All I've Never Wanted(102)
Adriana couldn’t help but think Giselle had gone to that center herself. She’d never seen Roman’s mother so coherent and sober. And she was actually answering the door herself? That had to be a first.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s just going through a phase,” Adriana assured her.
“I sure hope so.” Giselle patted down her hair. “You two go on up now. I am positively exhausted after that horrid flight back from Monte Carlo, and I’m supposed to meet up with Maria Tevasco for drinks later.”
Ok, maybe she wasn’t totally sober. At least, she was still drinking. It was a surprise that Carlo’s mom was also in town though. She usually spent this time of year at her family’s estate in Cartagena.
Adriana and Parker bid Giselle good night. When they arrived at Roman’s room, they were immediately bombarded with the smell of alcohol.
“What the hell?” Adriana crinkled her nose in disgust as she gazed around the room. It was littered with empty beer, vodka, and rum bottles, and Roman was sitting amidst the debris, slumped down in his custom-upholstered leather armchair. His hair was tousled and his eyes were bloodshot as he stared at seemingly nothing at all.
“Parker, honey, why don’t you wait outside?” Adriana said quietly.
Parker didn’t need to be asked twice.
Once the door shut behind him, Adriana made her way gingerly through the suite to where Roman was sitting. He didn’t look up.
She stared at him for a moment, then walked over to the fridge and pulled out an ice-cold bottle of water, unscrewing the cap before she returned to Roman. Calmly, she emptied the entire bottle over his head.
He immediately jerked out of the seat, though he didn’t stand up. “Adri! What the hell are you doing?” He glared at her, the most emotion she’d seen from him in the past few days.
“What does it look like? I’m trying to wake you up.” She set the emptied bottle on a nearby table and sat down next to him, smoothing her skirt primly over her legs.
Roman snorted. “Obviously I’m awake.”
“I don’t think you are. Look at yourself.” Adriana indicated the trashed room. “When was the last time you let the maids in here to clean?”
“None of your business.”
“It is my business!” She was this close to losing her patience. “When will you see that your stubbornness is affecting everyone? Not just you, ok? So stop being so selfish for once and get your act together.”
“Look, it’s my life, and I’ll do whatever I want. No one, not even you, can tell me what to do,” Roman ground out.
“Your mom’s home.”
His expression turned stony. “I know.”
“She’s sober.”
He snorted again. “She won’t stay that way for long. She’s probably drinking right now.”
“Like mother, like son, right? Drowning your sorrows in alcohol and running from your problems?”
Roman’s eyes crackled with anger. “Do not compare me to her, or anyone else in my family!”
Adriana shrugged, unfazed. “I will once you stop giving me something to compare you with.”
He sighed, slumping back down in his seat and running a hand through his messy dark hair. “What do you suggest I do, Adri? Act like everything’s normal?”
“No, I’m suggesting you act normal.” She pointed at him. “What happened to the Roman Fiori I know? The one who always gets what he wants because he refuses to give up until he does? The one who’s confident and sure of himself? I don’t see him right now. The only thing I see is a pathetic broken mess moaning about how he can’t get a girl.”
Roman gripped the armrests of his seat. “It’s a little more complicated than that,” he said through gritted teeth.
She was definitely at the end of her patience now. Adriana stood up and placed her hands on her hips. When she spoke, she made sure to enunciate each word clearly, so he knew exactly what she was saying. “There’s nothing complicated about it. You want Maya, right? So go get her! You’ve wasted enough time, and if you don’t do anything soon, I can’t guarantee she’ll be waiting when you do come to your senses.”
Roman’s jaw tensed. “She doesn’t like me that way. She told me herself.”
“Girls often say things they don’t mean. Trust me, I know.” Adriana slung her bag over her shoulder. “I’m done playing Dr. Phil for the evening. Take my advice or don’t take it, it’s up to you, but make sure you know what you’re losing if you don’t.”
With that, she walked out, leaving Roman to sit in silence once again.
* * *
“Thank you so much for driving me home. I feel so bad, always making you drive all the way out here,” I apologized, unbuckling my seatbelt as I smiled at James.
“It’s not a big deal. It’s worth it if I get to see you,” James said, winking at me.
I rolled my eyes but laughed. “What a charmer,” I teased.
We just had a dinner and coffee “date” that I enjoyed immensely, mainly because James had absolutely nothing to do with the Scions. We’ve been talking more and more lately, mostly on the phone, though sometimes I went to La Terra or he came to Valesca to hang out. Thankfully, he no longer tried to make a move on me, though he still flirted like crazy of course. I actually considered him a good friend now.