ie

We order some lunch and find a table outside, an older group of people, two ladies and one man, have set up with their violins to play some music during the lunch hour.

“Free entertainment,” Roman says, wiggling his brows. “Yeah boy!”

I smother a laugh. “You’re an idiot, honestly.”

He winks at me and we take a seat. We watch as the group begins singing and playing their instruments. It’s nice, relaxing even. I glance at the older man in the group, and as he’s singing, he’s staring at me.

“Creeper alert, one o’clock,” I mutter to Roman.

Roman looks, and then laughs. “Yep, he’s totally scoping you out.”

“He’s like ninety,” I cringe.

“So, maybe that’s his last wish before he dies.”

I thump him.

“He’s a total creeper, though, right?” I whisper, nudging Roman with my shoulder. “You think?”

“Oh fuck yeah. Total creep.”

Our food arrives and we eat. I talk to Roman the entire way through lunch, and he’s finished long before I am.

“I’ve never met someone who eats so slow,” he says, raising his brows and staring at my uneaten food.

“I’m talking.”

“That’s the problem,” he teases. “You talk so much, when really, you should just open your mouth and put that food in there.”

I flip him the bird.

He chuckles. “I could drive home, have a shower, come back and you’d still be halfway through.”

I roll my eyes, finish up my lunch, in silence, much to his satisfaction, and then we both head back out to go home. In the truck, I turn to him.

“How’s things anyway? Still talking to that crazy cunt monkey?”

Roman laughs. “Here and there. I think she knows I’m over it, hey.”

I raise my brows. “You’re not over it.”

He looks to me. “Yeah, I am.”

I narrow my eyes. “You were in love with her like two weeks ago.”

“And then I met you and honestly, I feel okay about moving forward now.”

I keep staring at him. “I am over it, Molly.”

I wish I could believe that, but even I know you don’t fall out of love and get over heartbreak that easily. Am I acting as Roman’s band aid? Am I blocking his feelings by making him think he no longer has them? Sure, I know I’ve helped him move forward, but I honestly think what he’s feeling right now is a temporary relief from the pain.

Am I actually a rebound?

“You’re thinking too much again,” he says, glancing at me.

“No. Not it’s fine.”

“I have barely spoken to her, that’s the truth. I do want to move on. I meant it when I said I like you. Stop stressing.”

I smile, and nod.

But deep down, I am stressing.

Because I don’t want to get hurt.

Mostly, I don’t want to lose him.

CHAPTER 15

R – I miss you.

M – I miss you too.

R – You giving those toys a good workout without me there?

I smile and respond.

M – Absolutely.

R – Send me a picture.

M – Ha ha, you wish handsome.

R – Come on. I’m stuck out here. I can’t see you.

M – Nice try. But you’re just going to have to imagine it.

R – I’m not happy with you right now.

R – Send a picture.

I giggle.

M – Nope.

R – Cunt.

I laugh.

M – Cunt picture.

R – I hate you.

I’m laughing, my body shaking, as I reply.

M – Don’t worry, I hate you too.

R – That’s it!

M – Whatevs.

R – Your dick stinks.

I burst out into hysterical laughter. Roman and I, we can have sex, we can be serious, but mostly our teasing makes me laugh. We spend most of our days tormenting each other with silly text messages, but honestly, they make everything feel better. His personality is nearly exactly like mine, and I’m grateful for it.

M – Yeah. Yeah. Fucker.

R – Love you Bestie.

M – Eat a dick.

R – Fuck too.

R – You*

M – Can’t even spell.

R – Lol.

M – Lol isn’t a valid text message.

R – I’m going to kick you in the nuts.

I’m laughing so hard now, tears are running down my face.

M – I’m getting a new Bestie. That’s it. I might miss you sometimes, probably only when I’m drunk.

R – Stop being a hater.

M – Put your love glasses on.

R – Haha. They’re on. What are you doing?

M – Masturbating.

I know he’ll be having a chuckle over that.

R – Ha ha. Yeah. I just washed a heap down the shower drain.

M – Those poor future kids, they’re still hanging onto the shower drain screaming.

I take a quick snap of a pile of towels I just gathered together to wash. I’ve been so lazy lately. I really need to do something about that. When Roman is away, I spend all my time with my family and work, when he’s home, it’s all him and I. I barely have time to sit these days, which is awesome.

M – I need to do some washing.

R – Oh my god. Wash your towels.

M – Oh my god. Wash your balls.

I yawn and check the time. It’s past ten, and I have to work early tomorrow morning.

M – I’m going to bed now, loser. Talk to you tomorrow.

Roman sends a thumbs up, and I giggle, because he knows I hate it.

M – Stop being a dick and say goodnight properly.

R – Goodnight, Spoosie.

I smile, my heart warm, and my body light.

M – Goodnight, Spunky.

With a content smile on my face, I tuck my phone away.

And for the first time in a damned long time, I fall asleep happy.

Really happy.

All because of him.

~*~*~*~

“So, Roman,” Matilda says at the clubhouse later that week. “How’s that going?”

I decide not to tell her we’re sleeping together, just yet, anyway. Maybe it’s because I’m still not sure what’s happening and don’t want to disrupt anything, or maybe it’s because I know what she’ll say, and she’ll probably be right.