Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Nolia

I don't know if I am doing the right thing being Roman's fake girlfriend, but it isn't the most awful thing I could ever do. Sometimes it's even fun. Over the last two and a half weeks, the poor man has pretty much let me take his home over. Even going so far as letting me change furniture if I didn't like it or it wasn't comfortable…I'm looking at the old couch - or I would be if I hadn't donated it already. It felt like sitting on concrete, not the most comfy thing ever. And don't even get me started on how it felt to try to binge-watch an entire eight-season show on it.

Still, I didn't think he would let me just buy a new one. He even went with me to try a couple of them out. I didn't think couch hunting could be so much fun but with Rome, it was. And the art hanging in the hall that he bought at the gallery showing he took me to when he found out I really love art, wasn't really matching any of the other art so he told me to find new stuff for the whole penthouse.

And the other evening, when he came back home early, and I was cleaning out the fridge and stove…because I may or may not have burnt a pizza in the oven and made the whole penthouse smell like I was burning cardboard and burnt pepperoni incense. Then felt bad about just cleaning the stove so I cleaned the entire kitchen, and he caught me rocking out in nothing but a tiny night dress and a pair of panties. That was a completely new experience for me and I'm still trying to decipher what the hell he meant when he said he was very thankful the penthouse elevator didn't open right to the living room. It sounded like an insult to my dancing techniques, but his eyes weren't sending me insulting looks as they ran up and down my body.

And last night, I fell asleep on the couch… and woke up in his bed. He said it was just ‘easier' for both of us that he took me to his bedroom when I flaked out on the Star Wars marathon - the originals, not the new ones. I don't see how it was easier for anyone, but I do have to admit to sleeping like a baby curled up next to his big, warm body. It was only in the morning that I got uncomfortable when I woke up wrapped around him with my dress up around my waist and his hands glued to my ass.

And what he said…

"There will be a day when I can stay in bed with you and take full advantage of this opportunity…but I have a meeting at nine this morning and can't un-fucking-fortantly. You won't always be so lucky, Sunshine."

What did that even mean? Why would he act like I'm going to end up in his bed again? I know I fell asleep but I'm not dropping off every time he starts talking or something. He acts like he's going to have to take me there every night. And after his freaky comment about me not always being so lucky he flipped me over and started kissing me like both of us could only find the air to breathe through each other's mouths.

It's not like we haven't kissed before, but I guess it was different because it was in a bed, and he was kind of laying on me. Was that what made it more?

I'm so lost in my thoughts that I don't hear him come in. When he wraps his arms around me, I nearly jump out of my skin. "Oh my…Roman! You scared the shit out of me! What are you doing home so early? Again?"

"Tell me you've eaten today, and this is not breakfast for you?"

He answers my question with one of his own, drawing my attention back to my soggy bowl of fruity cereal.

"Oh, uh, no, I was just…this is actually lunch. I kind of skipped breakfast."

He gives me a squinted frown, not liking the fact I forgot to eat until just now. And apparently, I'm not doing a great job at doing it now if the soggy cereal is any indication.

"Now you answer my question! Why are you home so early? Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine. I just…I have to leave tonight."

I really should not feel my heart sink all the way to the floor somewhere around my ankles at his words. I fight to school my features. This was never meant to be a forever thing. I was always just a stand-in for him, but I thought I would have a little longer playing house with Rome.

"A…business trip?"

Last time he took a business trip he stayed gone for a couple of weeks and Pearl says he is rarely at home.

"Yeah. I have to make sure the plane is ready and pack."

"You…when do you have to leave tonight?" Maybe I can stay with Summer and Roan for a few days before heading back home. Not to see if he comes back faster or anything. Just…to spend time with my sister.

"We'll be heading over to the airport around seven."

"We?"

"Yeah, you're going with me."

"What?!" Despair over something coming to an end quickly morphs into disbelief. "Wh…I can't…are you asking me to go with you or just ride to the airport to see you off?"

"I want you to go with me?"

"I…I can't."

"Why not?"

I slide out from under his arms and try to put the island in between us. Why can't I go with him? Because, it would be crazy and scary and…a little too real. "I…don't…"

"Okay, let me put it a different way. I need you to go with me so pack a bag and get ready."

The one thing he could do to possibly have me digging my heels in deeper is demand it. I cock a brow at him and stiffen my back…and my resolve. Maybe I have let him run the show for a little too long. Maybe I should have put my foot down and told him I wasn't going to stay with him even if I was pretending to be his girlfriend. Maybe…I should take his little trip as an opportunity to leave.

"Absolutely not! I will not go with you to…," I search for the right word, another content? Country? City? Did he ever say where he was going?

"To Italy."

What?

"You were saying how you won't go to Italy with me and was about to give me a bullshit excuse."