Chapter 25 Juliette #2
“I don’t know. You’re a professional athlete. I’m a skating instructor. People are going to talk.”
“So let them talk.”
“You keep saying that like it’s simple.”
“It is simple.” He tucks hair behind my ear. “I like you. You like me. We’re together.”
I want to believe it can be that easy.
“Okay,” I say finally. “I’ll ride with you. But I need to shower first.”
His eyes darken. “There’s not enough time for—”
“A quick shower. Five minutes.”
“That’s not enough time JuJu.”
“Romeo—”
“Five minutes,” he agrees. “But tonight—” He leans down and kisses me. “Tonight we’re revisiting the shower situation.”
He leaves and I sit there trying to remember how to breathe.
Fifteen minutes later I’m in his Jeep and he keeps glancing at me.
“What?” I ask finally.
“Nothing. Just—you look good in my passenger seat.”
“That’s cheesy.”
“You like it.”
I do. That’s the problem.
But it’s terrifying.
We pull into the facility parking lot and my stomach knots. There are already players arriving. Any one of them could look over and see me in Romeo’s passenger seat.
Romeo parks but doesn’t get out.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Nervous.”
“About what?”
“About walking in there with you. About everyone knowing.”
“They already know,” he says quietly.
My stomach drops. “What?”
“The team. They know about you. I may have mentioned it in the group chat.”
Oh god.
“You mentioned what exactly?”
“That my girlfriend came over last night.” He’s watching me carefully. “That I couldn’t sleep without her. That I’m really happy.”
My girlfriend.
He called me his girlfriend to his entire team.
“Is that okay?” he asks when I don’t respond.
“I—yeah. That’s okay.”
“You sure? Because you look kind of panicked.”
I am panicked. But I’m also something else. Something that feels suspiciously like relief.
“I’m not panicked,” I lie. “I’m just processing.”
A car pulls in next to us and I jump. It’s Almardon. He spots Romeo’s Jeep and then me. His eyebrows go up and he grins.
“He’s going to be insufferable about this.”
Almardon walks over and taps on Romeo’s window. Romeo rolls it down.
“Morning,” Almardon says, leaning down. His grin gets wider. “You must be Juliette. I’m Zach. Romeo’s been talking about you for months.”
“Hi,” I manage.
“She’s nervous,” Romeo supplies.
“I’m not nervous.”
“You’re definitely nervous,” Almardon says, but his tone is kind. “Don’t be. The guys are going to love you. Well, most of them. Dex is going to be obnoxious, but that’s just Dex.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“Welcome to the chaos.” Almardon straightens up. “See you inside, Rodriguez.”
He heads toward the building.
Romeo looks at me. “Still want to do this?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“You always have a choice.” His voice is gentle. “I can drop you at the other entrance. You can go in separately.”
He’s giving me an out. Again.
“No,” I say. “Let’s just—let’s do this.”
“You’re sure?”
“Not even a little bit. But let’s go anyway.”
We walk toward the entrance side by side.
His hand keeps brushing mine like he wants to reach over and take mine, but isn’t sure what he’s allowed to do publicly.
The door opens and we step inside. Immediately I want to turn around and run.
Three players are coming down the hall and all three stop when they see me.
“Is this—” one starts.
“Guys, this is Juliette,” Romeo says. I can hear the pride in his voice. “Juliette, meet the peanut gallery.”
“Toronto girl,” Dex says, grinning. “Finally. We’ve heard so much about you.”
“All good things, I hope.”
“Mostly good,” Brody says. “Some embarrassing.”
Romeo glares at him. “I told you guys in confidence.”
“You told us in the group chat,” Luca points out. “That’s public record.”
I look at Romeo. “What exactly did you tell them?”
“Nothing. Just things.”
“He told us you’re the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen and he’s been trying to date you since September,” Dex supplies.
My face goes hot. He said that to his entire team? About me? The girl who rejected him for months? “I find that really hard to believe.”
“Word for word,” Brody confirms.
“I hate all of you,” Romeo mutters.
“We love you too, bud.” Dex claps him on the shoulder. “Come on, we’re going to be late.”
They head down the hall and Romeo looks at me.
“I’m sorry. They’re—”
“It’s fine.”
“They’re idiots, but they mean well.”
“Romeo. It’s fine.” And surprisingly, it is. “Go. You’re going to be late.”
“When do you have to meet Marnie?”
“Ten.”
“So you have time.” He hesitates. “You could watch practice. If you want.”
Watch him practice. Watch him in his element while I sit in the stands like his girlfriend.
“I don’t know—”
“Just think about it.” He leans in and kisses me, right there in the hallway where anyone could see. “I’ll look for you.”
Then he’s jogging after his teammates and I’m standing alone trying to process what just happened.
My phone buzzes.
Marnie
Roman just texted me from the locker room. You’re HERE? With RODRIGUEZ? And you didn’t tell me???
It’s complicated.
Marnie
Get to my office. Now. I need details.
I don’t have to be there until 10.
Marnie
JULIETTE CHASTAIN. My office. Five minutes. Or I’m coming to find you.
Fine. I’m coming
.
I head down the hall toward the medical offices, my heart still racing.
This is real. This is happening. I’m Romeo Rodriguez’s girlfriend and everyone knows.