Page 102 of Sinful Temptations

But Zali had claimed him as Kane’s father right from the moment she’d decided to keep the baby.

“God, I hope not,” I said. “Wasn’t Erik enormous?”

“Fuck yeah. Built like Mr. Universe. Speaking of Mr. Universe, you hooked up with Roman yet?”

My shoulders slumped. “No.” I shook my head. “It’s not going to happen. I told you that.”

“Hmmm.” She shifted in her seat, wobbling the image on the screen until she settled. “Okay, tell me what’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on.”

“You’re always calling me an intuitive freak. So, here’s my freaky summary of what I’m seeing. First up, you only ever FaceTime when something is wrong.”

“That’s not true.”

All she did was cock her head and remain silent, and it was enough to know she was right. “Well, we need to change that. From now on, I’m FaceTiming you as much as I can.”

“Great. Do it. I’ll try to make sure I’m dressed when I answer.”

“Good plan.”

“Dais, I can see that you’re upset about something. What is it, babe? Come on. Tell me.”

“You have enough going?—”

“Stop right there.” She cut me off. “I could be in the middle of a heart attack and I’d still answer the phone for you. When are you going to learn that? We’re best friends, babe. That’s what we do for each other.”

Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

I swallowed back a lump in my throat that was the size of my left boob. “I know.”Shit. My voice wobbled.

“Oh, babe.” Zali honed in on my wretched emotions like a truth-seeking missile. “He’s really got to you, hasn’t he?”

My chin dimpled as I nodded.

“Have you told him how you feel?”

“What? No. Of course not.”

She tilted her head and blinked at me. “Why not?”

“I can’t do that. We are not meant to be together. He’s everything I’m not.”

“Dais—”

“Wait, let me finish.”

She nodded, all calm.

“Roman is the most amazing man I’ve ever met. But we’re not meant to be together. He’s in a different time in his life. But that’s the least of my worries, Zali. I’m about to get kicked out of Europe. How could we possibly be together?”

“Well . . . heaps of couples have long-distance relationships.”

“Oh, like that’s going to work.”

“It works for you and me.”

“Not helping.”

---