Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chrissy
A thousand and one thoughts run through my head as I walk toward the football stadium. What does Rome want to show me? Why is it at the football field? Why are we meeting on a Sunday? Could it not wait until our meeting tomorrow at the cat café? It looks like it’s going to rain... should I have brought an umbrella?
Get back on track, Chrissy.
I haven’t heard from Rome since I agreed to meet him via text. He told me to meet him by the main entrance around four o’clock. Checking the time, I walk a bit faster when I realize I’m running a little late.
Yesterday wasn’t a total failure in the self-care department. Sure, his text left me reeling, but I still used the face mask, watched the animated version of Anastasia , and devoured all the snacks I bought. The emotional eater in me was awakened, and cheese curls are this woman’s weakness.
I didn’t tell Gwen that Rome reached out. Nor did I text my brother back. My mind is swimming, and I can only focus on one task at a time. See what Rome wants to show me, and then take the next moment one by one.
I work on clearing my head and slowing my breathing. The air is thick and sticky, and the clouds are dark and swollen. It’s going to rain, but at least the football stadium is connected to the sports center. We can always seek shelter there until the storm calms down.
With fidgeting hands, I round the final bend. Rome appears in my line of sight, leaning against the railing on the stairs that lead into the center, and his appearance makes my heart falter. He is the definition of handsome with his mussed blond hair, sculpted jawline, broad shoulders, and lean core. He is what I expect a Greek god to look like, but that’s not why I’m drawn to him. Rome is down-to-earth and easygoing. But if I had to pick one thing that pulled me in, it would be his smile. His smile is genuine and bright. He can make the sun appear on a gloomy day. When he looks at me, it seems different. Like he saves this certain gesture just for me. It’s almost like everything he feels pours from him when he sees me. His green eyes glint, his features soften, and his smile... it’s magic.
Rome looks up when I near him, almost as if he can sense my presence with his eyes closed. I stop in my tracks as we look at one another. He’s wearing a navy tee and black basketball shorts. His hands are in his shorts’ pockets, and his biceps are flexed.
With a nervous smile, I start toward him.
“Hey,” I sound shyer than I intended.
“Willows,” he greets me with a smile that turns my knees to jelly.
I take the stairs and stop at the step below him. “So, what did you want to show me?”
Rome offers me his hand and nods toward the stadium. “Follow me.”
I glance down at his hand. My heart flutters, and my body tingles at the notion of touching him. I try to force Zack into the forefront of my mind, reminding myself not to let myself get too close.
But . . . I want more.
I want to hold Rome’s hand and not have to worry about what others may think. I want to let myself fall into my feelings. I want him to hold me in his arms and never let go. I want to be happy. I don’t want to fight this anymore.
The moment I touch Rome’s hand, a rush of euphoria washes over me. A weight I didn’t know was settled on my shoulders disappears, and a small smile makes itself at home on my lips.
He squeezes my hand and pulls me up the remaining stairs.
We remain silent as we pass through the doors and walk onto the field. Storm clouds roll across the sky, darkening the atmosphere and bringing the scent of impending rain. The field is empty, the only sound coming from us as we walk farther down the turf. When we near the players’ benches, Rome drops my hand.
“You wanted to show me the football field? I’ve been here before.”
I scan the area for any hint of what this surprise might be. Nothing is here. What could he possibly want to show me?
“You have, but I didn’t tell you why I love it here so much.”
Tilting my head, I step toward him as he grabs a ball.
“Since my mom left, nowhere felt like home. But when I’m here. . . I feel like I belong.” He tosses the football in the air and catches it. “Dad used to play catch with me all the time. We would spend hours tossing the ball back and forth.” With a few more steps back, he smiles wide. “Think fast!”
I manage to catch the football before it collides with my face. “Give a girl some proper warning!”
I shake off my hand from the force of the throw. With my dainty fingers, I’m surprised I didn’t break anything from that throw.
“Sorry,” he chuckles before walking farther down the field.
