Page 50 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
Her mouth was full of chocolate when she spoke again. “You give anyone chocolate today?”
He shook his head. He hadn’t sent any roses, but he wasn’t exactly telling the truth. Before leaving the Carrigan house this morning, he’d left a box of chocolate covered caramels in front of Cassie’s door. Her mom used to get them for her every year.
He only knew about the tradition by chance. Cassie had been home sick from school on Valentine’s Day when they were twelve. He went over to check on her after school and was still there when her mom got home from work with the chocolates.
He’d just wanted to put a smile on her face.
Well, that wasn’t all he wanted, but it was enough for now. The girls at school wondered why he was never interested in any of them for more than the occasional date. He’d never questioned it himself.
Now, he knew.
He’d given his heart to a girl when he was just a kid. And she’d never let it go. Not that she knew, of course.
Hadley wiped chocolate from the corner of her mouth and bent forward over the worksheet they were supposed to be completing, but Roman couldn’t concentrate.
He tapped the end of his pencil on the desk.
“Roman,” Hadley growled. “If you don’t stop your incessant fiddling, I’m going to shove that pencil up your nose.”
“Violence is never the answer, Miss Gibson.” He tried his best impression of their principal and continued tapping his pencil.
Hadley’s hand darted out, and she slammed his pencil to the lab table, the sound reverberating throughout the room.
Mr. Thompson eyed them. “Do I need to separate you two?”
“Yes, please.” Roman nudged her. “I fear for my life.”
Mr. Thompson only raised a brow. “Get back to work.”
Both Roman and Hadley shook with silent laughter. If only it could be that easy with Cassie. When he was around her, he struggled to find these light moments.
It would be easy to blame it on her struggles, but in reality, the fault was his. He spent so much time worrying about her, it took a lot of energy from their friendship.
He thought back to the weekend at the beach when she’d seemed so happy, wishing he could see her like that every day.
Hadley bumped his shoulder. “You look like you’re thinking too hard. Careful not to break your brain.”
He leaned closer and dropped his voice. “Am I the only person who is completely annoyed by Valentine’s Day?” He’d spent the day checking his text messages to see if Cassie got his present, but she hadn’t said anything.
Hadley glanced over her shoulder at Jesse and Charlotte. “Definitely not.”
At least he wasn’t alone in feeling like complete crap.
“You guys have a game tonight, right?”
Roman nodded. “It’s an early one.” Not only that, but it was their first without Charlotte since she’d joined the team. She’d changed everything for the Gulf City High Hurricanes, but the deal was the team couldn’t interfere with her figure skating, and she had a showcase early the next morning—meaning playing a night of hockey was a no-go for her.
“Think you guys can win without her?”
“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” The moment she stepped onto the ice with the team it was like a switch had been flipped. Everyone started playing better, their confidence at an all-time high. Roman had never had as much fun playing as the last weeks on a top line with Jesse and Charlotte.
“Are you going to be there?” he asked.
She smiled. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good.” And he meant it. Roman had always been popular, with more people claiming to be his friend than he could name. But he’d never gotten close to many people. Until two years ago, he hadn’t wanted anyone other than the Carrigan siblings.
But he liked Hadley. A lot. She didn’t kiss his butt like so many of the girls at their school. There was nothing fake about her, and he appreciated that. She could have joined the popular girls long ago with her looks and her family wealth, but she’d chosen Charlotte instead, sticking by the shy girl once nicknamed “ice princess.”
