4. Roman
Chapter Four
ROMAN
I never expected the girl of my dreams would also be my next-door neighbor.
That kind of stuff usually only happens in movies and right now, I’m living in one.
I’ve met Julia on the balcony every day this week. I can’t risk going into the flower shop in case her family - or mine - see us, so we’ve had a few more kisses and got to know each other a little better in secret.
My head is full of her beautiful curves and I’m spending most of the day dreaming what it would be like to get her in my bed and explore her body, inch by inch, slowly, plunging my cock inside her perfect pussy.
The thought gets me instantly hard. I don’t know how I’m going to cope until tomorrow when I see her again.
I’m going to have to have an ice-cold shower and think of something boring. But my mind keeps going back to her.
Ben texts me as I’m finishing work, asking me to grab a few beers with him and Elden at Friar’s. It’s a little more upmarket than Shooters, which is where you go when you’re making bad decisions and don’t care about the consequences or the quality of the alcohol.
It’s warm and crowded inside, but not too rowdy.
I get a few people coming up to say hello, guys I haven’t seen since school and some of the town old-timers.
My Dad is at the bar with his friend Mr. Bells and Elden’s brother Tannen is just leaving as I walk in.
I exchange the intricate Snowflake Falls handshake with him, which ends in a reindeer antler maneuver that town outsiders could only hope to imitate.
“Hey bud, you’ve got some explaining to do.
We got you a beer.” Elden gestures at the seat beside him and Ben in the corner.
I’m still getting used to how happy he is now; when we were on the rig he had a reputation for being quiet and brooding.
That’s all turned around now he’s coupled up with his wife Neva.
I mean, he’s still not the life and soul of the party but he’s happy, you can tell.
All this time thinking about Julia is turning me into a romantic.
Ben looks up as I make my way over. “El is right. What’s the deal with the Caputo girl? You’ve strategically avoided answering all my texts by sending me gifs of dancing llamas instead. Cool move, bro.”
I sit down and take a sip of my beer. “It’s complicated.”
Ben punches my arm playfully. “I saw the way you looked at her. I mean, she’s hot as fuck and all, but you’ve given yourself a world of trouble going there, cuz.”
I cock an eyebrow at him. “I can handle trouble.”
Elden smiles. “Yeah, but can you handle her Dad? And yours.” He shakes his head in the direction of the bar, where my Dad gives me a tight-lipped smile. I guess the town gossips have been busy in here, and he’s now heard Ben and I were at the party.
I look away. “Easy El, I’ve got you and Ben as backup. I’m quietly confident. Anyway, the power of love is on my side.”
I make a heart shape with my hands to make them both laugh.
The problem is, I mean it.
An hour later we’ve made the most of good company and good beer, although Julia’s still first and foremost in my thoughts.
As I wash my hands in the restroom I realize I’ve gone four days without getting her cell number.
It’s like we’re courting in some old-fashioned play.
I just need to get it and I can text her, keep the conversation going, and find out how she is.
I’ve definitely got it bad. I’ll be the one sending 30 texts in a row this time.
Heading back to the table, there’s the kind of uncomfortably tense hush you really don’t want to hear in any bar. Clocking Julia’s cousin Ty and his friends staring aggressively at Ben and Elden, who have leapt up from their seats, I suddenly understand why no one’s talking.
Ty whips his head around as I approach.
“Roman. What the fuck do you think you were doing kissing Julia at the party? In front of everyone?” He’s mad. And drunk. Not a great combination.
“Hey, Ty. Nice to see you too. Shall we just be friendly here, okay?” I make a calm the fuck down gesture.
“Friendly? You fucking villain. Stay. The. Fuck. Away. From. My. Cousin.” He pushes his hands out towards me, catching Elden’s chin with his glass on the way.
Big mistake. Elden grabs his arm and caches Ty off guard, sending him sprawling into a chair.
The people at the neighboring table make a quick exit.
I get myself in between Elden and Ty, who are squaring up to each other. How has this evening gone so wrong, so quickly?
“Stop, guys. You don’t have to do this.” I push them away from each other. Ty’s pupils are tiny pinpricks of rage floating in his pale blue eyes.
“You’re not doing this.” It’s Laurence Friar, the owner of the bar. “Outside Ty. I’ve had enough of your trouble. Get out.”
Ty turns and walks to the door, followed by his two friends. I’m surprised he’s acquiesced so easily, having seen him in action before.
After the door slams shut, the normal hum of conversation picks up. My Dad catches my eye and shakes his head left to right.
Great.
Elden’s chin has a small cut on it, nothing serious, but it’s kind of subdued the previously happy atmosphere. We finish our beers as the crowd in the bar thins out and people start to leave.
“See you tomorrow.” I wave at my Dad as I pass the bar. He just nods at me, so I know he’s pissed.
Outside in the street, the lights from the bar are reflecting on the piled-up snow on the sidewalk. Elden heads home while Ben and I stand in the street.
“Still want to carry on with Julia?” Ben shakes his head. “Sounds like a liability to me.”
“She’s worth it cuz - this family stuff is other people’s damage. Not ours. You’d see if you got to know her.”
“Well…” Ben’s words are cut off as Ty appears from around the corner, pushes him out of the way and launches a roundhouse punch in the direction of my jaw. I manage to move most of the way to the left to avoid it, but the surprise attack jolts me off balance and I stagger to the side.
I’ve had enough of this.
Ty is running forward as I straighten up and it’s not too hard to use his momentum to push him into the waiting snowdrift. Except in his drunken state, he bashes his eye on the side of a parked car as he goes down.
My Dad and Mr. Friar run out of the bar as Ty sits up woozily. There’s a bleeding cut on his eyebrow and he’s going to have a black eye.
Dad grabs me by the back of the neck. “Get out of here. I’ll handle it. Go home.”
Ben is already dragging me across the street away from Ty.
I shrug his hands off. “I’m going, Ben. Quit it.”
“Roman, this isn’t good. There’s too much drama. Your Dad is so mad - did you see his face?” Ben’s stressed and he’s talking so fast that his words are tripping over themselves.
“Yeah, I know. What a night. Shooters?” I say it just to make Ben smile.
“No way, you’re a dangerous man, Ro. Calling it a night.” Ben slaps my back and walks away.
Once I’m back home I sit in my apartment with the TV on, but I’m not watching anything. It’s comforting to know Julia’s right next door, even if I can’t speak to her yet. I hope she hasn’t heard anything by the time I get to speak to her tomorrow.
My cell beeps.
It’s a text from my Dad.
You can’t see Julia Caputo again. Our family has too much to lose. How can you be so selfish? Think about your actions, Roman.
I already know I’m going to see her again.
And again.
Selfish or not, she’s my priority now.