Page 59 of Rebound
I rest my head against the door. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine. You also look like you had more than a couple of drinks.” Drew inhales deeply. “Look, I’m not going to tell you who you can and can’t be friends with, but can you please be careful with him? I don’t know what you find so fascinating about him.”
“I like the way he makes me feel,” I say quietly.
Drew makes a face like he swallowed something bad. “I think I’m going to throw up.”
“He’s not as bad as you think he is,” I defend.
“Tell that to dad and his limited edition sixty-thousand-dollar whisky.”
I flinch. Really, I should have known he’d bring this up and I can’t defend Roman here because he did steal my dad’s limited-edition whisky. Not that I exactly stopped him. I’m such a mess when it comes to him.
“Fine, let’s hold that against him until the day we die,” I say. “And then we can have it engraved on his headstone. Here lies Roman Maddox: he once stole a limited-edition bottle of whisky.”
“The only good thing I can say about Roman is that he’s better than Josh, which really isn’t saying a lot. You have terrible taste in men. Just be careful.”
Too late for that.
Placing a kiss on my head, Drew tells me they’ll be leaving for the airport soon because they’re flying out for another away game. I close the door after him and turn to face Jules.
“We have to find Roman before they leave.”
TWENTY
LAVINIA
I take a quick shower, which involves scrubbing my skin raw, and feel more human when I step out and dry myself. I don’t have the energy to do anything to my hair other than put in some anti-frizz and curl cream, hoping it does the job. I apply moisturizer, sunscreen, and concealer and I’m good to go.
It takes me roughly thirty minutes and even though each minute is precious, I needed a shower to wake myself up.
“I can’t be married, Jules,” I say. The panic’s set in. I may be a romantic at heart and might have dreamed of my wedding, but now that it’s happened, I’m not so sure I want it.
What do you mean I have a husband? I’m just a girl. I can’t be someone’s wife. What was I thinking saying yes to Josh? I hate him for leaving me at the altar, but at least I don’t have to be married.
Jules hooks her arm through mine as we walk down the hallway to the elevators.
“It’s okay. We’re going to find Roman, and you’re going to get this thing annulled and it’ll be like it never happened,” Jules offers soothingly.
This thing. My marriage.
I swallow, and nod. She’s right, of course she is. Roman doesn’t want to be married any more than I do. He’s said it repeatedly, he doesn’t believe in the concept of marriage.
We go up to his floor and knock on his door. There’s no answer.
“He’s gone! We’re too late!”
“Hang on,” Jules says. “You have his number. Just message him.”
I take a deep breath and nod rapidly. I’m so glad she’s being my voice of reason because I’m pretty sure that little voice inside my head jumped from the train and abandoned me. Why else would I have married Roman Maddox of all people?
I take my phone out from the pocket of my dress and message him.
Lavinia
Where are you? We need to talk.
His message comes almost immediately.
