Page 100 of Worth the Trouble

“Something going on today?” Rome’s eyebrows pinch as he turns into my driveway.

I follow his gaze and see two cars sitting there, making my heart plummet in my chest.

“Crap.” I pull my hand out of Rome’s and plant my palms over my face.

This can’t be happening after our morning together was so perfect. Because these cars sitting here might as well be the first flakes of snow in a blizzard that’s about to cause a whiteout.

“What’s wrong?” Rome comes to a stop in the driveway and puts the Range Rover in park.

“Nothing,” I lie, shaking my head, hoping to get him out of here to avoid whatever is about to happen. “I’ll call you later, okay?”

His jaw ticks as I hurry to open the door, but I’m already too late. The front door to the house is opening, and I feel two halves of my life about to collide.

No, no, no.

This can’t be happening right now.

Every good moment from this morning feels like it’s running away. The memories fading into a dark place; I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to unbury them. I watch my mom step out the front door of the house with a cold expression, followed by Vaughn.

“Lili?” Rome plants his hand on my leg before I can climb out of the car, and it pulls my attention. “What’s wrong.”

“I—” but I can’t finish the sentence because I’d be caught between a lie and the truth, and either of the two would hurt him.

My fling with Rome was meant to be temporary, made clear in this moment with reality approaching us. Mom and Vaughn head toward the car, and I feel time slow while it also seems to speed up.

If this day were paper, I’d tear it in two. I’d crinkle one half and keep the other. But with Mom and Vaughn watching me, I know the truth. Rome isn’t my future, and even if he handed me his heart, I sold my soul years ago to pay the debt for my dreams. And payment is due.

Mom stops a few steps away from the car, but Vaughn doesn’t. With a smug expression, he comes all the way to my door and grabs onto it, holding it wide open.

“There’s my fiancé,” Vaughn says with a wicked smile, looking at me, then over my shoulder. “And the man she’s been fucking.”

Rome’s hand pulls away, and I feel the emptiness on my skin like there’s a hole in it. I turn in time to meet an expression I’ve never seen on Rome’s face. Shock, hurt. It’s like those words just ripped out his insides, and he doesn’t know how to put them back in.

“Rome.” I reach for his hand and am surprised when he lets me take it. “It’s not like that.”

His eyes cut to mine, and they’re so dark they’re nearly black.

Rage.

Something I’ve never fully seen from him, even if I’ve always known it existed right beneath his surface. And right now, it’s all he is.

“He’s my ex, that’s it.”

“You hurt my feelings when you say things like that, Lili,” Vaughn says, reminding me he’s standing right there with the door open. “We’re working things out, remember? We talked about it.”

I feel the bile rising in my throat, my stomach trying to jump out. Turning to face Vaughn, I’m met with what can only be described as pure evil, and he’s amused.

“Fuck you, Vaughn,” I say, and he actually seems surprised by my harsh words. “You talked, but I never agreed to it.”

I shake my head as my throat closes in, and I feel like I’m about to suffocate. The sides of the car are trying to close in on me. I need to get away from Vaughn, from my mom, even Rome before I explode. Because I swear that’s what’s about to happen. I’m going to burst, and maybe if I’m lucky, it’ll all be over.

I jump out of the car, but as I try to step away, a hand catches my arm and stops me.

“Do I need to remind you who you’re talking to?” Vaughn’s playfulness has all but faded, and he’s looking at me with the controlling expression I’ve seen on his face many times.

He opens his mouth to say something else, but he’s pulled backward before he gets the chance.

I’m not sure when Rome got out of the car, but he has Vaughn by the shoulder, and then Rome’s hand is wrapped around his throat as he pushes him against the car.

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