Page 46 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
He hoisted her weight higher and waited for Hadley to drop her arm. When she did, he took off, the sand making it harder to run. Cassie bounced against his back, her laughter ringing in his ears propelling him on.
He’d give anything to see the genuine smile he knew was on her face. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard her laugh like that, but he didn’t want to let her down. Glancing sideways, he noticed Jesse only a step behind him, Charlotte clinging to him.
Pumping his legs faster, he sped up, never loosening his grip on Cassie’s legs.
Hadley cheered them on, jumping up and down near the finish line.
Almost there.
“Go, go, go!” Cassie screamed.
His chest heaved. He was used to running for hockey, but not with an entire person weighing him down. His heart hammered against his ribs as he tore past Hadley, only a few steps before Jesse.
His knees gave out, and he stumbled, trying not to drop Cassie. He pitched forward, unable to stop himself from falling. Cassie landed on top of him, stealing the breath from his lungs.
She didn’t move for a long moment before scrambling off him and turning him over. “Roman, are you okay?” Her voice floated in and out of his mind.
“Roman,” she said again, slapping his stomach.
Finally, his lungs expanded. “Stop hitting me. I’m alive.”
She swatted him again. “Jerk.” Next time she tried to poke him, he grabbed her arm and hauled her down on top of him, digging his fingers into her sides.
Laughter burst out of her. “Laffy Taffy!”
That was their safe word when they were younger and would have epic wrestling matches. She’d loved Laffy Taffy, the gross banana ones.
She didn’t roll off him, their faces hovering only inches apart. He’d have given anything to close that gap, to repeat the night before.
But that wasn’t what she needed, so he broke the connection and rolled her into the sand.
When he sat up, he found Jesse, Charlotte, and Hadley all watching them.
Roman stood and dusted the sand from his shorts before extending a hand down to Cassie. She pulled herself up, seemingly oblivious to the eyes on them.
But that was probably a good thing.
