Page 20 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
“All right, you two.” Jesse wrapped an arm around Charlotte. “No battles to the death tonight.”
“Because we’re going to par-tay?” Roman shook his hips as he walked past them into the kitchen where a full view of the backyard showed dark clouds closing in. “Anyone check the weather today?”
Charlotte took an apple from the bowl on the counter. “Yeah, storm’s coming. I’m just going to stay at Hadley’s after the party so I don’t have to drive in it. I wish Jess would stay with me.”
He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I’ll be fine.”
Roman mimed puking and grabbed a soda from the fridge before entering the living room. Cassie lay on her stomach with her feet bouncing in the air. Earbuds stuck in her ears and her e-reader rested in her hands.
Was the girl ever not reading?
Jesse stepped up beside him, eyeing his sister with a sigh. “Sometimes I wonder if she’d rather live in her romance novels than in the real world.”
“Is that all she reads?”
He nodded. “She’s obsessed with all this love stuff.”
“A hopeless romantic?” Roman couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she looked with her hair in a knot on top of her head and the clothes she always wore that dwarfed her small frame. At least one thing hadn’t changed. Cassie had always worn anything that let her hide.
But she’d never hid from him, not before.
Hopeless didn’t seem the right word for her. Maybe just a romantic. Cassie Carrigan, the girl who used to run outside in the middle of rainstorms to race down muddy hills, the once owner of a biting tongue was obsessed with love.
It fit in a weird way.
As if sensing them, she turned her head, her eyes going wide. Sitting up, she yanked the earbuds out.
“You’re letting T. Swift out.” Roman sat near her feet and took a sip of his soda.
She inched away from him.
Jesse collapsed into the recliner and pulled Charlotte onto his lap. “Dude, you know what Taylor Swift sounds like?”
Roman shrugged. “Don’t mess with my girl.” He shifted his eyes to Cassie. “Your sister used to make me listen to her when you weren’t around.”
“And you… liked it?” Jesse stared at him incredulously.
Charlotte swatted his chest. “Taylor is the queen. What’s wrong with Roman liking her?”
“Yeah.” Roman crossed his arms, fully aware how ridiculous he looked. “She’s the queen.”
Cassie laughed, a full-throated, Cassie laugh. She chewed on her lip as if trying to prevent herself from making the sound again.
“What are we doing for dinner?” Roman asked. “Za?”
Jesse shook his head. “We figured we’d pick something up on the way to Hadley’s. Charlie promised her we’d come early to help get ready.”
Hadley. He shivered remembering the prank she’d pulled on him in the hall just because he’d tried to let her down easy.
“I see that look.” Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “You are not getting out of this, Roman. You promised her you’d come.”
“It’s just… I tried to be a good guy…”
“And let her down easy? Yeah, I know. But did it ever enter that big head of yours you didn’t need to let her down at all? Hadley’s a flirt—just like you. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“And if I remember correctly, she’d already let you down easy at the diner.” Jesse shot Cassie a grin. “Hadley yelled in the hallway today about having babies with Roman.”
Cassie started choking. When she caught her breath again, her voice was small. “So, you’re all are going to her party tonight?”
Something in her voice sliced through Roman. He couldn’t quite decipher what it was.
Charlotte got off Jesse’s lap and slid onto the couch beside Cassie. “I wish you’d come with us.”
Cassie seemed to stop breathing altogether at the words. Charlotte didn’t know everything, that much was clear. She’d only been friends with Cassie for a few weeks. If she knew her, she’d know the signs. Fear shone in Cassie’s eyes, but what was she afraid of?
An invitation? Having to say no? Being left behind?
Cassie jumped off the couch. “You all have fun,” she mumbled as she practically sprinted from the room.
