Page 81 of Revive Me

“So much for keeping things professional…” I roll my eyes at myself.

Another rumble of laughter from Roman, and this time, he puts his fork down. “I don’t think we’ve ever been truly professional, Liliana,” he says. When his eyes meet mine, an electric charge zips over my skin.

Reaching up to slowly brush his thumb over my mouth, his hand comes away with a little bit of frosting, and my lips tingle from his touch. It becomes hard to breathe all over again, even before he sucks his thumb into his mouth to lick the frosting off.

His eyes never look away from mine. “All I know is, I’m better with you in my life. Professional or not.” There’s a beat of hesitation, and something flashes in his eyes. “I just…want you to know that.”

My heart rate accelerates even more. After that kiss, it’s become an unspoken thing that we don’t talk about…whateverthisis. That because that outside moment didn’t technically exist, we weren’t going to speak it into existence by acknowledging it.

This is the closest we’ve ever come.

And despite the risk, knowing that Roman thinks his life is better with me in it…

It’s everything.

I have no hope of responding to Roman’s declaration. He knows it, too, as he wordlessly takes the empty box from my hands and throws it out. We leave the clinic together, but we’re both uncharacteristically quiet as we do it, speaking only when we separate in the parking lot.

“Roman…”

He pauses to look at me.

“Just…thank you,” I say simply. “For the cookie. For…tonight.”For noticing. For caring. For…being you.

He only nods, the smile on his lips so imperceptible, I wonder who would even be able to catch it. “Anytime, Doc.”

And just like every other night for the past two weeks, I don’t fall sleep for a very, very long time.

26

ROMAN

Liliana: Are you a ‘blend-in color’ swimsuit kinda guy or a 'this is the only time I'll wear crazy colors' kinda guy

I stare at my phone, blinking.

Roman: It's weird that this is the second time I have to ask my physical therapist if she's on drugs

Liliana: It's weird that your first ever sentence to me was offering a mocktail and you still think you need to ask that

Liliana: Now focus and answer the question

I'm unable to tamp down on my smile.

Roman: Hate to disappoint, but I am not a pink flamingos on my swim trunks kinda guy

Liliana: Roman, that just makes me think you DO have shorts with pink flamingos on them

Liliana: Wear them tonight

I frown at my phone.

Roman: Am I to read this as fashion is now part of my therapy? Because I know your methods are insane, but…

Liliana: Hmm. An interesting theory. Now I'm wondering if I COULD work fashion into your therapy.

Roman: Liliana…

Liliana: Relax. Just bring the shorts.

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