Page 15 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
Roman was a loud guy. With his popularity came a lot of laughter and talking, but he’d get none of that from her. She wasn’t bothered by the quiet, and it amused her when he couldn’t handle it.
“Jesse,” he hissed. “Tell her to stop staring.”
Jesse laughed and clapped him on the back. “Welcome to the Carrigan house.”
* * *
Cassie proppedher legs up on the arm of the couch and leaned back against the pillows she’d positioned behind her. She swiped open her Kindle. In ten days, it would be her favorite day of the year: Valentine’s Day. A day to celebrate love. And how did she celebrate? Usually by rereading one of her favorite romance novels.
For a girl who’d never even been kissed, she felt like she’d lived a thousand love stories. One day, she’d get her own. One day, someone would see past the crippling anxiety and want her.
She eyed Roman who sat next to Jesse on the floor with an Xbox controller in his hands. NHL20 played on the TV screen. Cassie enjoyed the hockey games, but she didn’t get into it nearly as much as the boys—or Charlotte.
Roman leaned his back against the couch, and she had the urge to run a hand through his messy hair. Unable to stop herself, she did.
He lurched forward, surprised by her touch.
When he turned to stare at her in question, Cassie only shrugged and returned to her book. She’d never cared if anyone thought her weird or strange. Despite appearances, she was okay with her life of online classes and disappearing into books.
She didn’t need teammates or relationships like other kids her age.
Her lips curved up when Roman returned to the game. She could tell it drove him nuts how she acted around him.
Proximity, Annie had told her. It would do her good.
Well, Annie, she was listening. Tomorrow when she went to her appointment, she’d tell her all about reading in the living room instead of her bedroom as if that was some massive improvement.
In her book, Cade made his move. He was the ultimate romantic hero. Strong, funny, handsome. Plus, he loved deeply in a way Cassie wasn’t sure really existed.
She was so engrossed in the scene, she didn’t see Jesse leave the room or hear the game pause.
“What are you reading?” Roman snatched the Kindle from her hands.
She tried to take it back, but he held it away from her as his eyes scanned the screen. One eyebrow lifted. “Cassandra Carrigan, you naughty girl.”
She wanted to yell at him to give it back but couldn’t. So, she lunged, knocking him back onto his butt as she grappled for the Kindle.
Roman laughed as she practically climbed on top of him. No one got to take her love stories from her, and they couldn’t make fun of them. Romance had a bad rep in the literary world, but they were the best kind of stories.
“I never pegged you for a saucy romance kinda gal, Cass.” He put a hand on her waist to prevent her from reaching it.
She’d show him saucy. She dug her knee into his groin, eliciting a squeak of protest. He dropped the Kindle, and she scrambled off him to grab it.
“You fight dirty,” Roman wheezed.
He hadn’t seen her fight yet. If he wanted to be annoying, she’d get back at him with her own brand of obnoxious. She stood, staring down at him, latching her eyes onto his. Few people enjoyed others looking into their eyes for too long.
Roman shifted his eyes away. “It’s nice to know some of the old Cass is still in there.”
Now, it was her turn to look away. Wrestling was a normal occurrence when they were friends. They fought but were never truly mad.
“What’s going on?” Jesse walked back in and threw a bottle of water to Cassie. She snatched it out of the air.
“Just chatting, Jess.” Roman shrugged.
Jesse glanced from Cassie to Roman with a laugh. “Mhmm, I’m sure you were.” He tossed a second bottle to Roman, but Roman didn’t see it coming. It hit him upside the head.
A laugh burst out of Cassie, and she clapped a hand over her mouth. With a shake of her head, she left them to keep playing their game.
