Page 24 of Rome: The Ballerina

Sac placed each item on the table as he called off its name.

“If you hate it all, I’ll take another stab at it. But, I figured you’d like something I ordered. The calorie intake isn’t much either. Protein is the main source of nutrients. Should serve you well.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He took his seat and placed his things in front of him.

I watched as he opened the kraft paper withLittle Coffee Cottageprinted in bold, black letters. Curiosity held me captive.

“Egg whites, chicken, sauteed spinach, and vegan cheese on wheat.”

Sac never looked up from his sandwich as he read off the ingredients. Though humored, I was interested. His sandwich looked tastier than anything he’d chosen for me. My silencecaused a disruption in his movements. He paused before grabbing the hairs on his chin.

My eyes hadn’t left him for anything other than a few glances at his meal. With his head still low, Sac slid his wrapper in my direction. He exchanged his sandwich for the choices he’d made for me. Overly satisfied with his generosity, I straightened my spine and adjusted my gaze.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he responded.

I pushed the wrapper down until each edge touched the surface of the table. My index and middle fingers smoothed the wrinkles as best they could. I pulled the wrapper closer to the table’s edge, aligning it with the sharp line of the square.

There.

I lifted the sandwich, nestling it between both hands, and sunk my teeth into the bread. Eventually, I cut through every layer, including the tomato that he’d neglected to mention. My eyes closed involuntarily. I’d just taken a chunk out of heaven. No one could convince me otherwise.

“Oh wow,” I moaned, momentarily forgetting where I was and who I was with.

“Yeah. That motherfucker the truth,” Sac promoted, regretful of his generous contribution to my satisfaction.

His statement startled me. I was quickly reminded that I was not at home and I was not alone. There were at least fifty strangers surrounding me, all enjoying breakfast and a glimpse of the man sitting across from me.

Instinctively, my hand met my mouth. It wasn’t until I’d chewed my food and shoved it down my throat with a sip of water that I responded.

“Yes. Yes, it is.” My words poured from my mouth. “This feels criminal. Maybe I should head to the front and get a second one for yo–”

I stood as I spoke, prepared to return the favor. The sandwich was too darn good to have alone. Sac needed one. Iwantedhim to have one.

“Sit down.”

His words were sharp yet soothing. Our eyes met in an instant. My legs were still straight, so was my spine.

“Sit down,” he repeated, softly. “Eat your food, Rome. If I want a sandwich, I’ll go get a sandwich. I want you to enjoy it. That’s why I gave it to you. If you take your pretty ass up there, you won’t return for another fifteen or twenty minutes.

“To be honest, I’m not trying to give you up for that long when I have no idea how much time I have with you this morning. I’d consider holding you hostage like that fucking AirPod, but that wouldn’t be a good idea. You’re human, and I’m not set up like that. I only want you around if you want to be around. So, don’t. Don’t go up there. Sit down.”

I wasn’t sure how quickly or how slowly it had happened, but it had happened without my knowledge. By the time I comprehended, I was in my seat with the sandwich in my hand. Only it wasn’t my mouth I was holding it to. It was his. His eyes never left mine as he widened the space between his lips and bit into the sandwich.

Falling back in his chair, he nodded.

“Umm hmm. Fire.”

Impossible.

How he was fully mobile was baffling. I couldn’t move. I didn’t move. I could only observe. His perfectly lined hair. Its silkiness. Its relation to the color of his skin.His skin. His poreless skin. His lips. His nose. His eyes. I could get lost in them. And, frankly, I had. I was desperate to find myself because I wasn’t ready to relinquish control. Not yet. That would be too easy. Much too easy for.

My heart palpitated with fear as we recognized the magnitude of Sac’s presence simultaneously. The idea that he was privy to the same information was stifling. I struggled to regulate my organs and release air to allow fresh air inside.

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