Page 5 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
“I fed them to an alligator.”
“Sounds reasonable.”
Roman jerked his head to the open glass slider. “They’re out there.”
Jesse gave him an incredulous “you let my brothers go play by the pond” look and rushed out.
Charlotte plunked down next to Cassie on the stairs. “Hey, Cass. Good day?”
Cassie shrugged. “I mean, it was a day.”
Roman tried to hide the hurt he always felt when he heard Cassie talk to other people. He’d known her for over a decade. Charlotte only came into her life a month ago.
“I need a drink.” By drink, he meant a coffee made with Mr. Carrigan’s fancy schmancy coffee maker. He walked into the kitchen, leaving the girls to their chatter.
He’d done this so many times he didn’t need to think about it. A few moments later, he had a vanilla latte with whipped cream.
Jesse walked in, dragging the boys behind him.
“Dude.” Roman held up the empty whipped cream container. “You’re out.”
“You’re the only one that uses it for your girly drinks.” He laughed as he shoved his brothers toward the door. “Put it on the list, and we’ll get more with the next grocery delivery.”
“My drinks aren’t girly,” Roman grumbled. “They’re delicious.”
He carried his coffee to the living room where the girls flipped through channels.
“Oh, is that for me?” Charlotte smiled. “Thanks, Rome.” She tried to steal his cup, and he held it out of reach.
“It really is a shame you’re not taller, Charlie.” He took a sip and sighed. “Good stuff.” His gaze fell to Charlotte. “I’m not your boyfriend. Get him to make you one.”
“So chivalrous.” Cassie’s words weren’t meant for him, so he couldn’t count that as speaking to him, but they brought a smile to his face all the same.
“Don’t believe I can be a gentleman, Cassie-girl?” He stared at her in challenge, but her lips didn’t even twitch. “Jess! Make Charlotte a latte.”
“Sure thing,” Jesse hollered back.
He shrugged. “See, I am very chivalrous. She wanted a drink, so I got her one.”
Cassie rolled her eyes.
Roman sank into the leather recliner and put the footrest up. “Roll those pretty eyes any harder, Cass, and they’ll get stuck. Then you won’t be able to look at my pretty face.”
She grunted.
“Let me translate.” Charlotte suppressed a laugh. “Cassie says what a great thing it would be not to see your ugly mug all the time.”
“Aw.” Roman set his cup on the table beside the chair and leaned forward. “Cass, are you really seeing me all the time? I’m flattered.”
Again, Cassie only stared.
At first, Roman stared back, but then he squirmed under her scrutiny. He tapped his thumb against the arm of the chair and glanced away before pushing down the footrest and standing. “I’m, ah, going to find Jess.”
Charlotte’s giggling followed him out but still nothing from Cass.
He found Jesse in the kitchen making Charlotte a coffee. “Cass,” he yelled. “Do you want one?”
“Nope, I’m good,” she hollered back.
