Page 72 of Ski You Later
Daniel scoffs as he tries to get out of Roman’s grip, but his knuckles are white on Daniel’s jacket. With another rough shake, Roman looks Daniel dead in the eyes. “I said. Are. We. Clear.” The menace dripping from Roman’s words causes me to step back.
I’ve never seen this side of him. Not when the team is attacking him, and not even when the coaches are mistreating him. This is an entirely new version of Roman, and I can’t help but marvel at the fact that it’s all because of me.
Daniel starts to mutter something under his breath, and Roman drops him like he’s a hot potato. He seems to have oriented his position in a way so Daniel lands right at the top of the stairs and falls back the second Roman lets him go. My mouth drops open as I watch Daniel fall, but Roman just lets himself in and closes the door.
I try to look back and see if there’s a seriously injured moron on my front porch, but Roman’s hand tiltsmy chin towards him. “Don’t worry about him. He’s fine.”
The dismissive tone almost makes me smile, but this new side of Roman does cause some uncertainty to seep into my head. Roman casually turns the lock on the door and closes the window coverings so the man outside can’t give us any more problems.
Then, doing a complete one-eighty, Roman’s hands wrap around my waist, and he hauls me into his chest. The act is so sudden that it takes me a moment to process. His head falls easily into the crook of my neck, my feet are clear off the ground as he holds me flush against him, and he breathes me in deeply.
I slowly wrap my arms around his neck and lightly brush back the curly strands of his hair to help him relax. It all clicks in my brain as I hold him back just as tightly. While I know he’ll protect me no matter what, I also know he doesn’t care for violence and threats.
After a few more minutes of Roman holding onto me for dear life, he starts to slowly slide me down his body, and releases me once my feet hit the floor. His eyes lift from the ground to meet mine, and he gently brings his hands up to cup my face.
“Are you alright?” He asks, and the tenderness in his voice causes my entire chest to constrict. I nod upat him, placing my hands on the outside of his larger ones.
“I’m okay,” I say with a smile, and I can’t help but mean every word. It was good to face Daniel and not have a feeling of fear or panic. I’m so proud of myself and how far I’ve come. Now I just need to make sure Roman knows that and not ruin our date before it starts.
“You don’t have to lie; it’s okay to not be okay,” he says lightly, moving his hands to rest on my hips. I smile ruefully at him, but he responds before I can reassure him further. “How about we have our date another day. I understand if you would rather not do it tonight.”
I can feel my eyes becoming watery as I look up at him. Just the fact that he keeps thinking about me and what I need makes me weak in the knees. But the pit that forms in my stomach when I think about him heading home solidifies how much I’m against his plan.
“No, I don’t want that. Not even one bit,” I tell him without hesitation.
The side of his mouth tips up at my words, and the hands on my hips seem to tighten. “I mean, it would be a shame to let this pretty outfit go to waste.”
He puts some distance between us and takes in every inch of me. The blush that spreads up my neck isfurious, and I look away before I turn into a tomato. I use this time to look at him in turn, and I can’t help but marvel at his outfit tonight.
His neon red team jacket is nowhere to be seen as he sports a knee-length navy coat. His classic cable knit sweater hugs his upper body and is accented with straight-legged black dress pants. The flow of his dark curls hasn’t changed, but instead looks more styled than usual. To put it simply, he looks absolutely gorgeous.
I noticed he’s still admiring me, and I decide to spin in a circle before him. “What? Do you think I look cute?” Throwing my gaze behind my shoulder, I watch as he gravitates towards me.
Leaning against the wall behind me, I look up at him innocently and gently flutter my lashes. His hands land lightly on either side of my head as he doesn’t hesitate to lean into my space. “I think you know damn well that you look cute.”
His voice is low, his gravelly timber grating against my brain in the best way. I can’t help but lean in a smidge closer to his strong chest. “Cute enough to take on a mystery date?”
“Oh, definitely cute enough for that.” He plants his hands on each side of my neck, leaning down andplanting a quick kiss on my temple. “Close your eyes and stay here.”
He’s gone in a flash, and by the time I process his words, he’s opening the door again. Slamming my eyes closed, I rock on my heels as I stay pressed against the wall.
“Hold out your hands,” he says with excitement in his voice.
I wordlessly put them out and can’t hold back the furrow in my brow as an enormous lump is placed in my arms. My eyes fly open immediately, and I look at the brown paper wrapped around my gift.
“I learned my lesson this time. I can’t have dead roses sitting in my girl’s house,” he says quietly. He removes the top piece of paper and pulls out the most roses I’ve ever seen together. Not just any roses, but the same type of pink rose that survived his first bouquet.
I stare speechless at the bundle and feel the waterworks coming all over again. “This is so sweet of you,” I blubber as emotion fills my throat.
“Ah, come here, Langley.” He wraps me in his arms, and I don’t even feel self-conscious about the stray tears that fall.
I’m held softly until I pull away and look up to meet Roman’s gaze. Those chocolate brown eyes arealready on me as I’m overtaken by a feeling of complete ease.
“Whenever you’re ready. We have a date planned.”
“I don’t know why you chose to wear those,” he complains again. Reaching over the snowbank, he opens the passenger’s side door for me, and I turn to dangle my legs outside.
“I wear them because they’re pretty, and I don’t need any other reason,” I state smugly. Looking over at Roman as he crosses his arms and lifts his brow.
