Page 93 of Rome: The Ballerina

“She’s precious to him. Precious to me as well. So, there’s no need to get in your feelings about shit he’s saying. He’s testing you. Making sure you can handle her when we’re not around. Just like your dog, he means no harm.

“He shoots. Shooting would be the first response if he felt you were a threat at any capacity. Not talking. He’s done enough of that to let us all know he’s bullshitting. It’s all good, my nigga. We’re playing for the same teamnow.”

After realizing Saint wasn’t quite ready to make amends, Koen dropped his hand.

“I should be getting her home.”

“We could do that,” Koen assured him with a shrug.

“I’m sure, but I’m going to,” Saint retorted, still trying to center himself after August’s sly remarks.

“Suit yourself,” Koen whispered before turning around.

He ushered Augusti toward the gates, silently chastising him for his erratic behavior. He was the most unpredictable of the two.

Saint beckoned for me, standing at the edge of his parent’s porch. I descended the stairs, resting my palm against his. Our fingers intertwined. My smooth skin thickened with fine bumps all over.

“Tell your parents I apologize,” I expressed.

“They’re away on vacation. By the time they return, Leo will be as good as new.”

“Send me the veterinarian bill.”

“I won’t do such a thing, Rome. My sister will get him together.”

“I ju–”

“Next subject, love. I don’t care how cute and convincing you sound, you’re not paying for his medical expenses. He fucked around and he found out. Maybe that’ll keep his paws on the floor when he encounters people.”

Chuckling, I nodded. “He is a big guy.”

“He’s solid. My father has him on a raw diet. Nadia and I are on duty while our parents are in France for the next two weeks.”

“Such a beautiful place.”

Saint nodded as we made a sharp left, heading to my home. He halted at the dial box, pressing a few numbers before we continued.

7203

I made a mental note of the digits he’d pressed. I wondered if they had any significance or if they were a simple combination his mother had decided on. Hand-in-hand, we continued down the road until we approached my home. With Koen and Augusti ahead of us, our stop at the gates was brief.

As we neared the door, my breath got caught in my chest. I pulled the skin of my bottom lip into my mouth and began rolling it between my teeth. Saint’s feet were the first to halt. Mine didn’t stop moving, not even when I pushed into my home.

I unzipped the jacket I was wearing and twisted the knob of the coat closet. The single AirPod fell from my ear, landing in my hand. Just as quickly as I’d forgotten, I remembered I was missing the other. I hung the jacket on an empty hanger as I released a heavy stream of air.

I was a mess. Up top and down below. An entire zoo of animals and insects swarm my stomach. I placed my hand against my chest to steady my heartbeat.

Get it together, baby.Chemistry’s voice coaxed me to a safer, more familiar place.

I closed the closet door. Collecting myself felt like a pointless mission as amber eyes appeared behind it. Startled and comforted by Saint’s presence, simultaneously, my lips straightened. My jaws fluffed. And my lids met each other halfway.

“Your AirPod.”

Saint’s voice touched unreachable places. Places I didn’t know existed.

“That playlist–” he paused to invade my personal space, “Send that to me.”

His hands rounded my cellphone, making it look smaller than it truly was. Saint was massive. His presence. His body. His light.Him. All of him.

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