Page 14 of When In Rome

“Why? Why would you lie like that? Again! You did tell your sister we were sleeping together, didn’t you? And now you just told that woman the same thing. Why?”

She is unafraid of my threat to tie her back to the chair, walking right up to me and sticking her finger in the middle of my chest.

“I didn’t tell Pearl we were sleeping together. I promise you, I didn’t.”

“How can I take your word on anything since you are a proven liar?”

“I…I wouldn’t lie to you, damn it! Now will you please give me a chance to explain.”

“No! I don’t need an explanation from you. I’m leaving so…hey!”

I have my arms wrapped around her lifting her from the floor so she can’t run away from me. If she doesn’t want to be put in the chair, I’ll wrap her up in my arms.

“Roman, put me down!”

“Not until you listen to me. Unless you are too chicken shit to sit for a moment and listen to what I have to say.”

I see her eyes widen and then narrow. “You’re one to call a person chicken shit since you were afraid of that poor woman wanting a date with you.”

“Which brings us back to why I lied to my mother, why my sister got confused, and why I want to talk to you about what just happened.”

“Fine! Talk! But do it after you put me down.”

“Fine!” I walk both of us over to the couch and sit with her in my lap and my arms still wrapped tight around her.

“I said let me go.”

“No, you said put you down. I did. You didn’t tell me where to put you so I chose for you.”

“Asshole!”

“Look, I need your help, okay.”

This has her stilling and giving me her full attention. Nolia might come off as a total badass, but deep inside she’s soft, sweet, and kind. Her tough outside is just to hide how soft and sweet she is.

“What can I possibly do for you?”

“Shit like what just happened is a problem for me all the time. But you saw how fast that woman left after she found out I was serious about someone. You heard what she said about not bothering me if she had known I had someone.”

She starts laughing, “So what? You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend so everyone will leave you alone?”

“Yes. Yes, I do.”

She stops laughing and the smile melts off her face. “What? You…you can’t possibly be serious right now.”

I pull her knees around to the side of my legs so her body turns, and we can sit face to face. She searches my eyes for a long time.

“Oh my God! You…you’re serious.”

“I am.”

“But…we…can’t.”

I give her a raised brow. “Why can’t we?’

“Because your sister thinks we’re fucking. Everyone will assume that's true if we pretend to be with one another.”

“Yes.”