All I've Never Wanted(138)
“Maya. Can you look at me, please?”
I really, really didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help myself. I looked at him.
Roman’s brow furrowed. “You’re mad at me.”
“No, I’m not!”
“Yes, you are. Why?”
I glared at him. I have the stupidest boyfriend in the world. “I told you. I’m not mad.”
He groaned. “I swear. Maya Lindberg, you are the most stubborn, hard-headed, prideful, confrontational girl I’ve ever met—“
I scowled. Way to tell me how you really feel.
“—which is why I have absolutely no idea how I fell in love with you.”
Stubborn, hard-headed, prideful, and confrontational, huh? Well, you are arrogant, insufferable, ego—wait. What?!
I bolted upright, my eyes wide. Did he just say what I thought he did? “You—you’re in love with me? Really?” I squeaked, the pounding coming back full force.
Roman’s cheekbones were tinged with pink, and he looked more uncomfortable than I’d ever seen him. To his credit, though, he didn’t try to change the subject.
“Do you really need me to tell you? I thought it was pretty obvious.” He held my gaze, his face softening. “Look, I’m not really the mushy, emotional type of guy, so if you’re looking for one of those romance movie declaration scenes…I’m sorry. So I’m just going to come right out and say I love you. Actually—“ His mouth quirked up a little. “I think I may have secretly loved you since you slapped me across the face that day in my kitchen.”
To my horror, I felt my eyes well up with tears, and when I spoke, I half-sobbed, half-laughed through my words. “That’s a strange time to fall in love with someone.”
Roman’s mouth quirked up at the corners. “Do you really think our relationship is a normal one?”
He had a point.
“But, well, I just never thought that, you could, you know—“ I babbled incoherently.
“Maya,” he cut in. “Shut up and let me kiss you.”
And so I did.
In the past few months, I’ve found my dad committing adultery, skyrocketed from anonymity to infamy to popularity, been kidnapped multiple times (some more serious than others), almost been killed, and thought my boyfriend had died. I’m actually glad all of that happened, though—to an extent—because those things had led to this one moment, which was even more perfect than I could’ve imagined.
* * *
“Remember, don’t make any plans for next Saturday,” Roman reminded me, wrapping his arms around my waist as we stood on my front porch. Since it was nearly two in the morning, my house was dark and completely silent. “We’re having a do-over of our anniversary.”
“So it’ll be our one and a half month anniversary.” I shook my head. “We really aren’t normal at all.”
He shrugged. “Normal is overrated.” He flicked the tip of my nose. “Just try not to get kidnapped this time, ok?”
I heaved a deep sigh. “I’ll try my best,” I agreed faux reluctantly. “Although I have to say, I’m very curious as to what you have planned.”
Roman smirked. “You’re going to love it,” he bragged without a trace of modesty. “After all, I did plan it myself.”
I rolled my eyes. “You should be glad I love you so much, or I might just slap you. Again.”
He grinned. “I don’t mind. It kind of turns me on.”
I turned bright red, causing him to chuckle. “What a perv,” I huffed. “You better pray my parents didn’t hear that.”
Roman glanced up at the second floor. “They’re asleep. Don’t worry. We can have sex right here and they probably wouldn’t hear.”
I smacked him on the arm. “Roman!”
He laughed and help up his hands. “Ok, ok, I’ll stop.” He paused, a more serious look crossing his face. “How are things with your dad?”
I fiddled absentmindedly with my purse strap. “They’re…better. I mean, we haven’t really talked about it since, you know, I was kidnapped, what with all the other things that have happened…”
“You should talk to him,” Roman suggested gently. “Clear the air. I know how close you guys were, and things are never going to be the same if you don’t.”
I sighed. I knew he had a point, but I absolutely dreaded confrontation. “I know,” I mumbled. “I know. I’ll do it soon.”
“Why don’t you do it before Saturday?” He examined my face. “I want everything to be perfect that day. Nothing hovering over our heads.”
I couldn’t help but smile at the sweetness of his words. Roman Fiori, sweet? I half-expected to see some pigs floating by at that moment.
“I will, as long as—“ I hesitated.
“As long as?”
“As long as you promise to talk to your mom.”
Roman grew rigid. “I don’t have anything to say to her.”
“Rome, come on. She’s your mom,” I pleaded. “Besides, she’s been so much better lately. She was there for you at the hospital, she even went along with that stupid prank you pulled…like you said, we shouldn’t have anything hovering over our heads on Saturday.”