“Six o’clock fine for dinner?” he asks.
“Yeah, that works.”
Romeo gives his brother one last look of contempt before he pulls his hood up over his head and closes his eyes. I leave Beppe with him and head to my workspace, checking my phone for the thousandth time.
There’s still nothing from Eros, and considering he’s been ghosting me, I doubt I’m going to hear from him today. But I send him a message, just to be safe.
BiteSizedGabi: Not sure it matters, but just wanted you to know there will be extra people staying here this week.
I stare at the message for a minute, waiting to see if he’ll actually read it this time. But he doesn’t. So I settle in and shift my focus to my project.
With the exceptionof Rafe propping up most of the conversation, dinner is filled with awkward silences. We eat together at the table, but Romeo looks even worse than he did earlier, and he doesn’t eat much.
I want to ask him if he needs anything, but I know that would probably only make him even crankier. The man isn’t known for accepting help, and he really doesn’t like it when people fuss over him.
As we all settle in on the lounge to watch a movie, I can’t help wondering why he’s not lying down in bed and getting some rest.
Rafe dims the lights, and I sit between the two men on the lounge. When the movie starts, and I see it’s Friday the 13th, it reminds me that Eros and I were supposed to attend Davenport Manor After Dark next weekend. Now, I’m not sure that will even happen.
I feel Romeo’s gaze on my face, and when I look at him, I swear he knows I’m thinking about something I shouldn’t. We linger in that staring contest for a beat too long, and it makes my chest feel weird.
I force my attention back to the movie, and usually, I love this one. But tonight I’m having trouble concentrating. Maybe it’s because Romeo is so close, or because things with Eros are so confusing right now. Either way, I feel out of sorts.
Halfway through the movie, Rafe falls asleep, leaving me and Romeo in stilted silence. I’m expecting him to ignore me, butinstead, he waits until I’m engrossed in a scene to make his move.
He leans in while I’m focused on the screen, waiting for the jump scare. With perfect timing, he gives my ponytail a quick tug, startling a yelp from me.
His dark laughter slides over me like honey. It’s been so long since I heard him laugh like that, I almost think I’m imagining it. But when I glance over at him, his lips are tilted in a smirk. He’s definitely amused by this.
I stare at him far too long, trying to think of something to say. My brain seems to have malfunctioned.
As the moment stretches on, I can feel my face warming, so naturally, I get awkward. Searching for a diversion for my eyes, my gaze dips to the black T-shirt stretched across his muscular chest. His inked forearms are on full display, and I’m not sure how something so unassuming can look so…erotic.
At some point, he took off his hoodie and shoes and changed into a pair of black sweatpants that hang low on his hips.
He looks insanely hot right now, and I hate that I still think that about him. This whole situation is weird, and since I changed into my flannel pajama set, it feels far too casual.
We shouldn’t be lounging together like this. It feels like date activity.
“Do I make you nervous, Gabriela?”
When I look at him, his attention has shifted to my fingers. I didn’t even realize I was tapping them together.
“No,” I lie.
“You look unsettled.” His voice dips, emphasizing the word.
I think we’re playing a different game now. One where he tries to see if I’m still affected by him.
“I need a drink,” I announce as I jump up too quickly. “You want anything?”
“Why? Is that what you and Mariella were whispering about earlier? Is nurse Gabi here to take care of me?”
“If you want.”
Did that sound a little breathless or was it my imagination? God, how embarrassing.
Romeo’s gaze turns molten hot, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
