Page 19 of Something So Strong

“A couple of years younger than us?” He shrugs, more like a question than an answer. “She turned pro young. Maybe she was just sick of competing and retired—Oh, hey Mate.” Romeo turns from me to the bartender. “Two Guinness and two champagne.”

“Wonder what Cleo’s story is. She’s not some superstar-slash-Instagram model I don’t know about, is she?”

“Fuck knows,” Romeo smirks. “But you sure are asking a lot of questions for someone who isn’t interested.”

“Do we really need to go over this again? Because I will if I have to.”

“Fuck you.”

“Don’t get sassy ‘cause you have some caveman urge to fuck every female that makes eye contact with you. It is completely possible to find a woman attractive without wanting to stick your cock in her.”

“Yeah. But isn’t it so much more fun when you do?” He grins slyly.

“Oh, Romeo, Romeo. Wherefore art that respect for women you were grilling me about at breakfast?”

“My respect? They throw themselves at me.”

I mean, he’s not lying, and Cleo does strike me as the kind who would pin a guy down to get what she wants, but a little self-restraint goes a long way. Though, who am I kidding? Moderation is not a word Romeo Estrada is familiar with. The guy just graduated with honors as a Molecular Biologist from University College London. No knowledge is too unattainable. No amount of alcohol is ever enough, and no pretty smile is ever worth saying no to.

Once the drinks are in front of us, Romeo hands over his credit card before I even have a chance to open my wallet. “Let me get the next one, alright,” I say, taking my beer and one of the champagne flutes.

“Not if I get it first,” he smiles genuinely before following behind me and demonstrating in one fell swoop the duality he wields daily. The guy might be the biggest man-whore you’ll ever meet, but he’s loyal and kind through to the marrow of his bones, and whomever the lucky lady is that manages to tame him will be treated like a queen for as long as she continues to breathe.

Before taking the seat next to Kendall, I place the champagne in front of her and she thanks me for it.

“Don’t thank me, Romi paid.”

“Oh, shit.” Her shoulders slump and her hands writhe in her lap. “I’m really sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Romeo insists. “Jess said he’ll get the next round so you can thank me then,” he says with a wink—his eyes lingering on her face.

“Drink up.” Cleo pats Kendall on the leg. “Don’t want it getting warm. They’ve got the heating cranked up so high in here tonight it won’t take long.”

With a tiny nod, Kendall tucks some hair behind her ear.

“You’re fine, Ken. These guys don’t care.” Cleo slides Kendall’s glass closer before picking up her own and bringing it to her bubble lips for a sip. “Kenny here gets a little flustered around new people when not talking shop. All she did was train for like fifteen years. Then all of a sudden that part of her life is over, and she’s still trying to find her feet.”

“Clee,” Kendall whines, leaning forward to cup her face in her hands.

Looking slowly from Romeo to me, Cleo raises her hands as if saying, what did I do? Either the girl is a trained actress or completely clueless because I can’t figure out if she truly doesn’t know that what she said embarrassed Kendall, or if she’s just one of those girls who love to stir the pot so vigorously the whole kitchen catches on fire.

“Let’s not introduce her to Saxon, hey,” Romeo jokes.

“Why not?” Cleo asks innocently.

“Because one soulless psychopath at a time is enough for me,” he deals back to her with a much less jovial tone.

“Sounds like my type of guy,” Cleo volleys without missing a beat, her face now as steely as Romeo’s.

“On second thoughts, maybe we should introduce you. It could be quite entertaining.”

“Are you saying you like to watch?”

“If it means seeing girls like you get taken down a notch, then yes.”

“I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Cleo.” I butt in before the pair start hate-fucking each other on the table. “You, ah… Back there, you kinda made it seem like working with Kai isn’t a good thing.”

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