None of that.
Humiliation?
Absolutely not.
Every time I look in the mirror and think about Rome, my cheeks ripen with heat, but that has nothing to do with what happened in Bahrain.
In fact, Bahrain did not exist.
I’ve deleted the entire trip from my brain.
I’m half-tempted to miss out on Sunday dinner and blame it on jet lag, but then that would mean I was affected by Rome’s kiss, and I would rather die than give him that satisfaction. My plan is to treat him the same way he’s treating me: like nothing happened at all.
The next morning, we didn’t utter a single word to one another. Which isn’t unusual. No one paid any mind to our silence.
On the plane, I slipped my eye mask over my eyes and put my headphones over my ears. Sleep came quick, mainly because I paced the entire night prior, fretting about what happened in the elevator.
I’ve never acted so impulsively before.
I’m the least impulsive out of my siblings—even Van, who knocked up a random woman, resulting in Vivian.
I’m responsible and driven by success. Not a mouthy, F1 driver whose kissing made my toes curl and stomach bottom out. He pushed me right up to the line, and I crossed it with him.
I gulp the rest of my Diet Coke and climb out of my car.
Besides Van, it looks like I’m the first one here. My plan is to escape with Vivian somewhere in the house to avoid Rome. Maybe play hide-and-seek and get lost.
I walk inside and scrunch my nose at the scent of Brussels sprouts. I’m happy my parents are continuing their healthy eating for my dad’s health, but pizza and beer, like we used to do after a weekend race, sounds so much better.
“Tess! Quick! Help me!” Vivian, with her long hair in messy braids, slides on her socks to meet me in the foyer.
“Help you what?” I ask sneakily. “Is Grandpa playing hide-and-seek with you already?”
She shakes her head and tugs me alone. “No! Rome!”
I stop mid-pull. Excuse me?
“Rome?”
She tugs me harder. “Yes! Now, come on. Daddy said he went into the backyard, but I’ve already looked everywhere! Dinner is almost ready, so we have to hurry!”
There is no getting out of this. Vivian is as headstrong as they come—something Van is struggling with.
“Hmm,” I hum under my breath and stand on the back patio, looking for a good spot that Rome would hide in.
Who would’ve thought I’d show up to my parents’ for dinner, and he’d be playing hide-and-seek with Vivian? Maybe he had the same thought as I did and is trying to avoid me as long as possible too.
Actually, scratch that. Knowing Rome, he’ll hold this over my head and blackmail me with it, because he would’ve had to be blind not to feel how into his kiss I was.
“Did you look in the tree?” I ask.
Vivian peers at me. “The tree?”
“He’s athletic. He probably climbed it.”
She runs down the steps excitedly and onto the thick, luscious grass. With her hands on her hips, she gazes up the side of the large mesquite tree, and a huge smile overtakes her face.
“I found you!” she shouts.