“Where are you going?!” I call after him.
“We’re going to play catch,” he shouts back, stopping at the 30 yard line.
“It’s going to rain,” I state while gesturing toward the sky.
“And?” He shrugs before pointing at the twenty yard line.
I scrunch my lips, and he laughs harder. “Get over there.”
“Fine,” I groan with a playful tone.
I plant myself on the line and place my fingers on the stitching.
“Don’t judge me. I’m not a pro like a certain friend of mine,” I tease.
I throw my arm back and launch the ball, far from surprised when he catches it with ease.
“Not bad.” He nods in approval before tossing the ball back to me.
Scrambling to the right, I miss it by a hair. “You did that on purpose,” I giggle as I reach to pick it up.
“Who me? Never,” he chuckles.
Without giving him time to prepare, I hurl the ball as hard and long as I can down the field. With a simple leap, Rome catches it and lands gracefully.
“Oh, is that how you wanna play?” he asks with a hint of cockiness and amusement in his tone.
Rain starts trickling down, landing on my cheek and sliding toward my lips.
“It’s funny that you think I stand a chance against you,” I tell him with a snicker as more droplets come down.
“You can keep up with me. Want me to prove it to you?”
I eye him suspiciously as he smiles wider. “Go long.”
Before I can comprehend what he means, he takes a few steps back and then, with a running start, hurls the ball down the field.
“Oh, shit,” I mumble before running as fast as I can to chase after it.
My legs carry me down the field in a sprint. I’m not a fast runner and certainly far from fit, so when I pick up speed and my hair billows behind me, I’m shocked. The football starts to lose momentum, and I try to gauge where it will land. Putting myself under it, I jump and catch it against my chest. My feet meet the ground, and I smile wide when I look at Rome.
“I did it!” I cheer as giddiness courses through me.
“That’s my girl!” He beams and claps as he runs toward me.
“Holy shit,” I mutter in disbelief while looking down at the ball.
I now know why football players celebrate when they catch the ball in the end zone. Why they throw it down and dance like there’s no tomorrow. I want to do just that, but Rome crashes into me.
I drop the ball when he wraps his arms around my waist, lifting me in the air and spinning me around. I embrace him, securing my arms around his neck and squealing.
The summer rain continues to drizzle down, dampening our hair and shirts.
Rome slows, our eyes lock, and our grins soften in an instant.
I become aware of his strong pecs against my breasts, his muscular arms hugging my lean waist.
Air hitches in my throat, and Rome licks his lips as he admires me.
“You surprise me every day, you know that, right?” he whispers.
“What did you want to show me?” I keep my voice low, hoping to mask the tremble from my nerves.
“If I show it to you, you have to promise me something,” he starts.
I nod, trying not to seem as nervous as I really am.
“Whatever happens next won’t change how we see one another.”
I scan his eyes, unsure what he means. What could he possibly show me that would make me change how I see or feel about him? There’s only one way to find out.
“I promise,” I say as the rain starts to pour harder from the sky.
“Okay,” Rome breathes while nodding.
With a deep inhale, he glances down at my lips, and my stomach tilts. Leaning in, he brushes his mouth against mine, and the faint contact leaves me feeling weightless. He doesn’t make any further movement, like he’s waiting for permission to seal the bond.
I close the distance a millimeter more, feathering our noses.
Our breathing is ragged, hot, and impatient.
I move my hand from his nape to his hair, curling my fingers in the short strands.
He presses his thumb into the small of my back, and as thunder booms in the sky, our lips crash together in a kiss.
His lips are soft, full, and powerful. He kisses me with slow, fierce passion, savoring our touch.
The knot in my stomach loosens, and my body tingles. I stop the whimper that wants to leave my chest. I’ve wanted this for too long, and now that I have it, I don’t want to let it go. I press into him, kissing him back with equal desire. My hand travels around his shoulder blades as he holds me against him.
Sheets of rain come down on us, and I ready myself for him to pull away.
