All I've Never Wanted(35)

Parker yawned. “Eh, I don’t really care what people think. Besides, it’d be worth it for the Roman factor alone.”

I was about to ask what he meant by that when he spoke up again. “Besides, life was getting boring. You, my dear, just made it a lot more interesting.”

* * *

“Ugh! Go away,” I muttered, burying my face into my pillow and hoping whoever was ringing the doorbell incessantly would just disappear.

It was Saturday morning, for Pete’s sake. Didn’t they have somewhere better to be? Like their own bed?

Considering the fact the doorbell was still ringing, I guess the answer is no.

With a huge sigh, I swung my legs over the edge of my bed and stumbled down the stairs, wondering why my grandmother chose today of all days to drag my mom to tai chi in the park. My dad had left for yet another business trip yesterday and so I had the whole house to myself.

Whoever was at the door had given up ringing the bell and was now pounding on the door instead.

“Hold your horses! I’m coming,” I called out crankily. I’m not really a morning person.


I let out a huge yawn and opened the door, getting ready to shoo whoever was there away so I could go back to my best friend, aka my pillow.

When I saw who was on my doorstep though, my jaw dropped in shock.

What in God's name was Roman Fiori doing at my house on a Saturday morning, holding a gift basket? And why the heck was he wearing a Mickey Mouse T-shirt?

CHAPTER 9

“Want a banana?” Roman held out the yellow fruit, which he’d plucked from the gift basket I’d reluctantly opened a mere minute ago.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “No, thanks.”

“How about an apple?”

He brandished the shiny red fruit like it was a trophy.

I gritted my teeth. “No, thanks. Look, I know you didn’t come here on a Saturday morning to offer me fruit. Why are you really here?”

As I eyed his Mickey Mouse shirt, then the apple, a horrible thought formed in my head. “You poisoned the fruit, didn’t you?” I accused.

Yeah, that’s right. I saw Snow White.

Roman stared at me like I was crazy. “Of course not,” he snapped, sounding a lot more like his regular self. “Do I look like a murderer to you?”

Now I was the one who looked at him like he was crazy. “Are you seriously asking me that question? Yes! You already kidnapped me twice. Murder is the next logical step.”

He rolled his eyes and dropped the fruit back into the basket, which also consisted of several large swirly lollipops, a bag of Lindt truffles, a teddy bear holding a giant HUG ME pillow, and a random lavender-scented bath products set. “Gee, I was just trying to be nice, and this is what I get in return?”

I snorted in disbelief. “You, be nice?” I looked out the window. “Nope, don’t see any pigs flying, which means you’re lying!”

Oh, hey, that rhymed.

Roman glared at me, although the full threatening effect was impeded by that ridiculous bright yellow Mickey Mouse shirt he was wearing. He looked like he was playing dress-down in his younger brother’s clothes, if he had a younger brother.

“Stop being such a grouch, Dr. Seuss. You think I want to be here? I’m only here because Parker, for a reason I can’t quite understand, decided he wants to date you. That means I’m going to have to see your stupid face all the time and it’d be nice if I don’t rupture an artery every time I see you!”

“Rupture an artery?” I repeated sweetly, not letting any of my inner ire show. “One can only hope. Besides, I distinctly remember you asking me to be your girlfriend yesterday! Did you hit your head and get amnesia overnight?”

Roman’s mouth opened and closed like a goldfish’s.

Despite my irritation, I couldn’t help but giggle. I wish I had a camera with me right now.

“Yeah, well, I only did so to give you a way out,” he finally sputtered. “Not like I would actually want a commoner like you to be my girlfriend.” He gazed disdainfully around the living room. “My bathtub is bigger than this place!”

“Really? Then why don’t you go take a bath and get lost in there while you’re at it,” I snapped. Ok, so not the best comeback, but whatever. “If you’re going to stand here and insult my house, why don’t you just leave right now!”

I was seriously beginning to regret letting him in. In fact, the only reason I did so was so no nosy neighbors saw the Fiori heir standing on my doorstep, which would inevitably lead to a lot of rumors and gossip I didn’t need.

“Oh, I’ll be happy to,” Roman snapped back. “After you answer one question.”

I clenched my jaw. He was put on earth just to annoy the heck out of me, wasn’t he? “Are you going to ask it or are you just going to stand there and take up valuable space?”

“Like anything in here is valuable,” he sneered. His lips thinned. “Why are you dating Parker?”

Now I was confused. “Uh…remember the part where you called me a gold-digging slut? Didn’t that answer the question for you?” My tone was sarcastic.

Unfortunately, my sarcasm was completely lost on him. “You picked Parker out of all people?” Roman hissed. “He’s the biggest playboy on the East Coast! He’ll only break your heart, you know.”