‘There’s a lot behind thewhyof my reasoning, but really, it’ll be best for you to just go along with it. Best for both of us. All I need is for you to play along as my boyfriend for a few days. You don’t even need to kiss me or anything. Society often expects couples to keep all ofthat behind closed doors. We have hours to figure out a story?—’
Roman cuts me off, derision filling every word. ‘And why would I play along with this ruse? Why won’t I just tell them you’ve gone crazy and kidnapped me?’
Inhaling deeply, I steady my nerves. Time to drop a few truths.
‘There are two reasons. One: Because I know who you are. I know that you pretend to be this celibate spokesman for people who want to win in life, or whatever, but I also know it’s all a lie. I have footage of you with a woman in your bed, and more of you kissing them in the corridor.’
‘You’re a freak.’ His voice is deep. An angry hiss.
‘Well, I guess maybe I am. But you’re a hypocrite. And a liar. I’m not pretending to be anything other than a freak. You have more to lose by not playing along than I do.’
His jaw tenses, annoyance filling his chiselled face. ‘And reason two?’
‘My family won’t side with you. Sure, they’d assume I’m even more pathetic than they already suspect I am, but they will always have my back.’
‘Is that a threat?’
‘It’s notnota threat…’
Roman grows quiet, and the atmosphere in the car intensifies with each passing mile marker.
‘If I go home without a partner, my dad is going to make me marry a man I hate. Because I refuse to takeover the family business, and he needs someone in that place to aid my sister and brother.’
Silence.
After a few miles, I try to justify myself again, cringing at the desperation in my voice.
‘I just need to buy myself some more time.’
Each tense mile passes with growing agitation. The more I try to say, the more annoyed he grows.
We pass Manchester, and my eyes sting. Between hardly sleeping with nerves and the exertion of dragging Roman’s backside down the stairs, I’m waning. I hoped to get us well into the highlands before stopping for the night, but it is becoming painfully obvious that I need to rest.
Putting my blinker on, I pull off on the next slip road, leaving the motorway behind. As much as my back will detest me for sleeping in the car, I can’t exactly drag Roman into a hotel all limp and enraged.
After a few twists and turns, I find a rural car park that looks to be part of a walking trail, perfectly uninhabited at the late hour.
Roman glares daggers at me as I get out of the car to stretch out my back, walking off the numb backside I’ve garnered from the drive. Grabbing a pack of wipes, I take myself off to the nearest bush and have a wee, arse to the wind and hoping to god Roman can’t see me in the mirror.
After a quick clean of my rear and my hands, I get back into the driver’s seat and open a bottle of water, taking a long drink. Roman watches me, his eyes stillteaming with hatred, but his tongue darting over his lips.
‘Do you want some?’ I ask.
‘Not really when you’ve slobbered in.’ He spits the words at me, yet swallows hard when I go to put the cap back on the bottle. ‘…but yes.’
I pull out another bottle from the pack behind my seat and shift to hold the open top next to his lips. It’s awkward, and a stream dribbles down his chin as he guzzles it down.
‘Sorry,’ I say, getting a wipe out of the pack and dabbing it on his wet face.
‘When will the drugs wear off?’ he asks.
‘By morning. I think.’
‘You think?’
‘Despite what you think of me, I don’t make a habit of abducting people.’ I give him another drink, watching as he drains the bottle.
‘Can’t say I believe you,’ he says.
