I chuckle as Roman’s shoulders collapse, like all the tension just left them.
“Hold up, was that why you were angry? Because you thought Nicky was my man?” I tilt my head to the side.
Roman dips his head. “To be honest, yes. I saw his name on your phone, and I don’t know—”
“You spazzed out and acted like a jackass,” I reply with a shrug.
“I hear hints of your accent when you say the word ‘jackass.’”
I smile. “I can only code switch for so long. Since we are being honest…”
Roman sits up. “Yes.”
“I didn’t like that you were giving Tessa attention and love eyes,” I state.
Roman throws his head back and laughs. “‘Love eyes’? Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.” I place my hand on my forehead and act like I want to faint. “Oh, help me please, Roman. My hands are too feeble.”
Roman shakes his head. “I am sorry if that affected you. It meant nothing.”
“It didn’t affect me.” I clear my throat. “But thank you for apologizing.”
“Is there any food?” Roman stands and opens the cupboard. I hear “Yuck.”
“What, don’t you like sardines?”
“Only serial killers and psychos like sardines,” Roman replies.
“Ha, I said the same thing.”
He passes me a bottle of water.
I open it and take a sip. “How long do you think we will be stuck in here?”
Moving to the window, Roman peeps outside. “The snow is coming down heavily. Maybe tonight into tomorrow morning.”
I nod. Roman opens the door and hustles out.
What the hell is he doing?
In seconds, he returns with a pile of logs in his hand, throwing it onto the other pile.
“Just in case we have to stay longer,” Roman says.
The wind howls outside. The fireplace warms the room, and I take Roman’s jacket off and hang it onto the back of the chair.
He sits beside me. “Are you enjoying yourself, though?”
“I am. Your family is nice.” I look at his side profile, loving the straight line of his nose, his full lips, his hair that curls just under his ear.
“Can I ask a question? If I overstep, tell me.”
He looks back at me, his elbows on his legs and his palms interlocked. “Sure.”
“What’s the deal with you and your mom?”
ROMAN
