She deserved somebody uncomplicated.
I wasn’t uncomplicated.
I liked my life. Liked my freedom. Liked answering to nobody. I wasn’t looking for more. Except... I kept crossing the street.
And she wound up here.
My eyes dropped to her mouth just for a second. Long enough that she noticed and her breath caught.
Mine did too.
“Rome,” she said softly.
Just my name, but it felt like a question.
I lifted my hand slowly, giving her time. Giving her an out. My knuckles brushed her cheek and she leaned into the touch.
That was it. That was all it took.
I lowered my head and Josie’s eyes searched mine for half a heartbeat, then she closed the distance.
The kiss was soft.
Careful.
Nothing rushed.
Nothing desperate.
Just... warm. Curious.
Her lips moved against mine, and every thought in my head disappeared.
I kissed her back.
Like I was learning something. Like I was trying to memorize it.
Josie’s hand came to rest against my chest. I could feel how nervous she was. How steady she was trying to be.
I understood that. Hell, I wasn’t exactly steady myself.
I pulled back first. Mostly because if I didn’t, I wasn’t sure I’d stop.
Josie’s eyes opened slowly and she looked as surprised as I felt.
We stared at each other, then she laughed nervously. “Well.”
I rubbed a hand over my jaw. “Yeah.”
“I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Neither was I.”
That was the truth.
And somehow... I knew things had just changed.
I didn’t know what came next.
