LOL: Laugh Out Loud (After Oscar, #2)(33)

“Dude,” Pink Polo, aka Collins said, skirting around the kitchen island to approach Roman. “You have no idea what a huge fan I am.”

“Such a fan you didn’t even recognize him,” I muttered.

“Like seriously, bro,” Collins continued as if I hadn’t even spoken. “Back Passage is totally my favorite ever.”

I snorted. He did seem like the kind of guy who would like some Back Passage action. I elbowed Roman, expecting that he’d be thinking the same thing, but he didn’t even flinch or show the slightest hint of amusement. Something was seriously off with him. “You okay?” I asked under my breath.

He nodded, but I noticed the muscles straining along his neck. He tried to smile, but it looked like a corpse gone into rigor mortis. Not pretty at all.

“I’ve totally gotta document this,” Collins continued, pulling out his cell phone. “The guys in my polo squad are going to shit themselves when they find out.”

Roman’s eyes had gone wide. He looked like a deer in headlights. It was pretty obvious he wasn’t down with getting his photo taken, and even if he was, I wouldn’t let him. No one as pale and sweaty as he was at the moment needed to have that look captured for posterity.

I stepped in between Roman and Collins. “How about we save photo time for later, m’kay?”

Collins looked crestfallen. “But—” He tried to lean to the side to continue pleading his case with Roman, but I mirrored his move, keeping myself firmly between the two.

Just then, someone opened a champagne bottle with a loud pop that sent the cork flying across the room to plink against the window and tumble to the ground. Roman jerked, his breath catching in his throat. I glanced at him. He’d grown paler and more sweat pebbled his forehead.

“I’m gonna… I have to…” he swallowed. His eyes jerked around the room, like he was desperately searching for an exit. I’d seen the same expression on a panicked horse before it rampaged through a barn, and we did not need that happening here with Roman. Not while there were strangers watching and while Collins still had his phone out and was able to start recording in a moment’s notice.

I needed to get him out of there before this entire situation imploded. I held up a finger to the group. “Give us just a mo, m’kay? Maybe fix up a couple of those drinkie-poos for the road so you can be on your way. Thanks.”

Then I turned to Collins. “Hey, lemme see your phone real quick?” I held out my open palm, and Collins automatically started to hand it over. I snatched it from him before he could think better of it. “Awesome. It’ll only be a sec.”

I shoved Collins’s phone in my pocket and looped an arm through Roman’s, leading him from the kitchen. Once we were out of earshot, I turned and put my hands on his shoulders. “What’s going on?” I asked him. “You’re not acting like yourself.”

His eyes met mine, then glanced away. “Sorry. I’m just… there was… a lot of noise.” Roman rubbed at the center of his chest. “And I don’t… I don’t handle the unexpected well. I’m sorry. Give me a minute and I’ll be fine.”

I tilted my head at him and cupped his neck. “You’re pale.”

“It’s winter.”

“No, I mean, something’s going on. What is it, Roman?”

He clenched his jaw and glanced down. “I sometimes have anxiety issues. Usually if I’m mentally prepared, I can keep my anxiety in check, but when something unexpected happens and I’m not prepared, it can throw me.” He blew out a breath. “It’s not something I like to talk about. Please don’t tell anyone.”

“Of course I won’t, Roman,” I promised him.

I felt his pulse thundering under my palm. I began smoothing my thumb over it. He closed his eyes and stepped forward into my embrace. It reminded me of the hug from the kitchen the night before when he’d sensed me needing comfort. Did that mean he needed the same now?

I held him tightly and didn’t say anything for a little while.

“It’s okay,” I whispered.

Roman buried his face against my neck, his breath hot and warm along my shoulder.

“I’m just not ready for this to be over.”

For a brief second I thought he might mean the two of us and my pulse tripped into overdrive. But then he continued, saying, “This vacation,” and disappointment flooded my veins. I mentally kicked myself for even getting my hopes up in the first place.

“It’s just, the more people who know where I am, the more likely it is someone’s going to say something and it’s going to get back to the press and then that’s it—vacation over, back under the microscope.” I could hear the resignation and exhaustion in his voice. “I was just hoping I’d have more time before it happened.”

“Do you want me to reach out to Oscar?” I asked.

I felt him shake his head. “It’s fine. I don’t think they’ll be staying long anyway.”

Seeing as how we’d just left them mixing a second pitcher of mimosas, I wasn’t so sure about that. But I didn’t want to stress Roman out any more than he already was.

“Why don’t you go lie down and I’ll see if I can hurry them along,” I offered. “Or at the very least keep them out of your hair.”