Page 44 of Clueless Romeo

"I need a shower, and then I'm going to bed." I strode toward him, needing any reminder of Roman removed from my body more than worrying if Caleb picked up on my appearance.

Caleb sighed as he stepped aside to let me pass. "You know you can talk to me."

"Nothing to talk about," I insisted as I went around him, hoping he was too tired to notice that I was probably drenched in the scent of come. My nose wrinkled at having to explain that one.

Letting me off the hook, he didn't respond, and I was grateful because I wasn't sure the admission wouldn't come tumbling out of my mouth. I needed to vent, expel the secrets I was keeping, to let someone give me advice. But Caleb was the last person I'd go to for that.

Stepping inside the bathroom, I set my phone and keys next to the sink and then collapsed back against the door, squeezing my eyes closed. This wasn't how I expected my first time with a guy to play out, but I also couldn't bring myself to regret it.

I'd been comfortable with Roman. Everything had come so naturally. It had been far too easy to get caught up in him when I'd known better than to get involved with astraightguy. Maybe it was for the best he'd squashed that before I did something stupid, like get more attached, only for it to then go wrong.

I tipped my head back and downed the rest of the beer before eyeing the shower stall. I needed to wash the come off of me, erase any evidence of what had happened between us. A humorless chuckle released under my breath. Nothing would make that memory disappear.

It was both the hottest moment of my life and the most frustrating at the same time. It was being handed something I'd wanted so badly only to have it torn away.

I scrubbed a hand over my face and kicked off the door, tossing my beer bottle in the trash. Whipping the shower curtain aside, I cranked the knob to the highest temperature the old water heater could manage.

So what if Roman regretted it? We'd go back to being neighbors, and I'd fucking fire him from trying to set me up with other guys since he'd failed so spectacularly with the last one. And then I'd keep my hands, tongue, and dick to myself. Problem fucking solved. Except it didn't feel solved at all.Damn it.

After stripping off my come-soaked clothes, I stepped beneath the hot spray and leaned my forehead against the warm tiles. I replayed every minute from when Roman had started texting me when he'd thought I was with Nate. I couldn't help trying to analyze every message.

What the hell had gotten into him? I'd suspected some level of interest from him when we'd come close to kissing a week ago. Still, I'd questioned our interaction repeatedly as the days had passed. Now I was positive he'd wanted that kiss as badly as I had, despite the denials from his plush lips that night.

And then, the smoking gun tonight had been the texts he sent before everything went to shit… Roman had been jealous. Possessive even.

The only reasons I could think of why he'd changed in the blink of an eye were either fear or regret. The first I understood. The second just pissed me off.

Even though I'd told Caleb I was going to sleep, I wasn't tired. My mind was consumed by what had happened between us and the ugly aftermath. It wouldn't go away until I could talk to someone.

The someone I needed to talk to was obvious. The smartest and most understanding person I knew was Archer, but asking him would be admitting something no one except Roman knew. And Nate, but he didn't count.

Archer would be surprised, sure. But he'd never judge me. I knew he'd even support me no matter what happened.

I grabbed the shower gel and squirted the citrus-scented soap into my palm. By the time I finished lathering my skin with the suds and washing my hair, there was no physical trace of Roman. Yet I could still feel the phantom touch of his roughened fingers on my skin and how they'd tangled in my hair. The demanding kisses from him still tingled on my lips. I was afraid that he'd somehow tattooed himself so deep into my skin that I'd never be able to remove him.

I was emotionally exhausted by the time I stepped out of the shower and tied a towel around my waist. Swiping my dirty clothes off the floor and grabbing my phone and keys, I opened the door and was met with chilly air thanks to the subpar heat flowing from the vents.

I hurried to my bedroom and quietly closed the door before dropping the towel to slide on a clean pair of gray boxers. Crawling into bed I stared at the outdated popcorn ceiling, debating whether or not to text Archer. I wasn't going to be able to sleep unless I could unload some of the baggage weighing me down. So I caved and grabbed my cell phone from the nightstand. After stacking pillows against the headboard and propping myself up, I tapped the icon. I scrolled to my last private exchange with Archer that hadn't included Caleb.

My best friend would forgive me for texting in the middle of the night, so I didn't hesitate to start typing out a message.

Me:I fucked up.

I stared at my screen. Nothing happened as two minutes went by, and I was just about to put my phone away to sulk by myself when the blue dots started bouncing.

Arch:I'm going to need more information before I respond to that statement.

I hadn't exactly thought through what I wanted to say, so I hovered my thumb over the screen, waffling on how much I was ready to reveal. Finally, I decided my best option was to be vague.

Me:I messed around with someone I shouldn't have.

The response was immediate.

Arch:You better not have messed around with a married woman.

I scowled at the response and quickly tapped out a message.

Me:Since when would I do something like that? Of course they aren't married.

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