All I've Never Wanted(131)

“You guys lied to me?” I sputtered, clenching my hands together. “Are you kidding?”

“Oh, come on, Maya, don’t be mad. It was just all in good fun,” Roman coaxed, taking my hands.

I scowled at him, even as relief coursed through me. He wasn’t dead. He was alive. And awake. Nevertheless, I whacked him across his arm, causing him to wince.

“Hey! Just because I’m awake, that doesn’t mean I’m not still injured, you know,” he protested. Then he grinned. “Is that any way to treat someone you love?”

That sent the others howling once again, and I felt a mortified flush take over my entire body. Oh my god. I’d just told him I loved him. And he heard me.


“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I snapped, trying to pull away. “I—you must’ve heard wrong.”

Roman smirked, a yeah, right look on his face.

“Besides, that was a horrible joke! When did you wake up?”

“Right before I called you.” Zack seemed to have calmed down a bit, but he was still laughing. “Aw, don’t be mad, My-My! Isn’t this so much better than just telling you he’s awake?”

“By letting me think he was dead? Are you out of your mind?” I blurted. “Wait. Don’t answer that. I already know the answer. You are. You all are! And you—“ I jabbed a finger at Roman. “I am so not bringing you any more get-well presents.”

His violet eyes sparkled, and an incredible wave of happiness swept over me. I’d thought I would never get to see those eyes again. Still, I tried to maintain my angry expression.

“Well, how about a get-well kiss?” He raised a suggestive eyebrow.

“Seems like you’ve gotten plenty well,” I huffed. “Well enough to trick me.”

Roman sighed, closing his eyes. “Can’t we just call it even? I got stabbed, you got tricked.” He opened one eye to look at me.

“I can’t believe you’re playing the guilt card.” Nevertheless, my mouth twitched a bit. The whole situation just seemed so ridiculous now.

“See? You want to laugh!” Roman declared triumphantly. “Can I get that kiss now?”

I immediately quashed the semi-smile, but it remained on the inside. “Nope.”

His face fell, and I had to stifle a giggle.

He had so, so much more making up to do. And I had a few ideas on how he could do just that.

CHAPTER 30

“Oh, come on, you can’t still be angry with me. It’s Christmas! Get in the spirit,” Roman encouraged, trailing after Maya as she headed over to the fireplace to take down the stockings.

“Um, it’s the day after Christmas,” she corrected him, placing the stockings into a cardboard box. “And yes, I can still be angry with you. That was an absolutely horrible joke.”

“But I’m an injured man!”

“You’re healing.” She gave him a flat look. “And you’re a boy, not a man. Get it straight.”

Roman scowled, offended. I get stabbed in the chest rescuing you and this is what I get? Of course, he wisely chose to keep that little complaint to himself.

Ok, so the joke the other day might have crossed the line by an inch or so, but it’s been five days, and he hadn’t gotten a single real kiss. That was not ok.

Suddenly, a small bark caught his attention, and Roman looked down at the floor, an exasperated expression crossing his face.

Mickey stared up at him, his big brown eyes swimming with adoration. Ever since Roman and the others saved him and Maya from that psycho James, he’d been following Roman around like a, well, like a puppy.

Mickey padded over and nudged Roman’s leg with his nose.

Roman sighed. “What do you want?” he asked grumpily. “I’m kind of busy here.”

Mickey nudged him again.

“What?”

Mickey’s ears flattened in annoyance before he backed up a few steps. He crouched down on his front legs, a determined look on his face, and began to paw the floor with its left paw.

“What the hell is he doing?” Roman asked, exasperated. He seriously rued the day he ever decided to buy Maya a dog. He should’ve just gotten her a fish. Much more manageable, and much easier to ignore.

Plus, they didn’t pee everywhere—or, more specifically, everywhere on him.

“You’ll see.” Maya’s jade-green eyes gleamed mischievously, just as Mickey tore across the floor and head-butted Roman’s leg. The tiny ball of fur immediately flew back a little from the unexpected force and landed on the rug with a thump.

Roman’s jaw dropped. What. The. Fu—

“Oh, Mickey.” Maya laughed as she picked up the puppy, who gazed at Roman with big, eager eyes. “He just wants to play with you,” she explained.

“Great,” Roman said flatly, glowering as Maya kissed the top of Mickey’s head. Oh, so she could kiss the dog but not him?

It was time to try another tactic.

“So…” He leaned casually against the fireplace. “How scared were you when you thought I was dead?”

The smile fell off Maya’s face and she glared at him with a you-did-not-just-bring-that-up expression on her face. “Who said I was scared?” she huffed, deliberately turning her back to him.