Page 164 of Rebound
“When I couldn’t get in touch with you, I imagined the worst scenarios and with each one, my heart beat a little faster. I didn’t care what was wrong or how I could help. All I knew in that moment was I needed to be here with you. To help you, to take care of you. I said in sickness and in health, and no one is taking that right away from me.”
Softly, he presses his lips against the spot where my shoulder meets my neck. I fall back into him, my back meeting his solid chest.
“Sometimes you say the sweetest things.”
“Only sometimes?” I hear the smile in his voice.
“Other times you say the dirtiest things.”
He’s being so gentle with me, like I’m made of spun glass. My heart squeezes until I feel like I can’t breathe anymore.
“Fuck, baby, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
I turn, wrapping my arms around him and snuggling into his chest. His arms are like a vise around me, holding me together. When we made this agreement, I never expected to have this tsunami of emotions roiling inside me.
It’s tight and uncomfortable and makes me want to scream and laugh with uncontrollable joy. I feel so steady that nothing can shake me, and at the same time, I’m so light my body can float away with the lightest of breeze.
Is this what being in love truly feels like?
Roman pulls back, cupping my face in his hands. His eyes are lined with worry as his thumbs swipe away the tears.
“Baby, please don’t cry,” he says softly. “I hate it when you cry.”
I’m sure he does, the soft good boy that he is. I know he’s done a good job of making people think he’s bad, but anyonewho really knows him knows he’s anything but. Instead of replying, I hug him, pressing a kiss against his neck.
FORTY-NINE
ROMAN
Lavinia is subdued as we eat dinner. Not that I expect her to be running around and be animated given that she’s still sick. The crying can’t be because she’s sick, can it?
I wish there’s something I can do to make her feel better. Is my touching bothering her? I’m trying not to do it too much, but I can’t fucking not touch her when she’s near me. It’s an obsession.
“Roman, I don’t mean to be a pest,” Jules says, bringing my attention to her. “But can’t you put your phone on silent?”
The three of us look at my phone on the coffee table as it buzzes again. Lavinia’s expression blanks as she swallows her soup, eyes narrowed on my phone. Does she think I’m still getting DMs for hook ups? I probably would be if I hadn’t turned them off.
“It’s the HoBros,” I explain, picking up my phone.
Destiny (Holden)
I knocked on his door, he’s definitely not there.
Crystal (Reese)
Maybe he’s been kidnapped.
Trixie (Ford)
Why would anyone kidnap him?
Crystal (Reese)
For money, obvs.
Destiny (Holden)
Seems too simple. It’d have to be for something like enacting depraved sexual acts.
