2. Roman
Chapter Two
ROMAN
I’m not in the mood for a party.
Especially not some Caputo party.
If it weren't for Ben persuading me I needed to have some fun, I’d be at home with my feet up watching some Netflix.
Today was a busy day. My first day delivering for Montag’s, with the added pressure of it being my family’s business and all. With my Dad as my boss. No pressure, then.
I’ve been working away on the rig for the last four years, but I’ve come back to train to become a firefighter. This makes my Mom so proud she’s about to explode. When I was a little kid I would stand still gazing in awe at the fire trucks and I guess that’s never left me.
I’m paying my way by doing ad hoc deliveries for the family business and in return, I get to sleep in the apartment above the delivery office. It’s not forever, so that’s okay.
Also, this girl Rose who Ben set me up with, has been texting me wanting to set up a meeting. She’s sent me about 30 texts, one after another, without waiting for a reply, which is pretty intense. She’s a nice-looking girl but I’m not a player and I think she wants a hook-up situation.
I’m not a party guy, but I like to have a good time and Ben has been harping at me to have some fun since I’ve been back.
He’s convinced he’ll find the girl of his dreams at this big Caputo event and he’s persuaded me that since everyone is dressed up and wearing masks, no one will recognize a rogue Montag crashing the party.
I have to admit it’s been kind of fun to wear a tuxedo and one of those eye mask things, sort of like James Bond in incognito mode.
I’ve been away for Snowflake Falls for a while, so I’m enjoying standing by the bar and trying to guess who the locals are.
Brothers Tannen and Elden are pretty obvious despite their gold masks - they’re both around my height and I’ve known them since we were kids.
There’s a guy in a full-face sparkly mask who’s giving me a death stare.
His hair is super blond, almost white, so I’m guessing it’s Ty Caputo.
I’m not sure if he’s recognized me or he’s just jealous of my tux.
If it’s Ty, he has a reputation for being hot-headed.
The last thing I want is to get into a fight on Caputo turf.
I move away from the bar towards the middle of the room.
My eye is caught by a girl in a white satin dress, with chocolate-colored hair piled up in ringlets and deep cleavage.
I’m not the only one looking at her, she’s attracting a lot of attention.
I stop to take a better look, but she moves quickly away towards a wall of flowers.
There’s a waiter with a tray of champagne nearby, so I ask him if he knows who that girl is.
He laughs and says “Not with the mask on, buddy!”
Without thinking, I follow her retreating form, wanting to see her properly.
But she’s disappeared. I move closer to the wall.
From the other side of the semi-transparent flower-covered wall, I can just see a white-clad form. Is it her?
I pause by the wall and look through it. The girl is at the end, standing perfectly still. Even with the glittery eye mask she’s wearing I can tell how beautiful she is. My breath catches a little as I ask: “Hey, who are you hiding from?”
Her head turns in the direction of my voice. “Who’s that?”
“The man in the mask. Don’t worry, I’m not the creep in the blue suit.
” That makes her smile. She walks over to where I’m standing.
Through the intense floral scent, I make out a fruity perfume that must be hers.
Her skin is smooth, revealed by the fluttering folds of her white dress.
I’m hit by the image of peeling her dress of those smooth curves and unveiling her spectacular body.
“So you’re not the creep in the blue suit.
But are you another creep in a tuxedo?” She’s smiling in a teasing way.
It’s driving me crazy not being able to get a good look at her eyes.
I pluck a rose from the wall and walk down its length to the other side.
It’s a little darker in the space between the trellis wall and the actual wall of the hall, like a cozy, private cave.
“Not a creep.” I hand her the rose. “Who’s behind the mask?” I step a little closer.
“Isn’t it more fun not to know? I don’t recognize you. I know most people around here.” Her lips are full, red and it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to kiss them.
“So I deduce that you’re a local girl. That narrows down the field.” I watch as she strokes the petals of the rose with her fingers. It’s mesmerizing.
“Well done, Sherlock. But there are still plenty of girls my age with brown hair and around my height. You’d have a lot of sleuthing to do to find out who I am. Since you’re an out-of-towner, it’s harder for me. If you were local, then, there’s not too many guys your height.” She stares up at me.
“Okay, ask me three questions. I’ll take off my mask after number three if you want.” I smile down at her. I’m glad I came to this party.
“Number one - what job do you do?” She reaches out with the rose and taps my shoulder.
“I’m training to be a fireman. I used to work on the rig with my buddy Elden. Do you know him?” I’m trying to restrain the urge to step closer and breathe in her delicious scent.
“Hey, I’m asking the questions. But yes, my best friend Bette is his wife’s sister. Number two. Do you live in town?” She taps my other shoulder with the rose.
“I do now. I’m staying on Fircroft Street while I complete my training. You know it?” I think her eyes are twinkling but that could be the glitter-covered mask.
“I know Fircroft very well. I work there. Number three. Are you a romantic?” She taps my chest with the rose.
“It depends. Day to day I don’t go around sending myself flowers. But you know, with Valentine’s Day coming up…” I watch as she realizes I’m joking and starts to laugh. I pull off my mask. “Hope you’re not disappointed.”
She taps her lips with the flower. “Not at all. I’m delighted actually.”
“Are you delighted enough to kiss me?” I’ve been wanting to kiss her from the moment I set eyes on her in her white dress standing in the crowded hall.
Her lips are curved into another smile as she steps forward, reaches up on tiptoe and kisses me softly.
Her full breasts press against my chest as I reach around her back and pull her tighter against me.
Her hands stroke my face softly as I explore her mouth with my tongue and I feel her gasp slightly.
“Julia?” A woman in a bright green dress is peeking around the side of the wall. The girl pulls away from me. “Coming, Mom!”
Her mother looks at me as I walk out and I see her face fall.
Shit, I don’t have the mask on.
I catch the eye of the blond-haired guy who was staring at me earlier. He starts forward in an aggressive way, but the guy he’s with pulls him back. Definitely Ty Caputo. I put my mask back on and walk over to Ben, who’s looking nervously at the blond guy. “Ben...time to go. My cover’s been blown.”
“You got it bud.” He walks quickly out of the hall as heads start to turn in our direction.
“Hey, Ben - does the name Julia sound familiar to you? Gorgeous curvy girl with dark hair. Has a mom in a green dress so bright you could see it from space.” I look over at him.
He comes to a dead stop. “You kidding? Julia Caputo? She’s off limits to you, dude.”
A Caputo.
A beautiful, mesmerizing Caputo who I’ve just kissed.
And our families hate each other.
But I think I’m falling in love.