All I've Never Wanted(105)

However, he’d already seen it, and it seemed to give him a confidence booster because he cleared his throat and stood up a bit straighter. “I wanted to talk to you. You haven’t been answering my calls.”

“That’s because I don’t want to talk to you,” I replied simply.

When I saw that hurt expression cross his face again, though, I immediately wanted to take it back. Maybe I’m not as strong as I thought.

“Oh,” he said sadly, sounding very unlike himself. “Did you like the flowers at least?”

“They gave me a headache so I gave them away.” Roman’s face fell, making feel like a total bitch. I relented a bit, adding, “They were beautiful though.”

He brightened up a bit. “I’m glad you liked them.”

I sighed, suddenly tired. “Ok, Roman. Seriously, what do you want?”

The nervous expression came back. It was such a departure from the cocky, violent Roman I knew that I was tempted to check his forehead for a high fever. Either that, or he’d been abducted by aliens. Or maybe this was the good Fiori twin.

“I want to court you,” Roman said rather formally.

I burst out laughing, but I couldn’t help it. “Court me? What is this, nineteenth-century England?”

He turned red. “I’m serious, Maya. I know I’ve acted like a huge jerk in the past. I know that, but I want to make it up to you.”

I stopped laughing. He actually sounded serious. “Why?”

Roman’s violet eyes flashed as they held mine in a near trance, and my heart did a series of small flips. I don’t know why, but now I felt nervous.

“I’m going to be honest with you,” he said softly. “In the beginning, when I first met you at Stan’s party, I pretty much despised you. I was so upset that this girl I’ve never even heard of dared to stand up to me like that. Even after all the other students’ harassment, though, you didn’t break down, and that pissed me off, or so I thought. Now, though, I realize I wasn’t actually pissed. I was just confused because you made me respect you, and honestly you’re the first person I’ve ever really respected besides my friends. Still, I didn’t like you all that much, but after you started dating—well, fake dating—Parker, I got to know you better, and I realized how smart, and funny, and sweet you are.”


My head was spinning, and I had to clutch the door so I didn’t collapse right there on the floor. What was he trying to say? That he didn’t hate me like I think he did?

“So what does all that mean?” My voice was hoarse.

Roman looked frustrated. “It means—“ He sighed. “You know all those things I did? The flowers, the chocolate, everything? Let’s just say I’ve never done that before. I’m not exactly an expert on that kind of stuff.” His face was bright red at this point. “I wouldn’t do that for just anyone.”

I felt like there was a huge lump in my throat. “So what? Are you just playing a game with me? Trying to see if you can get me to go out with you or something?” I didn’t even know what I was saying, but my voice came out way higher than I expected or wanted.

Roman shook his head, looking even more frustrated. When he looked at me again, I saw sadness flickering in his eyes. It was all I could do not to throw myself in his arms and try to take that sad look away.

“I know the other night you said you never liked me.” The sadness deepened, making my own heart hurt. “Not even as a friend. And I know there are probably lots of other boys out there who want to be with you.” Roman swallowed. “But I guess I’m just here because, um, well, I would like it if you could at least consider me whenever, you know, you feel like you’re ready to date.”

I just stared at him, unable to comprehend what he was saying. No way. My pulse roared in my ears, and my face felt hot and prickly. I wouldn’t be surprised if I had a heart attack right then and there.

“I know I’m not exactly the ideal boyfriend,” Roman added quickly. “But I can try to change, you know? And you don’t have to answer me now. Just take some time to think about it, or you know, even date other people. If you want.” His voice cracked a bit at “other people.”

“So let me get this straight.” I had trouble getting the words out. “Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?”

Roman nodded, staring at my forehead like it was the most fascinating thing he’d ever seen.

Holy crap. Was he serious? I wanted him to be serious, more than anything else in the world, but how could I be sure he wasn’t just playing some sick, twisted game with me? I wouldn’t put it past him. He wasn’t even acting like himself right now.

“What about Solange?”

He frowned. “What about her?”

“Aren’t you together?” I asked bitterly, thinking about their kiss at homecoming.

“No, we were never together.”

“You certainly looked like you were at homecoming,” I said rather nastily, all the hurt I felt that night rushing back and making my heart ache painfully at the memory.

Roman looked embarrassed. “I only did that to make you jealous,” he said quietly.

“Right. That makes so much sense,” I said sarcastically.

He glared at me a bit, looking more like the Roman I knew. “What else did you want me to do? I wasn’t going to sit there by myself like an idiot while you were having so much fun with Carlo.”