Page 41 of Unexpected Company
“Our sex life was never the problem. Well, not the sex itself, that is. We matched on a physical level even towards the end – when we actually made time for each other. But at some point, we both became versions of people who no longer fit together. Two souls who didn’t complement each other. And then the things I wanted from life no longer matched what he wanted.”
Roman mulls that over for a moment, a comfortable silence falling between us while we both work to get our meal prepared.
“How do you know if people fit?” he asks, rounding the counter and coming to stand next to me.
“I’m the wrong person to ask, if I’m being honest. I don’t fit anywhere. Not even in my own family.” Thinking of my parents makes my stomach clench uncomfortably, that ever-present reminder of how alone I am, tugging at my insides.
Roman strokes my arm, conveying so much compassion in his gentle touch that I lean into it.
“But if I look at all the things that went wrong in my past relationships,” I continue. “I’d narrow it down to an instinctual feeling. Wanting to be in that person’s presence. Missing them when they’re gone. Being able to sit with them but not need totalk or do anything. When sharing the same space is enough to fill the gaps in your cracks.”
Roman grins. “I keep saying you should write romance.”
I bop him on the nose, then sprinkle the dish of vegetables with oil and seasoning, before sliding it into the oven beneath the sausages.
“I’d be hopeless at it,” I admit.
“Agree to disagree.” He shoots a lopsided grin my way, then pulls out the stool from beneath the kitchen counter and climbs up onto it. He’s dressed in his reindeer print pyjamas again, his socked feet brushing the tiled floor.
With the potatoes set to boil, I lean on the counter opposite him, my elbows resting on the smooth, rustic wood.
“What about you, Supernova? What’s your big take on romance?”
Roman plays with the glass in front of him, tipping it left and right, watching the water inside slosh up the edges.
“I don’t have one. I’ve never been in love. The thought of it scares me as much as I know I want it.”
“You’re scared of falling in love?”
He shakes his head.
“I’m afraid of being left behind. People always leave, you know? That must suck so much more if you’re in love with the person.”
God, my heart aches for this sweet man.
“Liam is in love,” he continues. “He gets this goofy grin on his face every time she walks into the room. Even if she was only gone for five minutes. Can you imagine how bad it will hurt if she leaves him?”
I drum my fingers on the counter.
“But it will have been worth it, don’t you think?”
Roman’s eyes meet mine, and he nods.
“Yeah, maybe. I bet he’d say it was.”
Leaning in, I press my lips to his, our tongues tangling as he presses closer. When the kiss ends, my mouth lingers against his.
“You’re brave, Supernova. Bravest blue-haired troublemaker I’ve ever met. And one day, you’ll fit with someone in a way only soulmates can. And it will all be worth it. Even if it’s scary.”
The next time our mouths meet, it’s more smile than kiss.
“On another note – on a scale of ‘hell no’ to ‘best thing ever’, how do you feel about surprises?” I move from the counter to check on the boiling water and make sure the sausages are not burning. Roman stands and fills his glass, then hops onto the counter next to me.
“Umm…I would be a ‘hell to the fuck yes’ on that scale,” he replies.
“Good.” Closing the oven, happy nothing is burning, I move to stand between his legs. His eyes meet mine. “Because tomorrow afternoon, I have a surprise for you that I think you’re going to like.”
“Can I get a clue?” Roman flutters his eyelashes playfully.
