Mine.”
The mischievous smile he knew her for took over her face, and she reached over before he could stop her, stealing half his burger and taking a giant bite. She swallowed and handed the burger back to him. “Yummy.” Her tongue darted out to lick her lips. One eyebrow quirked up. “Don’t be so serious, Rome. That’s not like you.” She patted his cheek.
Jesse still hadn’t recovered from Roman’s news, so he stayed silent through their entire exchange. The great thing about Hadley was she took Roman’s mind out of whatever dark place it had been in. It was impossible not to joke and smile and flirt with her.
She sat so close, her leg pressed against his. Jesse was too distracted to notice them when Hadley leaned in, dropping her voice. “Why haven’t we ever gone out?”
Because until a month ago, she hated them as much as Charlotte had. The girls were best friends in every sense of the word. But he didn’t say that. “All you had to do was say the word, doll.” One corner of his mouth quirked up. This was comfortable. He knew how to be this guy. The ladies’ man with the crooked grin. It was the darker version of himself that made him uncomfortable—because it was real.
Her fingertips brushed his arm, and she burst out laughing. “You and I, Roman? No Bueno. But, I’d be cool to hang as friends now that my girl is all attached to your bestie’s lips. This weekend?”
This weekend he’d be gone. Darker thoughts overcame the flirty ones, and his smile dropped. “I need to get out of here.”
“What?” Confusion flashed across her face.
“Please, let me out.” He threw a twenty on the table, more than enough to cover his uneaten food.
Hadley scooted out. “Rome…”
“I’m sorry.” He gave her one final look. “It’s not you. It’s…”
“If you say me, I’m going to smear ketchup down your shirt.”
She was creative. “Just… I’m sorry.” He walked away.
Jesse ran after him in the parking lot. “Roman, stop.”
“It’s better to make a clean break from everything, Jess.”
“Don’t be so dramatic.”
Roman turned on his heel. “Dramatic? I’m moving to another country months before I’m supposed to graduate high school. I’m leaving everything. You, the team…”Cassie, but he didn’t add her out loud. “I think I’ve earned a little drama.”
“No, you haven’t because you aren’t leaving.”
“I already told you—”
“Move in with me.”
Roman froze. “What?”
“Come live at chez Carrigan. At least for the rest of the school year. We have a guest room. My dad won’t care. It’s not like you haven’t been there pretty much all the time for years anyway.”
Live with the Carrigans? Could it happen? Their house was more home than his own.
“Please, Rome.” Jesse’s voice softened. “It’s our senior year. I want to finish it with my best friend.”
So did Roman. He rushed toward Jesse, pulling him into a bro-hug and pounded him on the back. “Thank you.” Once again, his friend saved him from himself. He pulled back. “What about Cassie? Will having someone else in the house halt her progress?” If it was the best thing for her, he’d turn down this lifeline.
“I think it might be good for her. You used to be as important to her as you are to me.”
Her simple words from the morning rolled through his mind. It was never about what she said, only that she’d said it. Could he really have her back? After the past couple years, could they really be friends again?
“Will your parents agree?” Jesse asked.
Roman shrugged. He wasn’t under any illusion they’d actually miss him. “Yeah, probably. They just want to sell the house, so I’m sure they don’t care if I actually come with them or not.” He looked back toward the diner where Hadley stood in the doorway watching them. Running to her, he scooped her into a hug and spun her around. “I’m staying.”
“Wasn’t aware you were leaving.” She laughed.
He set her down and faced a grinning Jesse. When he had friends like his, it lessened the sting of his parents’ indifference.
