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“If you’d be so kind.”
“At least cut the crap,” I sighed as I pushed away from my desk and started looking for my shoes.
“Cut what crap?” he asked sweetly.
“This perpetuating nonchalant attitude you have going. You can play it with other people, but not me. I’m not in the mood, Lombardi.” I picked up my keys and headed downstairs.
“What attitude, Barlow? This is just me.”
I could see it was going to be one of those nights. But, this was Roman and I knew how to handle him in whatever mood he was in.
“I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes, okay?” I said.
“You going– Oh, sorry, honey,” Mum ended in a harsh whisper as she saw the phone to my ear.
Just as I was about to hang up, Roman spoke again, “Be careful, Barlow. Yeah?” and his voice was nothing but sincere.
I nodded. “I will.”
I hung up and looked to where Mum and Dad were curled on the couch.
“What’s up, Pipe?” Dad asked, lowering his book.
“Uh, Roman’s just asked if I can pick him up. Can I borrow one of your cars, please?”
Mum and Dad shared a look before they nodded.
“Sure, honey. Whichever one you want.”
“I’m just picking him up and coming straight back here. So, I shouldn’t be long.”
They nodded again. “Have a nice time.”
I rolled my eyes, figuring there was no point in correcting them. I grabbed Dad’s car keys and jogged out to the car.
By the time I got to the police station, whatever Roman had or hadn’t done or needed to do had been sorted and he was ready to go.
“Ah, my knight in…furry pants!” he chuckled as he caught sight of my pyjama pants, obviously totally drunk.
“No wonder they wouldn’t let you home by yourself,” I grumbled, snagging his sleeve and pulling him after me. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
He stopped and I was forced to stop too. “Ah, but I have it on good authority that there is a raging party. Rio texted me the address. No dress code, therefore furry pants more than welcome.”
I shook my head and pulled on his sleeve until he started following me again.
“Fucking and drinking still solving all those problems, Lombardi?” I asked as I opened the passenger door for him.
He smirked down at me, but any and all humour was gone from his deep dark eyes. This was the Roman Lombardi I remembered; the resident underachiever Hadley accused of making you wet just by looking at another girl. He was all brooding bad boy. But, I wasn’t powerless against it.
“Doing wonders. How about you?” He gave me a wink.
I nodded, not sure why that would make my throat hitch. “So pleased. Come on. Get in.”
He gave me another of those smirks and a look that could light you on fire before he nodded and got into the car. I shut the door, took a deep breath, and walked back to the driver’s door. Before opening it, I needed to take another breath. Because I knew exactly which Roman I was getting into a car with and I knew he was worse than handsy, chatty Piper after two beers.
Finally, I swung in and started the car.
We said nothing the whole way home, no matter how many times I opened my mouth to say something to him. But, that was unexpectedly expected of Roman.
