Page 15 of Rome: The Ballerina

Honk.

Honk.

The blaring horn behind us startled me. Our eyes locked. Silently, I begged him to press forward, allowing the demanding driver to continue down the road. The wheels never turned. He altered gears, parked the SUV, and released his foot from the pedal.

“They can wait until you’re finished or move around.”

I unlocked my cell. As I did so, the image he’d sent appeared on the screen. I hadn’t exited before shutting my screen off. The recollection of the AirDrop reminded me that I still didn’t know the first thing about the man beside me. The most important thing.

“Your name.” I sighed, looking up at him, again. “What’s your name?”

“Sa–”

Honk.

Honk.

Ignoring the horn behind us, he refocused his attention.

“Sa–”

Honk.

Honk.

“One second,” he demanded, swinging the door open and exiting before I was able to suggest turning his hazard lights on or continuing so the people behind us could do the same.

I twisted my body, curving my spine for a better view. Just as he approached the vehicle, the driver pressed the gas, speeding past him while still honking their horn obnoxiously.

Honk.

Honk.

Honk.

Honk.

Honk.

Honk.

His return was accompanied by warmth. His absence piqued my vulnerability. Soundlessly, I rejoiced as his pants slid across the seat and the door closed a mere second after.

“Sac. I’m Sac. Spelled, SAC.”

There it was. The guessing game I’d played since he first appeared in my dreams drew to a close. The wondering suffered a great, long-anticipated termination.

I suppressed the urge to celebrate. My toes dug into the soles of my sneakers, and my lips pressed together to the point of pain.

Relax, Rome.

I stored the new intel in the safest place.Twoplaces. My head and my heart.

“But pro… pronouncedSock.” I stumbled over my words.

My cheeks grew warm. So did the top of my head. My heart patted against my chest. Each beat was loud.Overwhelming.

“Yes.”

---