Page 68 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
Roman
“Ipromise. I don’t have feelings for Roman.”
He didn’t believe her. Maybe Cass didn’t want to have feelings for him, maybe she wished they could just be friends, but that wasn’t real.
And he’d prove it to her.
Once he figured out how.
Roman tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, not quite understanding why he’d driven to Hadley’s community of McMansions. He’d needed to get out of the Carrigan house to clear his head.
It didn’t help that the only person he could really talk to besides Cass was also a Carrigan. Jesse wasn’t an option.
A knock sounded on his window, and he lifted his gaze to find Hadley peering in at him, her blond bangs sweeping across her forehead. She smiled and knocked again.
Roman rolled down the window.
“I was starting to wonder if you were going to sit out here all night.” The kindness she showed to so few people at school was what he needed, why he’d come.
Hadley Gibson was the wild girl of Gulf City High, but he realized in that moment she’d also become one of his best friends, one of the few friends he counted on.
Her smile fell as sympathy entered her gaze. What did she see on his face? He didn’t dare ask.
“Come inside.” She pointed to the massive brick structure behind her that looked all too similar to every other house in the neighborhood. Gulf City as a whole was an affluent community, but Wentwood took that to a new level.
He turned off his car and opened his door. “Just for a few. I needed to get out of the house.”
“Perfect because Gramps just took his famous key lime pie out of the fridge. We’re about to cut into it.” She flashed him a grin and bounced toward the door.
He knew little about Hadley’s home life except that she lived with her mom and grandfather. Every few weeks, they left Hadley home alone for the weekend as they drove to Naples to visit her aunt. Hence the epic parties she threw.
The Gibson house looked even bigger on the inside. Warm wooden banisters rose with the spiral staircase to the upstairs. Black wooden flooring lined the lower levels with rugs interspersed throughout.
Hadley led him into an open concept living room and kitchen. A middle-aged woman sat in a recliner near the TV while an older man served pie in the kitchen. Four plates. Roman looked to Hadley.
She shrugged. “We all saw you sitting out there. He figured whoever you were, something on your face screamed “I need pie.” But to be fair, pie is his solution to everything in life.”
Her grandfather looked up and smirked. “Dearest gran, has there ever been something my deserts couldn’t fix?” He lifted an eyebrow as his gaze found Roman. “We don’t like Hadley’s boyfriends idling in the driveway and creating oil stains.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
He pointed the pie server at Hadley. “He called me sir. You hear that?”
She rolled her eyes. “Papa, I already told you, Roman is not my boyfriend. He’s madly in love with this other girl who has no idea.” She turned to Roman. “And he doesn’t care about your car in the drive. Don’t listen to him. I never do.”
“I heard that.” Her grandfather turned to open the fridge. “And no more of this “sir” business, young man. Call me Jack.”
Her mom walked in from the living room, a tight smile on her face. “Hello.”
“Um…” He wished he hadn’t come. He just wanted to see Hadley, not her family. “Hello, Mrs. Gibson. I’m Roman.”
“Oh, we’ve heard all about you, Roman.”
“Laura.” Jack pointed a can of whipped cream at her. “Cut it out. Don’t make the kid uncomfortable. He’s got girl problems.”
“Girl problems?” Laura slid onto a stool at the counter. “A good-looking young man like you?”
“Ew, Mom. That’s gross.” Hadley lifted herself onto the counter, her legs dangling over. “Papa, don’t forget the—”
