All I've Never Wanted(121)

“I know.” I twisted my hands in my lap. I really, really didn’t want to do that, but I supposed I no longer have a choice.

Not if I wanted to get to the bottom of this.

* * *

“Are you sure she’s going to like it?” Roman demanded, nestling his phone between his ear and shoulder as he pulled up in front of his house. “It’s not too cheesy or anything?”

“Um, excuse me, but I’m the one who came up with the idea. Are you calling me cheesy?” Adriana huffed.

He rolled his eyes but knew better than to respond. “Well, I just wanted to make sure. It is our one-month anniversary, you know.”

“No, I don’t know. I’m deaf. That’s why I didn’t hear you the first, oh, fifty times you told me.”

Roman scowled. “You need to watch your tone. No one talks to me that way,” he growled, stepping into the foyer.

“Yeah, yeah, sorry, King Fiori,” Adriana said sarcastically. “Gee, you seriously need to get some. You’re getting grouchy.” There was a twinge of laughter in her voice.

He flushed, thankful she couldn’t see him. “Shut up, Adri.”

“Very mature.”

Sometimes, Roman wished Zack was an only child. “I’m hanging up on you now,” he snapped, slamming the door to his room behind him.

“You know it’s not hanging up on someone if you tell them, right?” She was definitely laughing at him. “By the way, do you know what’s up with Maya? She’s not answering her phone.”

He frowned. “No. Carlo drove her home today because I had to sort out the anniversary stuff. I’ll try her and let you know.”

Clicking off, Roman dialed Maya’s number. One ring. Two. Three. It rang and rang, until voicemail picked up.

A surge of unease jolted through him. She always answered her phone.

Calm down, she’s probably in the shower of something. Just try again later.

Roman ended the call, pacing his room. One Mississippi, two Mississippi…that counted as later, right?

His stomach was a bundle of nerves as he called her again. Nothing had happened to her, right? Carlo would make sure she was ok. The nerves increased, and he was just about to panic when she finally picked up.

“Hello?” Her voice was quiet.

Relief filled his veins. “Maya? Are you ok?”

“Yeah. I’m just…I’m at home.”

“Oh.” Roman blew out a breath, sinking down into an armchair. “Adri said she was calling you but you didn’t answer.”

“Oh. Yeah. I was—well, I was talking to my dad.”

He immediately sat up in concern. “How did it go?” His tone was sympathetic.

Maya sighed. “It was, you know, awkward. But things are getting…better between us. Roman—“

“Hmm?”

A pause. “Um, I think I’m going to go take a shower. I’ll talk to you later, ok?”

“Oh. Ok.” Roman couldn’t help but be disappointed. He wanted to talk to her a little more. “Wait. One more thing. Our anniversary this weekend—“

“Find something nice to wear?” Maya laughed, the sound warming his insides.

He grinned. “How’d you know?”

“Just a hunch,” she replied blithely, throwing his earlier words back at him. “Don’t worry, I won’t embarrass you, Grumpy.”

“I’m not grumpy,” he said grumpily, then stopped as she laughed again. “Whatever. If I am, you just make me that way.”

“Sure,” she sang. “Good night, boyfriend.”

Roman’s face softened. “Good night, Maya.”

As he got off the phone though, he wondered why there was still some unease left in his stomach.

* * *

“Mickey, not now. Be a good boy.” I fastened my diamond studs to my ears and fixed what I hope was a stern stare at the puppy.

It was the night of my one-month anniversary with Roman, and I was more than a little nervous. I was all dressed up, and underneath my dress, I was wearing the sexiest bra-and-underwear set from the stash Adriana bought me months ago.


I’m still not sure I’m 100% ready to go all the way yet, but it didn’t hurt to be prepared.

My heart fluttered as I thought about the fact that Roman and I had been dating a month already. Honestly, it was kind of a miracle.

I glanced at my watch. Half an hour left before he was supposed to pick me up.

Ok, I guess I was a little eager when getting ready.

I sat down on the couch, and Mickey immediately trotted over, pawing my legs with a, well, puppy dog look on his face. He let out a series of small barks.

“What is it?” I asked, absentmindedly patting him on the head. “Why are you so hyper tonight?”

He barked again, unable to keep still. His barks grew more and more frantic, echoing throughout the house.

My parents had gone out to dinner tonight, which was probably a good thing. I don’t want my mom whipping out her camera and taking a thousand snapshots of us like it’s prom night or something.

Mickey barked again, chasing its tail in a circle, then stopped gave me a look like “you should know what’s wrong.”

I blinked. I’ve already fed him, so he shouldn’t be hungry. I even played a little fetch with him earlier. What—