I shrugged. The movement felt weak. “Ordered ice cream.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Josie.”
“She was mean.”
The words sounded stupid. Childish. But there was no better way to say it.
Rome’s hands curled around the edge of the counter. I watched his knuckles whiten. “What did she say?”
“Nothing important.”
“Josie.”
I looked away.
He waited again.
Damn him.
I swallowed. “She made a comment about not wanting to get fat like some people.”
Rome’s face went blank.
That was worse than anger.
“Then she paid and gave me an extra five dollars.”
“For what?”
I laughed softly. No humor in it. “To buy some common sense and realize you didn’t want me.”
Rome’s eyes closed. Just for a second. When they opened, they were dark. “She said that?”
“Something like that.”
“Exact words.”
I sighed. “Rome-”
“Exact words, Josie.”
I hugged my arms around myself. “She said to use it to buy some common sense and realize Rome is just playing with you.”
The shop felt colder after I said it.
Rome stepped back from the counter and dragged a hand over his jaw. “She doesn’t mean anything to me.”
I looked down. “She seemed to think she did.”
“She doesn’t.”
“Okay.”
Rome’s head snapped toward me. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
