Page 8 of Teaching Roman

Chapter Five

Five hours later,we landed in Mexico. Cassie and I stumbled off the plane, six glasses of wine down. My eyes crossed slightly as we made our way toward customs. I touched the tip of my nose, wiggling it to discover it was numb. Then I counted my steps.

“Will you stop doing your intoxication checklist?” Cassie demanded, looping her arm through mine to steady herself. “Because newsflash: you’re drunk.”

I wasn’t intoxicated, but I was definitely tipsy. I didn’t tell her that lest she decide to drag me to a bar.

Cassie dropped her passport in front of the customs officer and smiled sweetly at him.

“Purpose of your visit?” he asked. He glanced up, but his gaze stayed locked on Cassie, who giggled encouragingly at the attention. “Business? Pleasure?”

“Definitely pleasure.” She bit her lower lip suggestively, and he stamped her passport a little too enthusiastically. She had that effect on guys. Cassie barely had to speak and they were falling at her feet. That was a quality I lacked, but hopefully it meant that she’d find a rebound guy sooner rather than later.

The officer barely looked at me, releasing us both to collect our luggage with a “Welcome to Mexico.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I had three messages. One from Jillian that simply read, Just remember ‘Mas tequila por favor’ followed by a rant about how her mother had forbidden her from sleeping in the same bed as Liam while they visited,and two from Brett checking to see if I’d landed and if I’d cleared customs. He'd apparently forgotten he wasn't my boyfriend anymore. I wrinkled my nose. Was he sitting somewhere refreshing my flight information for updates?

Cassie bumped my hip, drawing my attention back to her. “What’s that face?”

I flashed my phone at her.

“Tell him we’ve been arrested and are awaiting trial for carrying contraband over the border!” Her dark eyes gleamed playfully as she clutched my arm.

“He’ll come down here if I message him that,” I said, knowing it was true.

Cassie’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell him that.”

Shoving my backpack and tote bag higher up on my shoulder, I scanned the arrivals board for information on our luggage, but my vision was still a tad blurry from our happy hour on the plane.

“Dos,” a warm voice said in my ear. I jumped a little in surprise and Roman’s hand shot out to steady me.

“Crap!” I clutched my chest, laughing.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his chocolate brown eyes crinkling with amusement “I thought you’d want to know the luggage will come in on carousel two.”

“I do…want to know that,” I said, trying to sound casual. Or at least not drunk. “I’m just out of it. Text message. Drama back home.”

I was blabbering now, the result of too much wine, too much hot guy, and too little self control. I heard it spilling out of me, but I was powerless to stop the chatter. Roman always got me a bit tongue-tied when I saw him on campus. It was a classic Jess-style crush. It wasn’t the first time I’d been attracted to a scholarly type. Probably owing to being such a nerd myself. But his effect on me was infinitely worse with him standing here looking like a male model. Instead of undermining his nerdy sex appeal, it only enhanced it. Especially since I knew he was only a few years older than myself.

Roman’s lips curved into a smile and he waved to someone in the distance.

“I should get my luggage,” I said. And stop making a fool out of myself. Besides, I’d already lost Cassie in the crowd.

“Roman!” A jubilant voice called his name, and I looked up to see an older woman ambling toward him. She was half his height but that didn’t slow her down.

“My grandmother,” he explained to me

“We haven’t even gone on a date yet and already I’m meeting the family.” It was out of my mouth before I could take it back, but Roman responded with ringing laughter as he embraced his grandmother. I shifted from foot to foot, wondering if now was the time to sneak away.

He stepped back, speaking in rapid Spanish and gestured to me. The older woman threw her arms around my waist and hugged me while I eyed Roman over her gray head.

“My grandmother wishes she knew more about my life in Washington,” he explained. When she broke away, she took my chin in her hand, looking deep into my eyes. After a moment, she smiled and said something to Roman.

It was moments like this that made me wish I had taken more than the two required years of Spanish in high school.

“Aba!” Roman shook his head. “Ella no es mi novia.”

NoviaI remembered, and it made me blush to think his grandma thought I was his girlfriend. Roman shrugged apologetically, but he couldn’t quite meet my eyes.