“I try. Here we go.” I turn to face the window, watching the beauty of Mexico grace us but my body is buzzing with an awareness of Rome’s proximity over my shoulder.
Once the wheels hit the runway, my head bounces back slamming into the brick wall known as Rome’s chest. He reaches his hand up to smooth the dull ache at the back of my neck. Why does his touch feel so right?
“You good?” His voice is a faint whisper, but I feel it in my belly.
“All good.” Relief floods me when he doesn’t stop rubbing my neck.
Evie stirs beside me, shattering whatever fucking trance we fell into. She blinks her eyes open, assessing her surroundings.
“Shit,” she whispers to herself. Her brows furrow when she turns and sees Rome, much farther away from me than he was mere moments ago. “When did you get here, Rome?”
We laugh at her confusion and recap the story of the cheater, drawing a cackle out of her that garners the attention of the two rows in front of us.
Getting off the plane is uneventful. We’re able to grab our bags in no time at all and as we wait for Ri and Arnold to grab the rental cars that will take us from Cancun to Tulum, Rome and I keep circling each other. Dani talks my ear off about how Christian acted up in first class, but my focus keeps drifting back to Rome and when I catch sight of him his eyes seem to always be on me.
“Okay, cars secured. Let’s ride! Girls with me,” Ri orders, walking off without waiting for confirmation from anyone.
I take one last look at Rome before turning to follow.
Chapter Two
Rome
Micah and Christian’s voices drift in the very back of my consciousness but I can’t make out a word they’re saying. I can barely recall a word they said the entire trek to Arnold and Amerie’s room. The hotel we’re staying in, The Dahlia Resort, is absolutely insane. When we arrived, we were partnered with a personal concierge, named Javier, who will be available to help us if we need it and can recommend sites and activities. Apart from Arnold and Amerie, we each have our own suites, with backyards that are covered in beautiful greenery and have a private pool. The view is breathtaking, but I can think of one better and my focus has been firmly planted on her since the moment I saw her today.
Janelle is the epitome of beauty. From her gentle eyes to her full lips against her umber skin down to her curvaceous body that has haunted my every dream since the day I met her. Every time I’ve seen her prior to this trip, she’s worn her hair in its natural curls, but today her hair falls down her back in box braids with loose curly pieces making it appear fuller and wilder.
She piqued my interest immediately. She commanded the room with her warm smile alone. The problem was that I met her as she was being introduced to everyone as Arnold’s girlfriend. I’d love to say that I’m such an amazing friend that my instant attraction to her died precisely when Arnold uttered the word“girlfriend,”but it didn’t. My eyes never strayed far from her for the rest of the night. The sway of her hips demanded more of my attention than I cared to admit. And when I spoke to her? I was lost in the soft, melodic tone of her voice and by the end of the night, it was my favorite song. We talked about everything under the sun. She was attentive and inquisitive about my career, and she was passionate about her own career as an ob-gyn and how much she loves helping women. We even talked about her dream to open a birthing center that focuses on the reproductive health of all women of color. Something in Janelle’s soul spoke to me that night. It unlocked a part of me I didn’t even know existed, but fuck if I wasn’t thankful to experience it.
Still, I would never do my boy like that so I decided to do the only thing I could. I kept my distance. I’d leave Arnold’s house when I knew she was headed over. I stopped going to game nights when she was there because the one time I did allow myself to go, she and I were paired against each other and her fierce competitive spirit had me ready to risk it all.
When my video game publishing company, Downhill Studios, had an opportunity to team up with a company in California to produce a new crossover game, I jumped at the chance. Twenty six hundred miles was exactly what I needed to get Janelle out of my mind. I blocked all of Arnold’s posts on Instagram so I wouldn’t have to see them together and I went about my business.
I was grateful that I was still in California when the two broke up. I thought I was over it but her being newly single only put her in the forefront of my mind again. I needed more time and space to put her behind me because the one thing I’d never done and never planned to do was make a move on someone one of my boys cared about.
That all changed when Arnold started dating Janelle’s sister and suddenly I wished I was back home. I was blown away. I’ve never known Arnold to do something shady like that. Everything in me wanted to reach out to Janelle to see if she was okay, but I knew it wasn’t my place. Instead, I reached out to Arnold, but he was very vague on the details.
I’d spent a fragment of time with this woman. It should’ve been a blip on my radar, and yet she’s occupied every corner of my mind.
“Right, Romey Rome?” Christian slaps the back of his hand against my shoulder.
“Huh?”
He shakes his head, laughing. “You ain’t hear a word I said, did you?”
“I told you he was over there daydreaming,” Micah adds.
“What you dreaming about? Gameplay design?” Christian chuckles to himself and I just flip him off.
“Nah, I’m good. I’m tired as hell, though.” We did just get off a four-hour flight and come straight here so I’m hoping that’s a good enough excuse.
“Well, you better wake yo ass up. We have dinner in an hour. Ri just texted that she’s on her way to the room to change so I’ll catch up with y’all.” Arnold daps each of us up, effectively dismissing us from his room.
A phone call with my brother and my nephew causes me to be the last one to show up to dinner. There’s a private dinner set up for us along the beach. The bright white flowers adorning the table illuminate the area against the dark backdrop of the sky, giving an almost glowing effect. This should be a simple dinner for just us, but it looks like a premiere event. I expect no less, though, considering all the painstaking details that went into the wedding planning.
The table seating, however, throws me off guard. We’re sitting at a large rectangular table, four seats on each side and two at the heads, but since there are only eight of us, I have three seats to choose from. The other head of the table, the seat directly next to Micah or the seat directly next to Janelle. It strikes me as odd that Arnold would sit at the head of the table with Amerie on the side of him instead of letting her be the head or leaving those seats empty and sitting beside her. If it were me, I’d never dare to occupy the throne while my wife-to-be sits in the number two position. She’d sit on the throne while I guard her back. I shake the thought away. Not my business.
“Sorry I’m late, y’all,” I announce.
