Roman

twenty-seven

Okay everyone, here is the second update I promised. I hope everyone is staying happy and healthy. Enjoy the update. Let me know what you think.

I expect Roman to laugh like it's a joke, but he doesn't. He just looks at me with that look in his eye. What did I get myself into?

I laugh like a lame weirdo to try to diffuse the situation. "I was going to get a sweatshirt." I start to take a step away from him, but Roman stops me by tugging gently on the bottom of my t-shirt before letting go. I desperately wish that he had touched my skin as he did.

Without saying anything, Roman swiftly pulls his sweatshirt up and over his head. The motion pulls up his t-shirt just enough for me to see the faint trail of hair leading into his pants.

I half expect Roman to toss the sweatshirt at me, but pulls me just a little bit closer, and carefully pushes the sweatshirt down over my head. He lets me work my arms through the sleeves and situate the piece of clothing, watching me intently as I do so. The sweatshirt comes to my mid-thigh, and I have to roll up the sleeves so that my hands are even visible.

I glance down at the University of Colorado design embroidered on the front. It reminds me, with an ache in my chest, that in a few weeks, we will all have to go back to school. I want to make sure I really value this time that I have with Naomi and Roman before we are all separated again.

"Better?"

"Much," I say quietly.

I slowly back out from between Roman's legs and busy myself with getting the cinnamon and sugar together to coat the cookies. Roman doesn't move again until I start to roll the cookies in the mixture, at which point, he hops off the counter and comes to stand next to me. His shoulder brushes mine as he watches me coat the dough ball and plop it down on the cooking sheet.

"What can I do to help?"

"Do you want to coat the cookies while I roll the dough?"

"As you wish."

I cast him a glance and we both smirk at his reference to the classic movie. I remember when Naomi and I were obsessed with that movie, and we thought it was funny to force Roman to be Wesley so that we could beat him up and make him roll down the big hill at the edge of Naomi's neighborhood. Way better than the movie if you ask me.

"If you so much as think about pushing me down that hill again, I will put garlic and onions in every batch of cookies you make."

"I think that that would punish you more than me, so feel free. Might as well get to watch you suffer twice," I giggle.

Roman gives me a murderous look, making me second guess my teasing.

Suddenly, his hands are on my sides, and my heart stops. The images of fists and feet colliding with my rib cage consume my mind, making it impossible to realize that he is only tickling me.

Tears spring to my eyes and I push his hands away harshly. I back away from him and my back hits the counter at the same time that the first tear falls off my eyelashes.

Roman immediately puts his up and looks at me with eyes full of remorse. "I—I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry." His voice breaks and I suddenly feel bad for making him feel this way.

"It's not your fault," I say breathlessly. "I guess I just thought..."

"Oh no, Sadie, I want you to know that I would never hit you. This is all my fault. I never should have..."

My body starts to relax, the tension seeping out of my muscles and the effects of the adrenaline starting to fade, leaving me feeling exhausted. "Roman, please." I hold out an arm, meekly.