Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
CLOVER
Unlike yesterday morning, today I don’t immediately freak out over being semi-naked in the same bed as Roman. It’s fine, this is fine. We’re in Napa, I reason to myself. Being semi-naked in bed together is allowed in Napa.
The mattress shifts as Roman rolls, lifting his arms for a stretch.
His eyes are still closed, but he’s awake.
Seizing the opportunity, I let my eyes wander over his body, drinking in the details I hadn’t gotten to appreciate until now.
Looking at his tattoos, I reach a tentative finger out and trace the outline of one of them. His eyes snap open.
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“Don’t be.”
His voice is low and gravelly from sleep. It’s unfair that someone should sound so good in the morning. He places his hand atop mine, and traces circles on it with his thumb.
“What do you want for breakfast? We can order in.” He breaks contact with me and leans over to the bedside table, grabbing a menu and flipping it over.
“I don’t actually eat breakfast, so just a coffee will be great.” The lie rolls off my tongue easily, but it tastes bitter. Roman doesn’t answer initially, so I spare a glance at him. He looks at me as though he sees right through me.
“Is there something we need to–”
“I’m going to hop in the shower. How about you order the two things you want most on the menu and I’ll have some bites?” I don’t give him the opportunity to answer because I’ve already shut and locked the bathroom door by the time the last word is out of my mouth.
When I come out twenty minutes later, the delicious smell of brunch wafts by. I head into the living room where Roman’s got the breakfast set up.
The smell of coffee swirls through the air, and when I look at the table, there are multiple to-go cups.
“What’s with all the coffees?”
“I got you a black coffee, and the rest of these are variations of what’s on their coffee menu. I know you say black is your favorite, and I’d believe you... if you didn’t make a face every time you drank it.”
“It’s an acquired taste... that I haven’t quite acquired yet,” I admit sheepishly before heading over to the lined up coffee cups.
“Well then, let’s take a little time to figure out what you like.”
After sipping various drinks, I finally settle on one, telling myself that I’m allowed to just enjoy it, and that I’m not going to stress myself out over thinking of what’s in it. Instead, I’m giving myself permission to enjoy something because it tastes good.
Beside me, Roman stares down at his phone and makes a face. “Janine booked us in at another winery today. My God, how much does this woman think I can drink?” he mutters.
“More, clearly,” I say between sips of my London Fog.
“How do you feel about blowing off her plans and going rogue again?”
“You like to do that, don’t you?” I ask.
“What?”
“Go rogue.”
“Life’s more fun when spontaneity’s involved. What do you say?”
“Alright.”
If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be on a hike in Napa with a movie star, I wouldn’t have believed it.
But Roman and I are nearing the top of the trail, and it’s all felt surprisingly.
.. normal? I thought today would be much more awkward after last night, but so far it’s seemed natural.
Like we’re both so skilled at acting as though we like one another that it’s no longer difficult.
The line between what’s real and what’s fake is getting hazier.
As we pass others on the trail, we wave and give a quick greeting.
This way, if Janine and Deacon press us on why we skipped the winery on the last day, we can say that we were out in public where we could be seen by people.
What they don’t need to know is that there are very few people on the trail.
It’s a peaceful hike that takes us through sloping valleys and promises a beautiful lake at the top.
Roman offers me his hand during a rougher section that’s dabbled with rocks and tripping hazards. I tell myself the warm feeling in my chest is nothing more than gratitude for his thoughtfulness.
After twenty minutes more of steep trail, we finally level off and a sparkling lake comes into view. Heading toward the shore, I touch my fingertips to the cool shimmering water. Roman eyes me curiously.
“It’s something I’ve always done. Whenever I get near water, I feel like I need to touch it… if that makes sense?”
He silently studies me as I shake the droplets off my fingers.
“Yeah, I know it’s kind of weird.” It’s like I’m spouting words right now and don’t know how to stop. “Anyway, um yeah, this is a really pretty view.”
“It is,” Roman agrees, but he’s not looking at the lake. He’s looking straight at me. I feel heat crawl up my cheeks, and I turn back out toward the water.
As Roman walks toward me, I hear his footsteps along the rocky path and then I feel him immediately behind me.
“I like that you do that,” he gestures to the water, before cradling my face in his tattooed hand and pulling me in for a kiss.
Unlike all our kisses so far, this one is softer. A gentle exploration instead of sheer conquest. It’s so different to what I’m used to with him, so much gentler, and yet it still takes my breath away. He tilts my head back to deepen the kiss, and I lose myself in his touch.
After minutes or seconds, I can’t be sure which, Roman pulls away and presses his forehead to mine.
“Why’d you do that?” I whisper.
“Someone could be watching,” he offers.
They’re not. There’s no one else in sight. But instead of calling him on it, I press a quick kiss back on his lips before taking off my shoes and wading into the water.
Roman joins me.