Page 137 of Burning Daylight
He gives me a soft smile. “Actually, I was looking for you, Juliette.”
My brows hike up. “For what?”
He glances at Tyler and then back. “I need to talk to you about Roman Montgomery.”
34
JULIETTE
I’m not sure when it happened, but I’ve stopped thinking about Upside Down Rock as a place I came when I was a kid and started thinking of it asourplace. Mine and Roman’s.
But now, for the first time in my life coming here, anxiety feels like it’s choking the life out of me, and I don’t know why.
It could be because I texted Roman to meet me here, and he didn’t respond.
Or maybe it’s because I had my tongue halfway down his throat and it’s all I’ve been able to think about, even though I have a “date” with Preston coming up next week.
Or perhaps it’s because Frederick told me—in front of Tyler, no less—that Roman and I had photos that were about to go live onThe Rosebrook Raguntil he stopped them.Andthat Roman already knows.
I thought Tyler was about to explode from how red his face got and how tightly his fists clenched. He stormed off and hasn’t answered my phone calls since. I’m worried sick to death over the thought of him running to my dad and telling him, but I have to trust that he won’t.
Still, I pull out my phone and shoot off another text to him while I wait for Roman to—hopefully—show up.
Me:
Ty, PLEASE. Let me explain.
My stomach jolts when he replies,finally.
Tyler:
I can’t even fucking talk to you right now, how could you? A Montgomery, Jules? Really?
Me:
Don’t tell anyone. Please.
My heart is in my throat, hands shaking while I wait for him to reply.
Tyler:
Fine. But you better have a damn good reason. I could kill you myself for being so reckless.
I blow out a sigh of relief, but anxiety has latched onto my edges already; there’s no getting rid of it.
By the time Roman shows up, I’m so frazzled that I burst forward at the first crunch of his boots on the trail.
“How could you not tell me?” It comes out sharp, like an accusation. My voice soars over the space, and I can almostseethe illusion of hands shoving against his chest from my tone.
He stops, the gravel grinding beneath his shoe. “Tell you what?”
I take two large steps over to him. I’m not even sure why I’m so angry, but I am, and he’s here, so he’s getting my overload of emotion.
“That there werepicturesof us,” I snap. “That Freddy came to your house and warned you, and you didn’t even have the decency to text me about them.”
His mouth pops open, and I move forward, shoving his shoulders. “Are you trying to get us caught? It’s like you don’t even care.”
He grips my wrists, and his eyes are serious as they bounce between mine, a crease forming in his brows like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to work out. “Calm down.”