Our lips part, and I begin to pull back.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks, his voice husky.
“I—”
With a hand on the back of my head, Rome urges me back, taking my lips against his again and parting my mouth with his tongue.
I melt into his arms at the sensation. Never, and I mean never, have I ever been kissed like this. I’ve never felt so adored and wanted in my life. Rome Carter not only likes me, he wants me, and he’s showing me rather than telling.
I welcome his tongue, letting him explore my mouth as I taste him. His body is hot against mine, and I moan as I breathe him in. Rome smirks as I release the sound into his mouth.
Thunder crashes in the sky, and I jolt. Rome tightens his grip around me in response. Breaking the kiss, we share the oxygen between us.
“I can’t let you go,” he rasps.
“I don’t want you to,” I admit.
The storm comes down harder, soaking us entirely. He opens his eyes and catches me watching him.
I don’t want my focus to shift, but it does, and Zack appears unbidden in my mind. In Rome’s arms, my joints lock, and my body stiffens. My eyes dance around his features, and my breathing becomes frantic.
Shit. Holy fuck! What did we just do?
He’s going to be devastated. If he finds out Rome and I kissed, he’ll never look at me the same way again. Fuck! I’m a selfish prick. After all he’s gone through and done. This is the last thing he deserves: his best friend and sister betraying his trust. We’re scum.
“I...” I try to separate from Rome while searching for the right words. “We can’t do this.” I drop my gaze and pull back from him.
“What? Why?”
My feet meet the ground, and I do everything to avoid his gaze. “You know why. I have to go.”
I turn to leave, but Rome wraps his hand around my wrist. “No, wait,” he begs.
“We can’t do this, Rome, and you know that.” I turn to face him, happy that the rain is hiding the tears that begin to fill my eyes. “Zack would?—”
“I talked to Zack,” he interrupts, leaving me desperate for answers.
“You . . . what?” I manage to stutter out.
“Yesterday, I talked to Zack. Right before I texted you,” Rome says while reaching for me again. “I didn’t believe it either. I was ready for him to lash out and lecture me to the day’s end. But when he said ‘This is perfect! I don’t have to worry anymore!’ I was speechless.”
“Zack approves? Of us? Are you messing with me?”
The water starts to weigh down my hair, making it a sloppy mess. Rome doesn’t pay attention to the wreck I’m becoming. Instead, he holds my gaze with unwavering attention.
“I wouldn’t mess around about this,” he whispers before brushing a curl behind my ear. “I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize what we could have together?—”
“What we could have together?” I repeat, sounding out of breath.
Rome traces my jawline with his fingertips, not caring that we’re both wet and red.
“Yes, what we could have together.” He tilts my chin upward, and I look at him. “A spark has been brewing between us, trying to ignite and catch. We’ve been denying it for too long. I want to discover that fire with you. I can’t avoid these feelings anymore, and I don’t think you can either.”
“I can’t,” I say without thinking first.
What does Rome have to gain by lying to me about Zack? If this was anyone else, I would worry he was aiming to get me into his bed. Men are like that. They’ll lie to you just to get what they want, and once they get it, they’ll toss you aside.
Rome Carter has never given me that vibe. His intentions are honest. He wouldn’t lie about something like this because he cares about his friendship with Zack as much as I do. If he’s lying to me, I would worry that someone brainwashed him. Besides, I’ve caught him in a lie before. His eyes darted around, avoiding contact. His breathing quickened, and his brow crinkled. Now, his voice is steady, his gaze is locked on mine, and while his breathing is quick, it’s not erratic.
“You talked to Zack on your own,” I say, mainly to convince myself.
“I did.”
“And he’s okay with this,” I repeat.
“He is.”
Raindrops cloud my vision, and a gust of wind makes me shiver. I lean into Rome’s palm, and he inches his fingers into my curls.
“And you want us to be together?”
Rome nods and offers me a warm smile.
“Then what are we waiting for?”