Page 10 of When In Rome

For her? She’s telling me not to fuck things up…for her? And how are they going to buy me any fucking more time? They don’t understand what kind of woman Nolia is if they think they can just manipulate and control her. One of the reasons I’ve fallen so hard for her is because of that fact. She’s…strong. And I like it.

I sit and brood for I don’t know how long when I’m pulled from my thoughts by a hand on my shoulder. “Did you get any rest?”

I quickly reach for her fingers and flip them so that I am holding her hand, our digits entwined. “I’m still running on Japanese time. It takes me a couple of days to catch up to what country I’m in.”

“You, um, travel a lot, don’t you?”

I nod for her, “How could you tell?”

“Your place wasn’t very…well, it’s just…,”

“Didn’t feel very homey?”

Her eyes widen and she tugs at her fingers, but I don’t let her go, “I was going to say…there were no pictures or personal things there. I just assumed that you… might not have had time to put those out.”

“I tend to take my pictures with me.”

“Thus, the traveling comment.” I narrow my eyes at her and give her a tug throwing her off balance and pulling her into my lap.

“If we didn’t have to go…”

She would be in so much trouble…and I would be in her!

Chapter Ten

Nolia

I sit and watch my sister fix Roan’s cover for him. They want to keep him another night just to make sure he’s doing alright. Seeing her flutter around is… odd. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy and brimming with hope and love and brightness.

Staying focused on my sister is way better than thinking about what happened between me and Rome. I thought…well, for just a couple of seconds I wondered if he was going to kiss me. But he didn’t and was all too happy to drop me off at the hospital and leave, only taking the time to say a quick hi to Roan.

I realize he said it was alright for me to stay with him another night but…maybe I should be looking for another place before I overstay my welcome. “You’re awfully quiet. Is everything alright with you?”

I give her a nod and push the thought of her staying and me going far from my mind. She’s going to start a family and have a life here and I’m going back to my parents’ house to try and figure out what’s next for me.

“I was just wondering…maybe I should go ahead and go back home. You…,” my cheeks start to burn with a blush, “seem like you’ll be taken care of and I don’t want to…”

“Hey all!” Pearl's clear voice rings through the room.

“Knock, Knock, you two better be dressed because we are coming in.”

Pearl and another girl come in and take in the three of us, interrupting me telling Summer I’m probably going back to Mom and Dad’s.

“Pearl, Kat!”

My sister hugs both of them. Seeing all of them together, they kind of remind me of…well, sisters. My sister has found a whole other family and it’s one I don’t have a way into.

“Guys, this is my little sister, Nolia. Pearl, you’ve already met her, but I don’t think Kat has.”

“Kat’s married to another player on their hockey team who happens to be best friends with my Spade.”

I try to keep up and end up giving Kat a quick nod.

“The team is made up of rich guys who were looking for a way to donate to good causes while at the same time pretending to be badass alpha types. They raise a lot of money and have gooey insides for kids, widows, and anyone in need. Most of the guys own their own businesses…like Roman.”

I offer a smile even as I feel my brows crease. Why would Kat signal him out? “I, um, think I had better start looking for a way to grab my car and my bag before it gets too dark to find my way around.”

I see the three women look at one another. Something is definitely up.