“Don’t even touch her,” he snaps.
Jasper lets go of the napkin as soon as Rome releases his grip. I take over, perfectly capable of cleaning myself. I quickly wipe away the excess from my thighs so it doesn’t bleed onto my dress. I move the silk aside to reach my ankle but stop breathing when Rome shifts beside me.
His callused palm gently touches my calf, and he lets it linger there for a few seconds. His fingers slowly wrap around my leg to scoot it closer to him beneath the table. I force myself to swallow and stay perfectly still. The soft touch of the napkin slowlybrushes across my ankle with Rome’s hand traveling down my leg to hold it still.
His fingers are warm and careful, yet I have goosebumps challenging my thoughts.
I relax into his touch because it feels good. My heart beats harder the longer he dabs away the mess, and it’s the only thing I hear inside my ears. His finger traces a line around the clasp of my shoe, and a shiver runs down my spine.
It’s the faintest of touches, and yet I’m putty in the palm of his hand.
The room erupts in another applause, and it shocks me, like I’m caught red-handed.
I hastily pull my leg out of reach and stand on wobbly legs. “I’m going to finish cleaning myself up in the bathroom,” I announce.
Jasper tries to follow. “I’ll help you–”
“You absolutely will not!” Quinn hisses. “I’m walking you up to your room so you don’t cause another scene!”
“Nice try, Quinny. I’m the older cousin. You can’t tell me what to do.”
“What are you? Five?” she snaps. “Let’s go. Now.”
I leave Quinn to deal with Jasper and search for the bathroom or, at the very least, a moment alone to gather myself.
Between Jasper’s behavior, getting a drink spilled all over me, and Rome’s touch lingering a little too long, I need a second. Or a shot. I should’ve grabbed the bottle of tequila on my way out the door.
It’s pretty desolate outside of the venue room, and without any directions at all, I have no clue which way to go.
I choose to go left, because it’s farthest away from the entrance.
The click of my heels echoes around the empty hall as I rush toward a door that I hope leads to a bathroom. I vaguely hearQuinn’s voice as she scolds Jasper, but like a beacon of light, a bathroom appears.
Thank God.
I slip inside and press my back against the door. I exhale, and stare at myself in the mirror. The pink flush on my cheeks spreads all the way to my neck and down to my chest. I think of Jasper, and then Rome, and quickly reach up to loosen the silk wrapped around my neck.
I’m suddenly feeling very suffocated and sticky.
I gather a few paper towels and wet them with water. In the midst of cleaning my legs, the door opens.
I turn around in a rush. “Sorry! This is occupied.”
Rome steps inside and locks the door behind him. “I know.”
My breath catches, and fight-or-flight kicks in. I search for a way around him or another exit, knowing very well that there isn’t one.
I don’t really want to leave, though. I just know I should.
“Wh–what are you doing here?” I stammer. “Did anyone see you follow me?”
His blue eyes flick to mine. “No one saw me.”
“Well…” I glance at the wet paper towels dripping onto the floor. “What about your date? I’m not so sure she’d be happy to know you followed me out of the venue after glaring at my date the entire night.”
Rome scoffs. “Nice choice, by the way. He can’t even handle his liquor. And Rebecca doesn’t care where I go. She uses me as a cover just as much as I use her.”
I eye him closely. “What do you mean?”
