Page 23 of Roman & Olivia
He shut his eyes and gave a sharp shake of his head.
“Everything okay?” Olivia’s voice was far too clear and close for comfort.
His eyes flew wide, and he found her standing at his side with a hand on his forearm. He stared at the contact, mildly relieved that the strange sparks of electricity they sometimes experienced when they were close were gone.
All in his head.
It was all in his head.
Get back to who they once were. Then everything would return to normal.
She smiled, though there was definitely some concern in her gaze. “I think root beers in the loft sounds like a lot of fun,” she said quietly.
Roman nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
In no time, they were sprawled out against the hay bales that were stored in the loft area. He leaned against one and she sat beside him, leaning against it as well. Her head tilted until it pressed against his shoulder. It was too easy to fall into reminiscing like this—here, alone, in a safe space where they could shut out the world.
“Do you remember that time in seventh grade when Lincoln Tatum put gum in my hair?”
Roman snorted, nearly choking on his drink. “Yeah.”
“He was such a jerk.”
“And he had the biggest crush on you.”
She whacked at him. “He didnot.”
“Yes.” He took a swallow of root beer. “He did.”
Olivia scoffed. “Just because people say that about bullies doesn’t make it true.”
“I’m serious.” He chuckled. “I heard him talking about it to some guys in the locker room. He was going to ask you to the spring formal.”
She stiffened beside him, and then her eyes found his. “You’re lying.”
“Wish I was.” He shook his head. “Turns out he’d asked one of your friends if you liked him, and she told him you thought he was gross.”
This time Olivia straightened and stared at him. “What? I didn’t have any close friends in seventh grade. Only you.”
“I know. Lincoln would have been so much better off to ask me.” He shrugged. “If I had to guess, he asked a girl who had a crush on him and didn’t want Lincoln to be interested in you. So, she lied.”
Olivia gasped out a laugh. “That little brat.”
“Yup.” Roman chuckled.
She settled back against him. “Do you remember what you did to him after he ruined my hair and my mom had to cut it?”
A smile fell across his face, and he let his head thump softly against the hay at their backs. He’d filled the kid’s locker with hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces of gum. The janitorial staff spent hours scraping it clean. “How could I forget? I got suspended for three days for that stunt.”
This was therealthem. Olivia had never really fit the mold of most girls growing up. Maybe that was why they’d hit it off so well.
“I’m so lucky to have you,” she said softly. “I don’t think I tell you that enough.”
“It goes both ways, Liv.”
She went quiet and all they could hear was the shuffling sounds of the animals in the lower level of the barn. He almost expected her to say something more, but she didn’t.
Finally, they were getting back to normal. Soon, they’d stage their breakup and she could finally get what they’d been working for this whole time.
