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“I…” I looked at him again and found him watching me with interest. “You don’t compliment me.”
“Because you don’t like it.”
“Fine. You give me something complimentary and I’ll give you something uncomplimentary.”
He chuckled and lit another cigarette. I realised that maybe he wasn’t quite as relaxed as he seemed; he smoked a fair amount, but I hadn’t seen him smoke that much in such a short span of time. Not that I was really in a good position to make comparisons, but it still seemed more than usual.
“All right. A proper compliment, hey?” He paused and I was pretty sure he was thinking, so I didn’t interrupt. “All right. Your eyes look crazy beautiful when you get embarrassed giggly. That’s the one time I seeyouthese days.”
I’d been going to tease him for how long it had taken. But, my brain stuttered to a halt. I had to admit, I wasn’t sure how to take that. I needed so much more explanation for…just so much of that statement.
“I’m waiting on this uncompliment, Barlow.”
“I’m going to need more before I let that pass as a compliment,” I answered.
He huffed and lay back down. “In what way?”
I shrugged and leant my elbows on my knees. “Firstly, what’s embarrassed giggly?”
His chuckle this time was lighter. “It’s when you find something funny but embarrassing at the same time–”
“How often doyouhave cause to be embarrassed?” I scoffed.
“No, Barlow. It’s unique to you. I mean, probably not like only you in the whole world. But, it’s not a generic thing. You get like it when Hadley does something crazy–”
“Like when she called you beautiful the other day?” I offered, trying not to let it get to me that Roman obviously noticed things about me.
He laughed. “Yeah, like that. Like when I sing at you. And like those rare moments when you have a spine and say exactly what’s on your mind. Then you flush this cute shade of pink, you give this gorgeous little smile and your eyes fucking shine, Piper. It’s a beautiful thing to see, and it’s one time you’re really you.”
Well, if anything was going to set my cheeks flushing, it would be something like that. I tried to take my mind off the weird fluttery feeling he’d just given me because, let’s be real here, it was Roman Lombardi for crying out loud. Whether there were actually depths or not, he was still the guy that went through girls faster than I went through chocolate cake.
An uncompliment. The guy wanted an uncompliment. It would have to be something relatively real because otherwise it was just being mean for being mean’s sake.
“I know you’re totally flattered by my compliment, Barlow. But, I’m waiting on something scathing.”
“You know, you are so not as good as you think you are. Just because you’re demanding and smile nicely, doesn’t actually make you adorable. I have no idea why girls fall over themselves for you. You’re rude and obnoxious and seriously annoying.” I realised what I’d said and turned to him. “No! What I meant was…”
He just stared up at me, his face stony.
“I mean, I’m sure you… I can see why…” I huffed a breath. “That is, you have… Of course you have…good… What?” I asked as he’d started laughing.
“Oh, and you were doing so well!” he cried, putting one arm behind his head. “Sure, it wasn’t exactly original. But, it was unfiltered until the filter seemed to be stu…stu…stuttering back to life.”
I shoved his leg playfully. “Shut up. There is nothing wrong with a filter, nothing wrong with civility and human decency.”
“No, Barlow. I don’t suppose there is. But, there is such a thing as simpering. It’s a fine line to walk.”
“I think you left the line behind a long time ago, Lombardi.” I spread my arm out wide. “Like, you are now so far past the line – out in the wilderness – that you’ll never find your way back.”
“Yeah, quite possibly. But, at least you’ll never wonder what I’m really thinking.”
“Don’t pretend you care what I’m really thinking outside any entertainment I might give you.”
“I’m hurt, Barlow! How could you think I didn’t care?”
“Because you’re Roman Lombardi, resident underachiever, obnoxious delinquent, trouble-maker, and horrible flirt.”
He snorted. “Barlow, you insult me. I am a fantastic flirt, thank you.”
