Page 198 of Dance of Defiance
Evie starts to cut slices of the quiche, putting them on plates alongside the walnut and pear salad. Then she stops, glancing up at us again. “I got sidetracked. So… You guys both started going to the same gym?”
I smile. “Yep.”
I mean, it’s not a lie.
She smiles weirdly at me. “It’s just… I had no idea you guys hung out?”
“Oh, we do,” Val grins. His hand slides over to my lap and cups my dick. I shoot him a look and push his hand back to my thigh.
“He’s been helping me with my PT after the bike crash,” Val shrugs.
She turns and smiles at me. “That’s so nice of you, Roman! Oh!” Evie’s sliding our plates across to us when her brows shoot up. “I forgot the wine!”
She turns and reaches for an unopened bottle sitting next to the stove.
My vision tunnels as my gaze lands on it.
My blood turns icy, and I can feel the demons raging, so. Fucking. THIRSTY.
Val’s hand takes mine and squeezes. Not hard, like a reprimand. Just a reminder that he’s there.
“I’m actually good with water. But thanks, Evie.”
My sister’s face is pure shock as she whips around. “Sorry,what?”
“I’m all set,” I croak through a tight throat. “Water is fine.”
She blinks. “You…”
“You wanna sit, Eves?” I smile. “I have something to tell you. Well, two things.”
Val turns to cock a brow at me.
Yeah, we…didn't explicitly talk about what tonight was about. I mean, I brought him to dinner with my sister, and we talked about how that would look. But nothing else was discussed past that. I think we both knew that I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do yet, or how.
Evelina smiles curiously as she sits in one of the bar stools across the island. “Sure, Rome.”
I take a deep breath and then exhale slowly.
“I’m an alcoholic.”
The kitchen goes pin-drop silent. My sister blinks at me, her mouth opening, but no words coming out.
“I…yeah.” I clear my throat. “I have a problem with alcohol, and I’ve decided that I’m not capable of having a good relationshipwith it. So I’m just…” I frown. “Not going to drink anymore. At all.”
Slowly, her face lights up, and before I know it, she’s jumping out of her seat and rushing around the island to crash into me. She hugs me fiercely and I hug her back, exhaling the last of the reluctance I had to share this with her.
“Whatever you need,” she chokes, squeezing me tight. “I’m here.” She pulls back a little, her eyes shining as she smiles up at me. “I’m so proud of you, Rome. And I love you, no matter what.”
“I love you too, Evie.”
She releases me with a choked little laugh, wiping at her eyes. “Well, no wine, then,” she says firmly, marching over to the bottle.
“Don’t let me stop you.”
She snorts and glances over her shoulder at me. “Yeah, because me getting wasted on half a glass of Pinot Grigio is what everyone needs tonight.”
Val hoots a laugh. “Your words girl, not mine.”
