Page 24 of Worth the Trouble

“No.” Eloise’s tone is as flat as her expression.

“No?” I laugh, and it’s loud enough to draw Adrian and Sebastian’s attention. “Why not. She seems sweet.”

“You didn’t.” Eloise is shaking her head.

Adrian walks up beside her. “Didn’t what?”

“Rome, please tell me you didn’t.” She’s so flustered she ignores Adrian’s question.

“Hmm, let me think.” I bring a finger up and purse my lips, seeing how far I can push this to piss Eloise off. At least if she’s focusing on being mad at me, she won’t be trying to get inside my head.

“Rome!” Eloise slaps me on the arm, but I catch her wrist in my hand.

“Chill, princess. I didn’t touch her… exactly.” I grin, remembering Lili’s legs wrapped around me on my motorcycle. “Her car broke down, so I gave her a ride.”

“I’m sure you did,” Sebastian snorts, helpful as always.

I narrow my eyes at him. “Not that kind of ride.”

Why do I feel strangely defensive about what he said? Who cares if I bent her over the hood of her car? She’s a chick, and I bang enough of them to not give a shit who knows what I did with who. Except, I don’t see Lili like that.

Fuck me.

Turning back to Eloise, the anger has faded from her face, and it’s replaced with something I can’t quite read.

“Don’t worry, princess. She’s not my type.” I shrug. “Too many expectations.”

“God forbid.” Eloise frowns.

Instead of reassuring her, I keep my expression passive. After all, I mean it.

I think?

Lili with her uptight personality and eyes that see through all my shit is the last thing I need. It doesn’t matter if I can’t stop picturing her ink black hair spilling across the pillows on my bed. She’s got attachments, expectations, and shit I can’t live up to.

“Seriously?” Sebastian laughs. “There’s a chick on this planet you’re not trying to bang?”

I shrug.

“Never thought I’d see the day.” He smacks me on the shoulder, but I flip him off.

“Both of you need to stop talking about her like that.” Eloise frowns. “She’s a person, not… whatever it is this is.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I shake my head, setting my coffee mug down on the counter. “On that note, I’m taking off.”

Eloise narrows her eyes at me. “Leave her alone, Rome.”

“Of course, princess.” I wink, and the frown on her face means she doesn’t believe me.

Do I even believe me? Because as I walk out of Eloise and Adrian’s house and hop on my bike, I can’t help it. And instead of turning down my street, I keep going until I hit another driveway.

Call it curiosity.

Call it obsession.

IsaidLili was a bad idea for a guy like me. IsaidI wouldn’t seek her out. But I’m fucking destructive.

8

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