Did I take Bee to that fashion show? Yes. Did I remember anything about it? No. But I had wanted to impress Bec, so I asked Bee to give me the details of the dress as we made our way out the door earlier tonight. It seemed I had made the right decision.
She nodded at my explanation and didn’t ask any follow-up questions, thank God, because I knew I didn’t have those answers.
“Tell me about them,” she quietly inquired.
”My sisters?” She nodded, and I began, “Bella is the oldest, she’s about eight years younger than me. After that, it’s Aria, the twins, and finally Baby Bee. They’re all about two years apart in age, except Livia and Luna, the twins. They’re the same age… obviously,” I explained as we continued to dance. “I’m shocked you don’t know all of this, don’t you have some massive file on me?”
I had seen the file her brother had created about me when I started working for Bly Enterprises. I was both shocked and concerned by how much they were able to pull. They had the basics, such as my social security number, address, and work history. What was shocking, though, was the detailed reports of my childhood friends, the first-hand accounts of when I broke into the high school during my freshman year on a dare, and even my gym schedule. Not just the days I went, but when I did cardio or had leg-day. I swore that file knew me better than I knew myself. I knew Bec had a copy of the file, and she had atleast skimmed it, but I wasn’t sure how much she had actually read.
”I have read through the file a few times now. I know facts about you, but it doesn’t explain whoyouare. I can read all about your mom’s restaurant with her husband, but I can’t see the way your eyes light up when you talk about your sisters. I have dossiers on thousands of people, but the only way to trulyknowsomeone is to ask questions and have conversations. Spend quality time with them.”
Bec never failed to surprise me. “Do youknowme?”
Her eyes searched mine… for what? I wasn’t sure.
”I’m starting to.”
I smiled softly. I could feel everyone’s eyes on us as we danced, but they faded from existence. All that mattered in that moment was Bec. “Wanna grab some cheeseburgers or something before you get dropped off?”
“I don’t want to have to wait somewhere or call Andi to make a reservation,” she complained.
I raised a brow, “That’s why fast food exists, sweetheart.”
She rolled her eyes, “Don’t call me sweetheart. And I’ve never had fast food.”
I stared at her, dumbstruck. She couldn’t be serious. Could she? “You’re lying.” She shook her head.
I stopped our dancing quickly and took her by her hand, all but running to the exit.
“Rome,” she said with a laugh, “I need to say goodbye to Alexandra.”
“Call her,” I stated, not even turning around and leaving no room for argument. “We have a Mickey D’s run to make!”
“Rome!” She exclaimed again, still laughing.
“McDonald’s!”
BEC
We didn’t end up at McDonald’s, but instead, some hole-in-the-wall burger joint that Rome pointed out on our drive. So here we were, both concerningly overdressed, eating the juiciest cheeseburgers I had ever had in my life. There was no press, no expectations, I could just be. It was an unexpected turn in the night.
The place that he’d found had cracked, black and white checkered floors, and one of the lights flickered in the corner. The waitress couldn’t have been older than twenty, with long braids fashioned in a bun on the top of her head.
“Can I get you anything else?” She asked with a pop of her bubblegum.
Both Rome and I shook our heads, our mouths full of deliciousness. She nodded my way in acceptance before throwing a wink at Rome and walking away.
I held back an eye roll at her obvious flirtation. “Has it always been like this for you?”
He looked at me, confused, as he wiped his face with a napkin, “What do you mean?”
“You know… the flirting, the winks, the girls practically throwing themselves at you.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Why limit it to just women? I’ve had my fair share of male suitors come my way,” he said with a wink. “But, to answer your question: no, it wasn’t. I wasn’t always this hot.”
I smiled at the comment despite myself, “You’re really full of yourself, aren’t ya?”
“Oh, come on.” He leaned back and motioned down his torso. “Who wouldn’t be? You could be full of me if you played your cards right.” He wiggled his brows at the insinuation.
