“You come here,” Jace calls out to him, and Em gets up and mouths, “Sorry.” I shake my head. It’s not his fault.
As everyone’s name is called out but four, I keep my fingers crossed I’ll be paired with Leo or the other girl I spot in the corner. Because the only other name who hasn’t been picked is Roman’s.
“Leo Anderson and Jessa Henderson.”
Oh, fuck. I look over my shoulder to where Roman stands, waiting his turn. He knows what this means too.
“I only have one left—Roman Valentine. Who haven’t I called out?” Mr. Rayne asks.
I raise my hand and duck my head, peering up at him.
“Sorry, and you are? I don’t seem to have you on my class list.”
“Mila Hart.”
He adds my name to his class list and gestures for Roman to sit next to me.
The chair scrapes loudly as he sits down beside me. His presence alone has me holding my breath, and I don’t know why. He’d never hurt me, I know that much. At least I hadn’t been paired with Jace. I would take Roman over him any day.
I can’t resist studying his tattoos up close. I’m surprised there’s so much color. I’d always imagined, if he was to get any tattoos, they would be dark. Not so vibrant.
They’re amazing. I follow the full sleeve with my eyes, taking in the under the sea theme. There’s a shark, a turtle, a fish, and a sunken ship. A tentacle wraps around his wrist, and I find myself reaching out to grab his arm. I want to see where it leads.
A deep grumble seeps from his chest, warning me, and I snatch my hand back. “Sorry. They’re so beautiful, I got lost in admiring the artwork.”
I don’t expect him to respond, and he doesn’t so much in words. But I watch as he slowly flips his palm over, exposing the octopus holding onto a treasure chest along his wrist and forearm. I’d known all wasn’t lost with Roman.
He doesn’t hate me. Not completely.