He huffs and pulls his hands out of his pockets. ‘Leaf asked me to come over and help.’
I roll my lips between my teeth and find the courage to ask for the truth. As Denver has taught me, blunt is best, and I can’t keep living like this. ‘All week, you’ve been ignoring me. Why?’
He glances away, those long lashes fanning across his cheeks as he closes his eyes for just a moment, shutting me out. And for a moment, I wonder if he’s going to stay that way, but he doesn’t. He takes three long breaths, then looks back over at me.
‘Why are you ignoring me?’ I ask again.
His nostrils flare, and his teeth grind. Fuck, he looks so good like this. Angry, on the precipice of pouncing, and suddenly I don’t care that it’s been weird between us. Suddenly nothing matters except this moment in the barn.
I want him to fall on top of me. I want us to roll around on the dirt, lips connected, hips grinding. I lick my lips, my hunger for him probably obvious on my face.
‘Stop it,’ he signs with a flick of his wrist. ‘Seriously. You need to leave me alone.’
My eyes widen in surprise and hurt. ‘Why? You didn’t like what we did the other night?’
His cheeks flush, and I see his dick thicken in his shorts. I want to crawl on my knees to him, drag them down, and choke on him once more. I want to listen to him moan and to taste his cum dripping down my throat.
But I don’t.
Not yet, at least. I’m still mad, and I deserve an explanation for the way he keeps treating me.
‘I liked it, but that’s not the issue.’
I stare up at him, and he huffs loudly.
‘Seriously. Stop fucking playing with me. It’s gross.You’regross.’
I hop up, unable to stop myself. ‘I’m not gross. And I know you don’t think that. You were gagging for it. For me.’ My finger lands on my chest hard enough to hurt.
Rome squares his shoulders and glares. ‘That doesn’tmatter. You’re a cheater.’
That makes my eyes widen so far I’m afraid they’re going to pop out of my head. ‘What the fuck? A cheater?’
That makes him explode, his throat emitting a desperate, angry grunt, and then his hands move. ‘You’re engaged! You’re engaged and fucking around with me!’
I blink rapidly, my eyebrows rising. ‘Engaged? To who?’
‘Stop pretending like you don’t know. I saw her. Imether, and now I feel fucking guilty that your cock was down my throat and you were on your knees for me last week.’
If I weren’t so confident in my ASL skills, I’d have wondered if I imagined this, like maybe I’m misunderstanding everything. But I can tell by the look on his face he’s dead serious. I have no idea who he could possibly think I’m cheating on, but I know this isn’t some bullshit excuse.
There’s real hurt in his eyes.
I take a breath to calm myself, then sign, ‘Rome. Who do you think I’m engaged to?’
He looks like he’s about to punch me. ‘Lexi.’
The sight of her name spelled on his fingers makes my mouth open, and I let out a horrific, barking laugh. I sound like a donkey, and Rome must hear some of it because he jumps slightly.
‘Why you laugh?’ he asks, still upset.
I’m too busy trying not to choke on the giggles welling up inside of my throat to answer. Engaged to Lexi? Isthatwhat he thinks? Fuck, no wonder he’s been icing me out.
‘Stop laughing,’ he hisses, signs short, jagged, and small.
‘Sorry,’ I say, still chuckling as I swipe at my watering eyes. ‘I’m not mocking you. I’m just surprised.’ He doesn’t look convinced. ‘You really think I’m engaged to Lexi?’ I finally ask.
His cheeks pale. ‘You not?’ I shake my head, and his browsfurrow. ‘I saw the ring…I saw pictures of you two together. You were on a date at the Greek restaurant a few nights ago.’
